The purpose of the cross-party Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL) is to achieve urgently and sustainably at least World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended standards of air quality throughout London.

Air pollution near many of London's busiest roads averages well over twice the WHO's maximum recommended levels. When the political will existed in the past, air pollution issues were tackled quickly, for example the ozone layer, leaded petrol, acid rain and pea-souper smogs. All that is needed now is for the Prime Minister to make a commitment that the government will comply fully with [health based] air quality laws and for that commitment to be followed by determined action to meet deadlines. If you are worried about air pollution, please email the Ministers responsible for air quality at hilary.benn@defra.gsi.gov.uk and Lord Adonis at andrew.adonis@dft.gsi.gov.uk telling them about your concerns and ask them to press the Prime Minister for such a commitment and such action. It really is that simple.

With the spotlight on the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (London 2012) after the successes of Beijing, the United Kingdom has a choice: 'Ridicule for breaching air quality laws every year'; or a 'Standing ovation for showing the world how to address sustainability issues'.

CCAL's immediate priority is to see that air quality laws are rigorously enforced in each year leading up to London 2012.


For a comprehensive update on London air quality, please see the webcast of the London Assembly Environment Committee's investigation into air quality (4 February 2009, 110 minutes)

Quick news updates may be posted on Twitter.

   more »

CAMPAIGN UPDATE: 1 June 2009


A warning for the London 2012 Olympics as Defra issues ‘First “summer smog” of 2009 alert’ with research highlighting premature deaths during August 2003 smog ‘event’

Air Pollution Bandings and Index need to align to current World Health Organisation recommendations and European Union air quality obligations

‘Clean Air in London’ calls on the Department of Health to update its ‘10 year old’ system of smog alerts to ensure they are more understandable


Defra press release web link

First “summer smog” of 2009 warning:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2009/090601a.htm

Quotes:

Simon Birkett of the Campaign for Clean Air in London said:

“The Campaign for Clean Air in London is pleased that the government is continuing its earlier practise of issuing summer smog alerts when air quality is poor.

“CCAL wrote to Lord Hunt earlier this year after no alert was issued during a worse still summer smog which occurred during the G20 meetings in London in April.

“In that letter CCAL urged the government to continue issuing smog alerts when necessary and to update its alert bandings. The current Air Pollution Bandings and Index (API) system was developed by the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) in 1998 and reviewed in 1999/2000. In CCAL’s view, the API is hopelessly out-of-date since air pollution can remain in the Low band all year but still breach legal standards for dangerous airborne particles (in force since January 2005) and nitrogen dioxide (in force from January 2010). This is a very confusing message for the public.

“Clean Air in London welcomes the government’s openness in today’s announcement which attaches a research report showing that during London’s summer smog episode in August 2003 there were a total of between 46 and 212 premature deaths from ozone and 85 from dangerous airborne particles. See:

http://www.airquality.co.uk/reports/cat09/0401130931_heatwave2003.pdf

“London’s summer smog episode in July 2006 was likely to have resulted in a similar or greater number of premature deaths from ozone and a slightly lower number for dangerous airborne particles.*

“Defra’s announcement is a timely reminder of the importance of complying fully with European Union air quality laws and of the amount that needs to be done quickly to improve air quality by the time of the London 2012 Olympics.”

* These figures should be updated to take account of the latest medical advice from the European Environment Agency.

ENDS

Notes:

1. World Health Organisation recommendations

Air quality and health

Background and guideline values (Fact sheet update August 2008)

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/index.html

2. Obligations under European Union air quality laws

Air Quality Standards (30 April 2008)

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/standards.htm

3. UK Air Quality Archive

Air Quality Standards and Objectives (based on EU Limit Values and World Health Organisation recommendations)

http://www.airquality.co.uk/standards.php#std

Air Pollution Bandings and Index and the Impact on the health of people who are sensitive to Air Pollution

http://www.airquality.co.uk/standards.php#band

4. Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP)

COMEAP comments on the DETR Air Pollution Information Service – Numerical index and EC alert thresholds (August 2000):

http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/comeap/statementsreports/apinfservice.htm

COMEAP statement on banding of air quality (January 1998):

http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/comeap/statementsreports/airpol9.htm   more »

CAMPAIGN UPDATE: 20 May 2009


Liberal Democrats want the UK to fully comply with air quality laws in time for the 2012 Olympics

Over 4,400 people estimated to die prematurely in London each year due to air pollution

Environmental Protection UK and ‘Clean Air in London’ welcome the policy commitment made by the Liberal Democrats and call on the other political parties to make the same unambiguous commitment


Hughes: 24,000 Brits die prematurely each year due to air pollution

Liberal Democrat press release web link:

http://www.libdems.org.uk/media_centre/hughes-24000-brits-die-prematurely-each-year-due-to-air-pollution-264111591;show

Text of Liberal Democrat press release:

At least 24,000 people in Britain are dying prematurely due to air pollution every year, research by the Liberal Democrats based on official EU reports has revealed.

Analysis of an EU case study, released today by the Liberal Democrats, shows that at least 4,400 Londoners are dying prematurely each year from air pollution – four times greater than previously admitted by the Mayor of London.

With the UK expected to be in breach of European air quality targets for years to come, tens of thousands will die prematurely each year or have their health seriously affected.

Liberal Democrats want the UK to fully comply with air quality laws in time for the 2012 Olympics.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Simon Hughes said:

“Air pollution is a silent killer. Every year, thousands of people across Britain are having their lives cut short because our Government is dragging its heels on cleaning up the air we breathe.”

“Meeting European targets on air pollution is not optional – it’s a matter of life or death.”

“It is high time Britain cleaned up its act.”

The Liberal Democrats have published today a 14 page Policy Briefing note: “Air pollution” which is attached below.

ENDS

Other quotes:

Campaign for Clean Air in London quote:

Simon Birkett, Principal Contact for the Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL), said:

“The Liberal Democrats are to be commended for their policy commitment to ensure the United Kingdom complies fully with air quality laws for dangerous airborne particles and nitrogen dioxide by the time of the 2012 Olympics.

“After 10 years of unchanged or worsening air pollution, new thinking and bold action are needed urgently to tackle a problem that kills thousands of people up to 10 years early each year in London. Such action will create green jobs, reduce health costs and give confidence that the UK’s ambitious climate change and sustainability targets will be met.

“The Campaign for Clean Air in London calls on the other political parties to make the same unambiguous commitment and back it with meaningful action.”

Environmental Protection UK press release web link:

http://www.environmental-protection.org.uk/news/detail/?id=2114

Environmental Protection UK quote:

“In 2012 the lungs of the world’s top athletes will be breathing the UK’s air, and it is absolutely imperative that we meet our air quality standards by this date as a very minimum”, said Philip Mulligan, Chief Executive of Environmental Protection UK. “We now call on the other political parties to make a similar unambiguous commitment to ensure that the health benefits of clean air are captured across the UK as a tangible health benefit for all.”   more »

CAMPAIGN UPDATE: 1 May 2009

‘Every Breath You Take’: an investigation into air quality by the London Assembly’s Environment Committee

‘Clean Air in London’ congratulates the London Assembly’s Environment Committee for succeeding where Mayor Johnson and the government have failed so far by: unearthing the real health cost of poor air quality; and producing a convincing plan to improve quickly air quality in London

The London Assembly’s Environment Committee (LAEC) has published today a report on its investigation into air quality in London titled ‘Every Breath You Take’. The LAEC’s media release and report (attached) can be seen at:

Media release: http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release_a.jsp?releaseid=21899

Report: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/environment.jsp

Quotes:

Simon Birkett, Principal Contact for the Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL), said:

‘The London Assembly’s cross-party Environment Committee has succeeded (in weeks) where Mayor Johnson and the government have failed so far (over one year and 10 years respectively) by: unearthing the real health cost of poor air quality; and producing a convincing plan to improve quickly air quality in London.

‘The Campaign for Clean Air in London supports fully the report published today including all its recommendations.

‘CCAL wishes to thank particularly: Darren Johnson (Green), Chair of the London Assembly’s Environment Committee; Murad Qureshi (Labour), Deputy Chair; Gareth Bacon (Conservative); and Mike Tuffrey (Liberal Democrat) who have worked so hard and effectively throughout this investigation. As the ‘party leads’ on this investigation, they have each risen above party-politics to champion the true interests of Londoners. CCAL congratulates them all and thanks most warmly also the other members of the LAEC: James Cleverly (Conservative); Roger Evans (Conservative); and Nicky Gavron (Labour). Elizabeth Williams, Scrutiny Manager, and her colleagues in the Greater London Authority are to be commended also for their valuable contribution.

‘CCAL calls on Mayor Johnson to accept immediately the report including all its recommendations and the government, after some 10 years of static or worsening air pollution in London, to fund fully the main measures proposed. With thousands of lives seemingly lost prematurely every year in London, action must begin now not wait for 12 months to 18 months while the Mayor and the government dilly-dally over their air quality strategies and plans.

‘To encourage such action, CCAL will be writing to the European Commission shortly urging it to escalate its legal action against the United Kingdom by issuing a final written warning for breaching standards designed to protect the public from dangerous airborne particles. Put in legislation in 1999, these laws have been broken every year since they entered into force in 2005.’

Contact:

Campaign for Clean Air in London

Simon Birkett, Principal Contact, can be contacted through the Campaign website or the email or mobile phone number provided separately.

Notes:

1. The main recommendations from the LAEC are:

i. Introduce additional, smaller low emission zones to target pollution hotspots from road transport.
ii. Introduce a vehicle retrofit subsidy scheme in London with funding support from central government.
iii. Undertake research into using biofuel for all public transport in London including buses, trains, taxis and river transport.
iv. Launch a widespread information campaign to make air quality information more accessible to Londoners.
v. The reduction of emissions in the older public diesel vehicle fleet is vital.
vi. Planning guidance can be used through existing legislation if there are air quality implications for planning decisions.

2. The LAEC’s media release and report (attached), ‘Every Breath You Take’, can be seen at:

Media release: http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release_a.jsp?releaseid=21899

Report: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/environment.jsp

3. The Campaign for Clean Air in London submitted 65 detailed recommendations to the London Assembly Environment Committee for it (and others) to consider as part of its investigation. These are attached to this Campaign Update.

4. The Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL) wrote to Alan Johnson, the Secretary of State for Health, in a letter dated 19 April pointing out that the latest research by the European Environment Agency suggests some 2,900 people aged 30 or over may die prematurely per annum from dangerous airborne particles (PM10) in Greater London alone: nearly three times earlier estimates. The letter pointed out also that related research suggests the amount of time lost, per statistical victim, may be 9.8 years equating to an average change in life expectancy of approximately 0.6 years (i.e. 7.2 months) in the total population. CCAL’s letter can be seen at:

http://www.cleanairinlondon.org/blog/_archives/2009/4/19/4157876.html#attachments

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CAMPAIGN LETTER: 19 April 2009

The Rt. Hon. Alan Johnson MP
Secretary of State for Health
Department of Health
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London SW1A 2NS

By registered post

19 April 2009


Dear Secretary of State

What is the real health impact of poor air quality in Greater London?

Latest research suggests some 2,900* people aged 30 or over may die prematurely per annum from dangerous airborne particles (PM10) in Greater London alone: nearly three times earlier estimates

Research suggests amount of time lost, per statistical victim, may be 9.8 years equating to an average change in life expectancy of approximately 0.6 years (7.2 months) in the total population

This letter is sent on behalf of the Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL). Details of our Mission and Supporters can be seen at www.cleanairinlondon.org.

Summary

The primary purpose of this letter is to ask the Department of Health (DoH): for its urgent assistance to clarify the full extent of the health impact of poor air quality in Greater London; and to commit to a major public information programme to communicate updated similar information at least annually in future.

On 24 March 2009, the European Environment Agency published a report titled ‘Spatial assessment of PM10 and ozone concentrations in Europe (2005)’ (the EEA Report) from which CCAL calculates there were some 2,905 premature deaths attributable to dangerous airborne particles (PM10) among adults of 30 years of age and older in Greater London in 2005. The EEA Report (5.2 MB) can be downloaded at:

http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/spatial-assessment-of-pm10-and-ozone-concentrations-in-europe-2005-1

Furthermore, some of the medical research to which the EEA refers (Kunzli et al, 2000), suggests that the amount of time lost per statistical victim may be 9.8 years equating to a change in life expectancy of approximately 0.6 years (7.2 months) in the total population.

This new information is particularly worrying given that: the only previous premature death figure for London seen by CCAL was 1,031 premature deaths from PM10 in total in 2005; and the government’s Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2007 (AQS 2007) appears to have omitted references to premature deaths (when earlier government-sponsored publications had included them) and years of life lost. The AQS 2007 stated simply ‘estimated to reduce life expectancy of every person in the UK by an average of 7-8 months with an equivalent health cost of up to £20 billion each year’.

CCAL is deeply concerned that the public health impact of poor air quality in Greater London, which is recognised – including by the government – to be the worst in the United Kingdom (UK), may be much worse than earlier research showed.

In addition, why have major public information campaigns been launched on alcohol abuse, obesity, road traffic accidents and smoking – and not on poor air quality – when poor air quality is such a major killer? Similarly, why is there no-one seemingly from the DoH commenting regularly in the media on the importance of major research into the health impacts of poor air quality whenever it appears?

In CCAL’s view, it is essential that people are given an opportunity to understand the full extent and seriousness of the air quality problem and the part they can play in improving the situation.

* CCAL calculation based on latest European Environment Agency Report; Greater London assumed to have no worse than average UK exposure to PM10; and ONS population estimates for mid-2007.   more »

CAMPAIGN UPDATE: 1 March 2009

Government maps show action is needed urgently if the United Kingdom is to avoid breaching health based air quality laws for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a toxic gas, in London from 2010 to 2015 and beyond

United Kingdom tops the league for toxic traffic fumes in Europe with: the highest proportion of zones breaching the annual average limit value plus margin of tolerance for NO2; and the most polluted capital city

Government maps obtained by the Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL), under the Freedom of Information Act, show that the government expects currently the United Kingdom (UK) to breach health based air quality laws for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a toxic gas, in London in 2010. These breaches are expected to continue each year thereafter up to, including and beyond 2015. These maps are attached to this Campaign update.

Simon Birkett, Principal Contact of CCAL, said:

“The United Kingdom (UK) is already on the receiving end of legal action from the European Commission (the Commission) for breaching legal standards for dangerous airborne particles (PM10) and missing the deadline to apply for a time extension to comply with them. This legal action must be broadened and escalated rapidly unless the UK comes up with a convincing plan to justify a time extension. ‘No time extension’ will be better than ‘a time extension with a weak plan’ because the former would, at least, leave the UK wide open to legal action to force the government to produce finally a credible plan to protect public health.

“The UK’s failure to tackle nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a toxic gas and an indicator of even worse pollutants, dwarfs its failures with dangerous airborne particles. For example, London has the worst annual average level of NO2 of any capital city in western – or eastern – Europe. In Brompton Road and Marylebone Road, current levels of NO2 exceed 95 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) (i.e. over twice the World Health Organisation backed legal standard of 40 ug/m3 from January 2010). Over 100 UK cities breached in 2008 the level that will become the legal standard in 10 months time.

“It is astonishing that the government intends to spend the next 18 months to two years debating plans and programmes to include in a time extension application for NO2 – when it admits it already expects the UK to fail to meet at least one of the three requirements for such a time extension in London from January 2010 (i.e. Article 22(3) of the Directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe).

“Why is the government not working out now how the UK will become compliant with air quality laws for NO2 as quickly as possible after 1 January 2010? Legal compliance will require three things: the UK proving it has genuinely tried to achieve compliance by January 2010; a convincing plan to comply fully with limit values for NO2 by January 2015; and determined action to ensure average annual levels of NO2 stay below 60 ug/m3 (i.e. the limit value plus margin of tolerance) from January 2010. None of these is currently likely. In stark contrast, Germany, for example, is working hard to have inner low emission zones in place in some 40 cities by the end of 2009 to help it comply with the same health standards.

London needs: the Prime Minister to back a ‘green deal’ of major new measures; and the Mayor of London to promise to deliver upon it in a timely manner. London needs urgently one or more additional inner low emission zones and other measures, including incentives, to tackle harmful emissions at their source. Premature death and irreversible climate change are even worse fates than economic depression. Why can’t our political leaders wake up and tackle two problems at the same time?”

   more »

CAMPAIGN RESPONSE: 22 February 2009

Consultation on the draft UK notification to the European Commission to secure additional time to meet the limit values for particulate matter for certain zones/agglomerations in accordance with the Council Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe

UK fails to satisfy in London any of the three conditions for a time extension to comply with legal standards for dangerous airborne particles (PM10)

European Commission should ‘throw the rule book’ at the UK, and reject its application, unless the UK submits a wholly convincing plan to improve air quality in London

London needs one or more additional inner low emission zones implemented by early 2010 backed by a fully funded government ‘green deal’

The purpose of this letter is to respond on behalf of the Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL) to the consultation (the Consultation) being carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on the draft United Kingdom (UK) notification to the European Commission (the Commission) to secure additional time to meet the limit values for particulate matter (PM10) for certain zones/agglomerations in accordance with the Council Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (the new AQ Directive). The consultation documents can be found at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/air-quality/index.htm

This letter is addressed jointly to the Secretary of State for Transport because CCAL understands that the Department for Transport (DfT) has joint responsibility with Defra for the UK meeting its legal obligations in respect of air quality.

The Prime Minister has been copied, given the cross-departmental issues raised, and all London’s MEPs and others have been copied given that the Commission has already started legal action against the UK for failing to notify a time extension by the deadline set by the Commission of 31 October 2008.

As you know, only the UK, Cyprus, Estonia, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden out of some 24 countries have failed so far to submit any time extension notification plans to the Commission.

Summary

In CCAL’s carefully considered view, the UK does not satisfy either of the pre-conditions for it to obtain a time extension to comply with limit values for PM10.

In particular, the UK fails to pass either the ‘First condition’ – measures to achieve compliance by the initial attainment date; or the ‘Specific condition for PM10’ – site-specific dispersion characteristics, adverse climatic conditions or transboundary contributions. Both of these pre-conditions must be met if the UK is to obtain a time extension to comply with limit values for PM10.

CCAL would need to be completely wrong on every point made in this letter in connection with the above pre-conditions if the UK is to be eligible for a time extension to comply with limit values for PM10. This seems highly unlikely given that the questions are ones of fact.

Furthermore the UK has made no reasonable effort yet to satisfy the ‘Second condition’ – measures to achieve compliance before the new deadline. It has not been helped in this regard by: its reliance on measures that the Mayor of London says he plans to scrap or suspend; its vague words about committing to work with the Mayor of London; and/or its obvious non-compliance over at least part of the London road network even by 2011 (i.e. six kilometres or is it 12 kilometres with modeling errors?).

CCAL will therefore urge the Commission to ‘throw the rule book’ at the UK and reject its time extension notification (TEN) for failing to meet the conditions necessary for such a time extension unless the UK submits a wholly convincing and timely plan by the deadline set by the first written warning (i.e. Letter of Formal Notice). To be wholly convincing, such a plan must be backed by all necessary funding and immediate action to ensure that limit values for PM10 will be complied with sustainably throughout London by no later than 11 June 2011.

CCAL will urge the Commission to progress vigorously legal action, in parallel with any consideration of a belated TEN from the UK, against the UK and the five other Member States that failed to submit a TEN by the Commission’s deadline of 31 October 2008. These countries are clearly in need of ‘encouragement’. Otherwise, what incentive would there be in future for any country to comply within the first six months of a deadline set by the Commission? CCAL understands that the fines against the UK could total £300 million just in respect of PM10. The Commission is not on some ‘frolic’: all the fault sits at the government’s feet after more than 10 years of inaction and disregard for deadlines and/or repeated warnings.

CCAL urges the government to learn now from its serious failings to comply with limit values for PM10 – including the current difficulties it faces in applying for a time extension – and to propose and implement rapidly plans to comply fully with limit values for NO2 by January 2010.

In CCAL’s carefully considered view, the UK is likely currently to miss - by a large margin - not just the limit values for NO2 due to be met since 1999 by January 2010 but also the limit value plus margin of tolerance which must not be exceeded if the time extension provisions are to be used. CCAL considers currently therefore that the UK should not waste everyone’s time by submitting a TEN on NO2 – it should instead focus all its energies on complying urgently with the limit values for NO2 (as it will need to do when legal action is surely launched against it). The UK needs a convincing action plan for NO2 now.

Finally, the UK seems to be one of the least compliant countries and worst ‘free-riders’ in the whole of Europe when it comes to complying with air pollution legislation. We need urgent and energetic cross-departmental action, lead personally by the Prime Minister, if sustainability issues are to be addressed holistically.   more »

CAMPAIGN UPDATE: 29 January 2009

European Commission starts legal action against the United Kingdom to enforce health based air quality laws for particulate matter (PM10)

Campaign for Clean Air in London congratulates Commissioner Dimas and thanks key supporters

The European Commission started infringement proceedings on 29 January 2009 against 10 Member States, including the United Kingdom, for failing to comply with the European Union’s (EU’s) air quality standard for dangerous airborne particles known as PM10. These particles, mainly emitted by industry, traffic and domestic heating, can cause asthma, cardiovascular problems, lung cancer and premature death. The Commission’s action follows the entry into force in June 2008 of the new EU air quality directive, which allows Member States to request, under certain conditions and for specific parts of the country, limited extra time to meet the PM10 standard in force since 2005.

Full details of this legal action can be seen via the attached link:

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/174&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Simon Birkett, Principal Contact for the Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL), said:

"Legal action to enforce health based air quality laws for particulate matter (PM10) is long overdue. These laws were put in place in 1999 and had to be met by 2005. Amazingly, the government has no plans yet to meet these standards fully in London by 2011 and it admits it is depending on the Mayor of London to maintain measures like the western extension of the congestion charging scheme.

"Commissioner Dimas is to be congratulated for showing the determination needed to enforce air pollution laws. Action now on air quality will trigger the technology, behavioural change and political will needed to solve wider air pollution and sustainability issues. It will send a strong message to those preparing for Climate Change negotiations in Copenhagen later this year.

"CCAL wishes to thank particularly John Bowis, Jean Lambert, Baroness Ludford and Claude Moraes for their extraordinary efforts in the European Parliament over several years overseeing new air quality legislation and for ensuring that it was backed quickly by tough enforcement action. Others who have championed better air quality in London include: Gareth Bacon, Baroness Gardner and Mark Field (Conservative); Darren Johnson and Jenny Jones (Green); Len Duvall, Nicky Gavron and Murad Qureshi (Labour); and Ed Davey and Mike Tuffrey (Liberal Democrat). Mayor Livingstone and Mayor Johnson’s letters in support of CCAL have also meant much. Environmental Protection UK’s work encouraging support from other NGOs has also been most valuable. Paradoxically, despite seeing infringement action for government failings, David Miliband, Hilary Benn, Dr Martin Williams and their team at Defra have done much over the last 18 months to change thinking within government on air quality.

"We should not forget though that this legal action is being started just two days after the UK launched two weak air quality consultations. First by Defra, on how it might respond, in due course, to the European Commission's deadline of 31 October 2008 to submit a notification on plans and programmes to comply with PM10 laws in London (which notes that it has no answers for six kilometres of roads). Second, a Department for Transport (DfT) consultation on air quality measures that admits, in its covering letter to consultees, that it has missed other legal deadlines on air quality. It is clear that the DfT (which is jointly responsible with Defra for the UK complying with air quality laws) has badly let down Defra and public health generally. Worse still, the first consultation is not needed legally. And the second highlights the scale of the problem e.g. the transport sector in 2001 was responsible for 39% of total UK emissions of PM2.5 and 54% of total UK emissions of PM0.1 (the finest and most deadly form of particulate matter); road transport is responsible for up to 80% of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and 40% of all particulate matter in large urban areas; and some 80% of current replacement catalysts do not meet the emissions standard required on type approved replacements.

"Of the 10 countries subject today to legal action on PM10, only the UK, Cyprus, Estonia, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden have made no effort to submit a time extension request. The government's focus on cost-benefit analysis instead of cost-effective compliance with air pollution deadlines has finally come 'home to roost'.

"Hopefully, this legal action will shame the UK into tackling not just breaches of PM10 laws but also breaches of NO2 laws which are expected to affect over 100 cities and towns across the UK in 2010.

"Success from here depends on the Prime Minister and Mayor Johnson both supporting the urgent implementation of meaningful additional measures to improve air quality in London. Political deadlock and/or a lack of action by them will result in ridicule for the UK in the years up to London 2012 as legal action over poor air quality widens and escalates."

ENDS

Notes:

1. Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Consultation on UK application to the European Commission for an extension to meet air quality limits for particulate matter (PM10).

Press release on consultation:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2009/090127a.htm

Full consultation documents (which closes on 10 March 2009):

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/air-quality/index.htm

Air quality indicator for sustainable development 2008 provisional results (29 January 2009):

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2009/090129a.htm

2. Department for Transport Consultation on Replacement Pollution Control Devices for Motor Vehicles (which closes on 25 March 2009):

http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/devices/

3. Full list of the some 20 UK cities failing to comply with PM10 laws:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/legislation/pdf/pm10_exceedances_2005_07.pdf

4. Full list of countries submitting at least partial time extension notifications for PM10 (e.g. Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain):

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/legislation/time_extensions.htm

5. Full list of 100 plus UK cities that failed to meet in 2008 what will become legal limits for NO2 from January 2010:

http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/data_and_statistics.php?f_exceedence_id=E1&f_year=2008&f_network_id=Array&f_group_id=2&f_region_reference_id=1&f_sub_region_id=9999&f_output=screen&f_parameter_id=NO2&action=exceedence3&go=Go

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CAMPAIGN LETTER: 11 January 2009

Darren Johnson AM
Chair
Environment Committee
London Assembly
City Hall
The Queen’s Walk
London SE1 2AA

11 January 2009

Dear Darren

Investigation by the Environment Committee of the London Assembly into air quality up to 2012 - The UK's choice: 'Ridicule for breaching air quality laws every year'; or a 'Standing ovation for showing the world how to address air pollution and sustainability issues'

I am writing on behalf of the Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL) to submit evidence to the Environment Committee of the London Assembly (LAEC) as part of its forthcoming investigation into air quality in London. All members of the LAEC are copied on this letter.

Summary

The LAEC’s investigation is taking place in the right place at the right time. Indeed, there is a once in a lifetime opportunity to:

• improve London’s air quality for the first time in 10 years;
• show those involved in long term planning for climate change what it takes, in practice, to reduce air pollution (i.e. a mixture of technology, behavioural change and political will);
• build upon a desire for a step change in road pricing (through ‘tag and beacon’ or its equivalent); and
• deliver a magnificent London 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games with a valuable lasting legacy.

All it would take to achieve this goal is a commitment from the Prime Minister that the government will comply fully with [health based] air quality laws that is followed by determined action. Mayor Johnson too will need to play his part since, while not having [today] a legal duty to ensure limit values are achieved, he holds the key to deliver most of the solutions. Success with leaded petrol, the ozone layer and acid rain show what can be achieved if sufficient political will exists.

Please take this opportunity to press for such a commitment from the Prime Minister (and others). Please back such a call with clear recommendations from the LAEC supporting the most obvious solutions (e.g. one or more additional inner low emission zones) and highlight key issues (e.g. the monitoring of ‘PM2.5’).

With impetus from the LAEC and others on air quality, London could achieve major long term environmental, social and economic benefits and establish itself firmly as the world’s leading city.   more »

Note: The following letter was sent by The Knightsbridge Association not the Campaign for Clean Air in London: 3 January 2009

The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP
Secretary of State
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR

3 January 2009

By registered post and email: hilary.benn@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Dear Secretary of State

Near record air pollution in central London in 2008

Secretary of State for Defra has a legal duty to ensure health based limit values are attained and not exceeded once attained

The Knightsbridge Association asserts its right to require the government to develop an action plan to improve NO2 and PM10 air quality in the short term

The Knightsbridge Association presses the Secretary of State to direct Mayor Johnson not to remove or weaken the western extension of the Congestion Charging Zone unless a stronger inner Low Emission Zone is put in place simultaneously upon its removal

Summary

I am writing on behalf of The Knightsbridge Association (the KA) to urge you, as the relevant Secretary of State, to ensure that the United Kingdom (UK) complies in full with air quality laws in the wider Knightsbridge area of London (and elsewhere throughout the UK).

The KA is an amenity society registered with the Civic Trust. It represents around 1,000 residents and businesses in the wider Knightsbridge area bounded broadly by Hyde Park Corner in the east and Queen’s Gate in the west. Brompton Road, Cromwell Road and Knightsbridge pass through this area. Our website address is:

www.knightsbridgeassociation.org.uk.

For a map of the local area, please see:

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=brompton+road&countryCode=GB#map=51.49919,-0.16453|16|4&bd=useful_information&loc=GB:51.49919:-0.16453:17|brompton%20road|Brompton%20Road%20(A4),%20London,%20England,%20SW7

The KA is concerned about serious breaches of air quality laws in this part of London (and elsewhere). Local air pollution levels in 2008 were close to record levels. Annual mean levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were well over twice the maximum level recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and peak levels occurred some 427 times compared to the WHO’s maximum recommended frequency of 18 times. The KA estimates that annual average levels of particulate matter (PM10) in this area exceeded 40 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) and may have approached 50 ug/m3. The WHO has stated that there is no safe level for exposure to particulate matter. This situation is clearly unsustainable and unacceptable.

European Union (EU) air quality laws required annual average levels of PM10 air quality to attain 40 ug/m3 from 1 January 2005 and for that level not to be exceeded once attained. These laws were transposed into UK law in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2007 (AQSR 2007). These Regulations impose inter alia a statutory duty on you, as the relevant Secretary of State, to develop action plans to improve air quality in the short term. This duty was reaffirmed and clarified recently in a preliminary Judgement by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The KA is hereby notifying you that it respectfully requests and requires in respect of the wider Knightsbridge area that you as Secretary of State: (i) prepare and implement urgently an action plan that is capable of reducing to a minimum the risk that the limit values for NO2 and PM10 will be exceeded and of ensuring a gradual return to a level below those limit values; and (ii) at least maintain air quality (where limit values have already been met), and otherwise comply in full with relevant air quality laws. Please note that the requirement that limit values must not be exceeded once attained is an absolute legal requirement.

The KA is concerned further that decisions may be taken by the Mayor of London and/or others during 2009 or subsequently which would adversely and illegally impact air quality in this area e.g. the possible removal or weakening of the western extension of the Congestion Charging Zone (the WEZ). In the KA’s carefully considered view, such a decision would inter alia worsen air quality where it has attained limit values for PM10 and thereby breach air quality laws unless at least directly offsetting measures were put in place simultaneously upon its removal. These measures might include dynamic road pricing (such as ‘tag and beacon’) and/or one or more inner Low Emission Zones (which will be needed anyway to ensure that air quality laws are complied with cost effectively). Please therefore issue ‘directions’ as necessary to the Mayor of London and/or others to ensure that relevant air quality laws are complied with fully.

The KA hopes, if you respond positively and energetically to this letter in respect of the wider Knightsbridge area and/or London as a whole, that its actions may set a valuable precedent and encourage other community groups in London (and elsewhere) to seek improvements in local air quality and reductions in air pollution generally.   more »

CAMPAIGN UPDATE: 16 January 2009

The most-read stories of 2008

A look back at the campaign letters and updates that proved the most popular of the year.

March

Campaign supporters (Note: An updated list of supporters is expected to be published shortly which will include Mayor Johnson and others)

April

Conditional support for new EU air quality law

May

'Clean Air in London' hails Lord Coe's air quality vision for London 2012

June

New European Union Directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe entered into force on 11 June 2008

July

New air quality laws require one-third less air pollution in London within 18 months

August

'Clean Air in London' hails Lord Coe's air quality vision for London 2012

September

Government must submit to the European Commission by 31 October 2008 plans to eliminate breaches of air quality laws for particulate matter along 40 kilometres of London roads across 13 boroughs by 2011 or face legal action

October

Leading NGOs call for Government commitment to comply fully with air quality laws

November

Leading NGOs call for Government commitment to comply fully with air quality laws

December

Campaign for Clean Air in London urges the European Commission to launch legal action against the UK now for breaching EU air quality limit values for particulate matter (PM10)

   more »

CAMPAIGN LETTER: 1 November 2008

Commissioner Dimas
Commissioner for Environment
Environment Directorate-General
European Commission
B-1049 Brussels

By registered post and email: stavros.dimas@ec.europa.eu

1 November 2008

Dear Commissioner Dimas

Did the UK meet the European Commission’s deadline of 31 October to notify a request for a time extension to comply with European Union air quality laws for particulate matter (PM10)?

Baroness Gardner will ask this question in the House of Lords on Tuesday 4 November 2008

The Campaign for Clean Air in London urges the European Commission to launch legal action against the UK now on PM10 pollution and in early 2009 on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution

‘The London Matrix’: Air quality or climate change, it’s about air emission reduction deadlines

Summary

I am writing to you on behalf of the Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL) on two matters.

First, please will you confirm whether the United Kingdom (UK) notified fully the European Commission (Commission) by its deadline of 31 October 2008 of a request for a time extension to comply with European Union (EU) air quality laws for particulate matter (PM10) in the manner requested by the Commission in its press release dated 8 July 2008. CCAL understands that the UK government intended to miss that deadline. A link to the Commission’s announcement is shown below:

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1112&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

To underline the significance of this deadline, Baroness Gardner of Parkes has lodged a Topical Question to be answered in the House of Lords shortly after 2.45 pm on Tuesday 4 November. It reads:

Baroness Gardner of Parkes to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they requested by 31 October a derogation from the European air quality directive for particulate matter in order to avoid legal action for potential breach of the limits in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Baroness Gardner highlighted the importance of meeting air quality deadlines also in the House of Lords on 9 October 2007. You can see the full text of that debate via the link below:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2007-10-09a.117.0&s=speaker%3A13304#g117.3

CCAL has today submitted a Freedom of Information Request/Environmental Information Request to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) asking it to provide similar information.

Second, if the UK failed to comply fully with the Commission’s request for information by the above deadline, as CCAL suspects, CCAL urges the Commission to launch by 30 November 2008 robust legal action against the UK for breaching EU air quality limit values (Limit Values) for PM10 in 2005, 2006 and/or 2007 as it has been entitled to do for some time.

In CCAL’s carefully considered view, Europe is today at a crossroads in terms of its ability (or failure) to tackle air pollution. This is because:

• the Limit Values for PM10 have been due, since 1999 legislation, to be complied with by January 2005;

• the new EU directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (the new AQ Directive) entered into force on 11 June 2008 with specific provisions to tackle this problem;

• the Limit Values for PM10 (and NO2) are the bare minimum needed to protect human health and the environment. Particulate matter air pollution alone causes some 350,000 deaths per annum now across Europe;

• the Commission set a reasonable deadline for notifying requests for time extensions for PM10;

• Europe’s credibility at reducing air pollution emissions is at stake now;

• the UK government is ‘playing games’ with the Commission;

• leading UK NGOs have called for the government to comply fully with air quality laws; and

• last but not least, the Commission said on 8 July 2008 that legal action would follow if any Member State did not submit a notification for a time extension by the deadline and so it must.

Please therefore enforce air quality laws now and send a message to those attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznan from 1 to 12 December that Europe is serious about complying with the environmental obligations that it sets. Lack of action before then would lead to suspicions that no enforcement action on air pollution is likely ever in Europe. If air pollution laws are not going to be complied with and/or enforced, it is better not to have them in the first place. This is a very serious message for those going to Poznan.

1 November 2008 will be remembered as the time when Europe showed it had the political will to tackle its toughest air pollution problems or failed to do so.   more »

CAMPAIGN RESPONSE: 25 October 2008

Consultation responses required by 28 October 2008

The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP
Secretary of State
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR

The Rt. Hon. Geoff Hoon MP
Secretary of State
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR

By email to: euairquality@defra.gsi.gov.uk

25 October 2008

Dear Secretaries of State for Defra and DfT (and Defra consultation team),

Consultation on UK report regarding plans and programmes to meet EU air quality limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) (reporting year 2006)

Government is making no meaningful effort to comply with limit values for NO2 by January 2010 and has no date planned for eventual compliance

Government has no contingency plans to address time extension obligations that will arise under the new Air Quality Directive if it breaches limit values for NO2 in 2010. For example, airports are not mentioned in the whole draft report

Government is seeking to comply ‘selectively’ with reporting timetables

The purpose of this letter is to respond on behalf of the Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL) to the consultation being carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on the United Kingdom (UK) and Devolved Administrations’ draft report on plans and programmes to meet European Union (EU) ambient air quality limit values (limit values) for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The consultation documents can be found at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/air-limitvalues2006/index.htm

The letter is addressed jointly to the Secretary of State for Transport because CCAL understands that the Department for Transport (DfT) has joint responsibility for the UK meeting its legal obligations in respect of air quality.

The Prime Minister has been copied, given the cross-departmental issues raised and all London’s MEPs and others have been copied given the imminence of the related deadline of 31 October 2008 for notifying requests to the European Commission (the Commission) for time extensions to meet the corresponding limit values for PM10.

Summary

The Campaign for Clean Air in London notes the obligation under EU legislation referred to in the consultation document for the government to produce plans and programmes to ensure compliance with the limit values “within the required timescale”. CCAL considers the last few words unnecessarily vague since the obligations must be met by January 2010 (under 1999 legislation) or January 2015 (if the UK is granted a conditional time extension under the new EU Directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (the new AQ Directive) that entered into force on 11 June 2008).

CCAL has three main concerns with the draft report which is the subject of this consultation. First, it does not show or refer to any expected date by which the UK will ensure compliance with either of the limit values for NO2. Second, the plans and programmes currently proposed together are clearly insufficient to achieve the limit values for NO2 or indeed to make any reasonable effort to do so by the required date of January 2010 (or January 2015). Third, the report includes no contingency plans to comply with the time extension obligations for NO2 under the new legal regime if the UK fails to meet the limit values for NO2 by January 2010 (as currently seems likely) e.g. Article 22 paragraph 3 and/or the January 2015 deadline. CCAL is disappointed that the first two points have not been addressed in the current report when it raised them in the identical consultation some 12 months ago.

In CCAL’s view, the report does not meet the requirements of Annex IV of the relevant EU Directive. CCAL is therefore copying this letter to Commissioner Dimas and urging him please to reject the UK’s report and to commence necessary enforcement action against the UK for failing to meet its reporting requirements - unless these points are addressed fully in the submission as required by 31 December 2008.

In CCAL’s view, the Commission could commence legal action against the UK for breaching limit values for NO2 as soon as there is sufficient evidence that breaches of the hourly limit value have occurred. Results from 2008 indicate that this could happen as early as 31 January 2010.   more »

CAMPAIGN RESPONSE: 27 September 2008

Boris Johnson
Mayor of London and Chair of Transport for London
Transport for London
Western Extension Consultation
12th Floor Windsor House
42-50 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0TL

Congestion Charging
Western Extension Consultation
Chiswick Gate
598 – 608 Chiswick High Road
London W4 5RT

By email: westernextension@tfl.gov.uk and mayor@london.gov.uk

Dear Mayor Johnson,

Consultation on the future of the Congestion Charge Western Extension (CCWE)

Keep the Congestion Charge Western Extension or an even tougher, additional, inner Low Emission Zone will be needed by early 2010

This response to Transport for London’s (TfL’s) public consultation on the future of the Congestion Charge Western Extension (CCWE), which is due to close on 5 October 2008, is sent on behalf of the Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL). See:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/congestioncharging/westernextension/default.aspx

In your letter to CCAL, dated 31 July 2008, you requested that CCAL submit a formal response to this consultation in September.

Summary

Government maps, recently published by CCAL, highlight yet again, that road transport is the biggest single cause of all breaches of air quality laws across London. The solutions needed involve two overlapping ‘circles’ of measures – one for congestion (since vehicles are about half as polluting once they reach speeds of 30 kilometres per hour) and the other for emissions (such as low emission zones) – that target the most polluting vehicles in the most polluted areas.

CCAL urges the Mayor of London (the Mayor) to keep the CCWE primarily on the grounds that traffic levels would rise significantly without it, leading to increased pollutants from vehicles. In CCAL’s view, it would be foolish of the Mayor to remove the CCWE when he would then need to toughen further additional measures, such as one or more additional inner low emission zones, that are already long overdue to reduce sharply hazardous vehicle emissions to comply with air quality laws in the same area of London.

CCAL urges the Mayor to pursue vigorously stronger measures to reduce congestion across London. Instead of weakening (or removing the CCWE), the Mayor should build on the current ‘blunt instrument’ by offering dynamic (or ‘intelligent’) road pricing, such as ‘tag and beacon’ or better, in parallel with the current CCWE and Congestion Charge Central (CCC). This would give people the choice of paying a fixed congestion charge or opting to pay a flexible charge i.e. such that they might pay nothing to drive short distances outside the hours of congestion. In due course, once dynamic road pricing is shown to work well, it should take over fully from the current ‘blunt’ scheme and be extended to operate, where necessary, across London.

CCAL is concerned that a relatively small number of vehicle owners, who are primarily responsible for congestion, are - at little or no cost to themselves - having a disproportionate, negative impact on the health of hundreds of thousands of Londoners. Those causing congestion should pay the full environmental cost of their actions as part of a much wider ‘polluter pays’ strategy in London. CCAL supports measures to reduce congestion, in their own right, as a means of increasing road capacity and improving quality of life for the vast majority of Londoners.

Last but most importantly, CCAL emphasises the need for the Mayor to work closely with the government to implement measures urgently to ensure that air quality laws are fully complied with throughout London not just in the CCWE area.

   more »

OPEN LETTER TO MAYOR JOHNSON SENT ON CAMPAIGN FOR CLEAN AIR IN LONDON LETTERHEAD

Boris Johnson
Mayor of London
Greater London Authority
City Hall
The Queen’s Walk
More London
London SE1 2AA

By email: mayor@london.gov.uk

13 July 2008

Dear Mayor Johnson,

Proposals to improve London’s air quality

You will be aware that the new European Union directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (the new AQ Directive) requires sharp reductions in air pollution in London by January 2010.

In this context, it is time that you announced the measures that your administration will take to ensure that air quality laws will be complied with in London. It is not good enough, more than 10 months after you launched your campaign to become Mayor of London, that you have not announced a single, significant, new policy that will ensure London plays its part in ensuring that air quality laws will be complied with fully in London. Worse even than taking no action, you have acted seemingly to withdraw or ‘threaten’ existing air quality measures.

The purpose of this letter is to prompt you to take action to improve London’s air quality.

Road transport causes all the breaches of air quality laws in London

The government has admitted that road transport is the cause of all the breaches of air quality laws in the United Kingdom (UK) with diesel emissions being by far the biggest single component. The solutions involve two overlapping ‘circles’ of measures – one for congestion and the other for emissions - that target the most polluted areas with technology-based solutions and create a ‘tipping point’ of behavioural change backed by awareness, persuasion, incentives and regulation (when necessary). Behavioural change offers the most cost effective solutions.

Proposals to reduce congestion

In the congestion ‘circle’, road pricing is essential, fair and much needed in areas like central and west London, to tackle congestion and ‘make the polluters pay’ since vehicles produce less than half as much air pollution once their speed reaches 30 kilometres per hour. It should operate seven days per week in the most polluted areas. The Central and Western Extension of the Congestion Charging Zone (together the ‘CCZ’) should operate as two co-ordinated, independent, schemes i.e. people should be charged to cross between zones and resident discounts in each should apply only for one of the two zones.

A fair policy would ensure that the ‘polluters pay’. Trucks and coaches should pay substantially more than cars. Why is it that the ‘icon’ of free markets, New York City, can propose a charge of $21 for trucks and coaches (compared to $8 for cars) while such vehicles in London can pay less than cars through a fleet discount mechanism? Motorcycles should pay a modest amount, perhaps £4, to drive in the CCZ since they are among the most polluting vehicles. The London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (LAEI) Second Annual Report (for 2003 that was published in August 2006) estimated that motorcycles will generate some 19% of all fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from road traffic in the most polluted areas in 2010 and much higher still proportions of other pollutants, such as benzene (87%), butadiene (65%), non-methane volatile organic compounds 65%) and methane (34%).

A ‘tag and beacon’ road pricing scheme should be offered in parallel with the current Congestion Charging Scheme so that vehicles that drive little and outside the times of congestion can register and pay nothing. If the government will not set inter-operability parameters for a national scheme, London must proceed on its own and blame the government for subsequent problems that arise for road users elsewhere in the UK.

The Campaign for Clean Air in London (‘CCAL’) urges you also to tackle other causes of congestion not least at weekends when it is particularly bad e.g. by removing free parking at weekends in central London. You should also ensure that unnecessary roadworks and unnecessary closures of arterial roads are not allowed e.g. the frequent closure of South Carriage Drive in west London. The CCAL supports a 20 miles per hour speed limit in residential streets.

Please ensure that any consultation or survey conducted about the future of the Western Extension to the Congestion Charging Zone (WECCZ) makes clear not only the substantial benefits that have arisen from this scheme (e.g. in terms of lower traffic volumes and reduced congestion) but also that, without effective road pricing, it is likely to be necessary to ban, by 2010, a much higher proportion of the most polluting vehicles from these areas than would otherwise be the case. As you know, the CCAL wrote to Commissioner Dimas (copying you) on 5 May 2008 pointing out that the removal of the WECCZ could breach Article 12 of the new AQ Directive. You should decide now to keep and toughen the WECCZ.

Proposals to reduce emissions

In the emissions ‘circle’, we need urgently an additional, inner, Low Emission Zone (LEZ) at least in central and west London to reduce harmful emissions. This should require all diesel vehicles entering the zone to match Euro 4 engine emissions standards for both particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen by 2010. The CCAL supports requiring petrol engined vehicles to match at least Euro 3 engine emissions standards for both particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen by 2010 (since these vehicles are much less polluting than their diesel counterparts). An inner LEZ must include all vehicle categories to be ‘fair and effective’ e.g. motorcycles, cars, trucks and coaches. It will join dozens of similar schemes around Europe which target the most polluted areas of large cities. See: http://www.lowemissionzones.eu/. London’s existing blunt, broad scheme is not enough on its own.

Please press the government to set urgently national standards for the abatement of emissions of oxides of nitrogen from older, particularly diesel, vehicles (to meet Euro 4 emission standards for diesel and Euro 3 emission standards for petrol) since these standards could then be adopted uniformly across the UK to address expected breaches of air quality laws for NO2 in a number of cities. If the government will not set such standards, London must proceed on its own and blame the government for subsequent problems that arise for road users elsewhere in the UK.

Emissions from taxis are estimated in the LAEI to cause some 37% of the most hazardous road transport emissions (exhaust PM2.5) in the most polluted parts of London in 2010. The previous Mayor’s Taxi Emissions Strategy expires this month with nothing to replace it. Instead of weakening controls on taxis as currently seems to be the case, you should require all licensed taxis driving in the most polluted areas to meet Euro 4 emissions standards for particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen by 2010. Taxi users should contribute financially to the necessary expense.

Please pursue vigorously other measures that might reduce vehicle emissions at source e.g. technology solutions that can be retrofitted to vehicles to shut off engines when idling for more than a few seconds. Such an approach should be combined with action by local authorities to ‘blitz’ unnecessary engine idling. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea commented in its Local Air Quality Management, Air Quality Action Plan Update 2008 that “in 2007 [its] enforcement officers attended 38 complaints and have warned drivers to switch off their engines and they have done so in every case”. We have asked the City of Westminster whether it operates a similar scheme. Clearly, such action should be taken hundreds of times per annum, not just dozens of times, in each of the most polluted boroughs.

Other measures to improve London’s air quality

As well as much needed road transport measures, it is essential that other actions are taken to improve air quality. These include:

• Increasing public awareness of the extent of air quality problems and their health impacts and helping people, through education, to understand the part they can play in improving air quality by the choices they make;
• Encouraging modal shifts to less and non-polluting modes of transport e.g. walking, cycling and public transport;
• Encourage the take-up of more efficient domestic and other boilers;
• Reducing substantially the number of festival bonfires; and
• Ensuring compliance at least with the ‘Best Practices Guidance: For the Control of Dust and Emissions from Construction and Demolition’.

A broad, holistic strategy is needed now that will address fairly and effectively the actual underlying causes of London’s air quality problems. Please ‘aim ahead of climate change’ and do not be a ‘busy fool’ who pursues a myriad of polices that achieve little or nothing.

Only the government and you have the resources necessary to determine the complete, necessary, package of measures and the time by which each element must be implemented to ensure that air quality laws will be complied with fully in London.

Take action now or others will soon force you to do so

There are clear environmental, social and economic reasons for improving the UK’s air quality quickly. Despite this, you seem to have shown yourself unwilling, after 10 months, of mustering even the political will needed to tackle London’s air quality problems. Do not listen to the same siren voices that argued against the creation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act introduced in 1956. London needs a new approach from you, by the autumn of this year at the latest, that will give stakeholders of all types, whether from business, the non-governmental sector or citizens generally, the certainty and time necessary to play their full part in delivering the required changes in the most cost effective manner.

Failing urgent action by you, the Campaign for Clean Air in London shall have to urge: the European Commission to take robust action against the UK to defend World Health Organisation-based air quality laws; and the UK government to require you to take action.

I would be pleased to meet you to discuss these proposals. In any event, I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Simon Birkett

Principal Contact
Campaign for Clean Air in London

Cc:

Commissioner Dimas, Environment DG
The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Rt. Hon. Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State for Transport
David Cameron MP, Leader of the Conservative Party
John Bowis MEP, Conservative
Jean Lambert MEP, Green
Baroness Ludford MEP, Liberal Democrat
Claude Moraes MEP, Labour
Richard Barnes AM, Statutory Deputy Mayor and Leader of the Conservative Group
Len Duvall AM, Leader of the Labour Group, London Assembly
Darren Johnson AM, Green, Chair of the Transport and Environment Committee
Mike Tuffrey AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, London Assembly
Valerie Shawcross AM, Chair of the Transport Committee, London Assembly
Tim Hockney, Executive Director, Transport, London First
Councillor Colin Barrow, Leader of the Council, City of Westminster
Councillor Merrick Cockell, Leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council   more »

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY, APPROPRIATELY CREDITED, IF PRIOR PERMISSION IS OBTAINED FROM THE CAMPAIGN FOR CLEAN AIR IN LONDON - PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU WISH TO DO SO.

Simon Birkett: ‘We’re choking to death while the government dithers’

New air quality laws require one-third less air pollution in London within 18 months

Live in a big city and you risk suffering from fumes, breathing difficulties, even premature death. Yet the government has spent 10 years in denial about the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) air quality problems. The rest of us know differently and action is long overdue.

For change to happen, UK citizens look set to have to rely on the European Union’s (EU’s) legal framework that first put legal force behind World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for air quality in 1999. That framework was updated on 11 June 2008 when a new EU directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe entered into force (the new AQ Directive). Now we need that directive to be translated into action.

Environmental, social and economic cases for action

Poor air quality has serious implications for public health resulting in between 12,000 and 24,000 premature deaths each year in the UK – those with asthma, lung diseases and heart conditions, particularly the very young and the old, are most susceptible. These numbers compare with some 617 such deaths per annum from workplace-related passive smoking before recent legislation came into force and up to 22,000 premature deaths per year related to alcohol consumption. The Rogers Review in 2006 stated that, in 2005, the UK’s annual cost of health impacts from one form of air pollution alone, called particulate matter (or PM10), was between £9.1 billion and £21 billion per annum. Aside from the terrible human cost, the economic case for action was made in the government’s own Air Quality Strategy in 2007 when it stated that ‘policies in the road transport sector and electricity sector have been shown to be very cost beneficial with benefits estimated to have exceeded costs by up to a factor of 24’.

This public health crisis is not surprising when air pollution near our busiest streets is so bad. During 2007 in London, for example, the average annual concentrations of a toxic gas called nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Marylebone Road, Kings Road and Brompton Road were 102, 91 and 94 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) respectively (and they have started five to 10% higher in 2008). These measurements compare with the WHO’s guideline, set in 2000 and re-confirmed in 2005, and backed by EU law, of a maximum average annual concentration of 40 ug/m3. The air we are breathing in hardly bears thinking about.

Article 22

Nearly 10 years on, the government has failed to deliver WHO recommended standards of air quality throughout the UK. Fortunately, Article 22 in the new AQ Directive provides, amongst other things, that the UK cannot get a time extension from meeting its legal obligations for NO2 by January 2010 unless it ensures that average annual concentrations of NO2 remain below 60 ug/m3 across the UK thereafter. This means that air pollution near London’s busiest streets, for example, must be reduced by more than one-third in just over 18 months.

One result of Article 22 is that it could stop the Heathrow expansion in its tracks. This issue should also concern London Mayor Boris Johnson as he reconsiders the western extension to the Congestion Charging Zone. Then there are the London Olympics in 2012. The organisers would face a public relations disaster if the European Court of Justice took enforcement action against the UK for breaching Article 22 in the months leading up to the Games. The legal obligations rest on the UK as a Member State.

At the Campaign for Clean Air in London (CAiL), we are confident that the European Commission will take robust, early enforcement action against the UK for three reasons. First, without it, the EU’s broader air pollution strategy, including its post-Kyoto climate change negotiations, will be a ‘laughing stock’. Second, with the new AQ Directive being a hard-fought compromise between those who wanted to achieve all the WHO’s standards for air quality and those who wanted delay and greater flexibility, it would be unthinkable for the European Commission to fall at its first enforcement hurdle. Third, the UK (and London in particular) can be singled out for the scale of its NO2 breaches. Enforcement action could take place this year or early in 2009 in respect of PM10 breaches.

Problems and solutions

The government has admitted that road transport is the cause of all breaches of air quality laws in the UK with diesel emissions being by far the biggest single component. The solutions involve two overlapping ‘circles’ of measures – one for congestion and the other for emissions - that target the most polluted areas with technology-based solutions and create a ‘tipping point’ of behavioural change backed by awareness, persuasion, incentives and regulation (when necessary). In one ‘circle’, road pricing is essential, fair and much needed in areas like central and west London, to tackle congestion and ‘make the polluters pay’ since vehicles produce less than half as much air pollution once their speed reaches 30 kilometres per hour. It should operate seven days per week. In the other ‘circle’, we need an additional, inner, Low Emission Zone (LEZ) at least in central and west London to reduce harmful emissions. It will join dozens of others around Europe which target the most polluted areas of large cities. Unless the government sets, belatedly and soon, national standards for the abatement of emissions of oxides of nitrogen from older diesel vehicles of all the main types, these vehicles must be banned soon by LEZs from the UK’s most polluted streets.

After nearly 10 years, the government must take action

There are clear environmental, social and economic cases for improving the UK’s air quality quickly. Despite this, the government has shown itself incapable, over 10 years, of mustering even the political will needed to meet its environmental obligations. It has listened to the same siren voices that argued against the creation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act introduced in 1956. We need a new approach urgently from the government and Mayor Johnson that will give stakeholders of all types, whether from business, the non-governmental sector or citizens generally, the certainty and time necessary to play their full part in delivering the required changes in the most cost effective manner. Failing that, we shall have to urge the European Commission to take robust action to defend WHO-based air quality laws.

Simon Birkett is the Principal Contact for the Campaign for Clean Air in London

This article is based on an opinion piece by Simon Birkett that was published in The Independent newspaper on 4 July 2008

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/simon-birkett-were-choking-to-death-while-the-government-dithers-859954.html   more »

Campaign update: 27 January 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CAMPAIGN NEWS RELEASE: 27 January 2008

Low Emission Zone is much needed but must go much further, much faster

Brompton Road air pollution peaks hit record levels in 2007 and topped those in Marylebone Road

72% of Londoners are worried about air pollution

IOC was told that “London has the capacity and ambition to deliver the best Games ever – for athletes, for sustainability and the environment”

Department for Transport replies to 15 crucial questions from CAiL

Air pollution in London’s busiest streets must be “halved” within four years

Low Emission Zone is much needed

"The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) is much needed since London needs to more than halve air pollution in its busiest streets within four years to meet health standards and comply with air quality laws. However, as currently planned, the LEZ will make a modest contribution only to the necessary reductions in air pollution levels. London needs to reduce the most hazardous vehicle emissions much further, much faster by tightening the LEZ in the most polluted areas of London. It is unacceptable that the Department for Transport still does not have an holistic strategy for the abatement of emissions from older vehicles. Emissions from diesel engines are a particular problem in London” said Simon Birkett, Principal Contact for the Campaign for Clean Air in London (CAiL).

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Campaign letter: 17 January 2008

London 2012: “Greenest Games ever” or “Most sustainable ever” breaches of air quality laws with EU and IOC legal action?

Government has no actions planned yet to comply with Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) air quality laws in London by 2010, 2015 or 2020

Commitments received from the four main candidates for Mayor of London

The Campaign for Clean Air in London (CAiL) is writing to obtain a commitment now from the Government, on behalf of itself and the whole Olympic Family in the United Kingdom (the UK Olympic Family), in relation to the London 2012 Olympic Games and the London 2012 Paralympic Games (London 2012). The commitment is that they will take all necessary actions to ensure that London 2012 will, at an absolute minimum, comply sustainably and fully with the letter and spirit of all applicable UK and European Union (EU) air quality laws and the Host City Contract for London 2012.

CAiL also urges the Government to go further and make a commitment with regard to nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The commitment is to ensure that London 2012 meets the existing EU Limit Values for NO2, which are due (under the existing EU air quality directives) to be met by January 2010, by London 2012.

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Campaign update: 1 February 2007

Clean Air in London wins cross-party support

The Campaign for Clean Air in London is delighted to announce today that it has received over 50 Pledges from leading politicians and business and community groups to support its cross-party campaign to improve air quality throughout London.

In recent weeks, we have invited Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, David Miliband, as Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and Ken Livingstone, as Mayor of London, together with various other leading politicians and organisations to Pledge their support to the Campaign for Clean Air in London. On 23 January, Ben Bradshaw, Minister for Air Quality within Defra, issued a news release titled “Greater action needed to deliver cleaner air”. Mr Bradshaw said “More needs to be done at local, national and European level if cleaner air is to be achieved” and commented that “Nitrogen dioxide and particulates continue to be a problem in specific locations – usually associated with traffic emissions”.

Pledges of support have been received now from 24 leading politicians representing all four of the main political parties in London. The Campaign for Clean Air in London is delighted also to have received Pledges of support from the Central London Partnership (which works by bringing together public and private sector influence to create positive change in Central London), London First (representing around 300 leading businesses in London) and The Knightsbridge Business Group (representing 18 leading businesses in the Knightsbridge area). These individuals and organisations join 27 community groups, representing virtually the whole of Central London, who have also confirmed their support for the Campaign.

Those giving Pledges have confirmed their support for the aim of the Campaign for Clean Air in London which is to achieve urgently World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended standards of air quality throughout London.

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Consultation response: 13 January 2007

Response to Second Consultation on the Low Emission Zone

The purpose of this letter is to respond on behalf of The Knightsbridge Association, which represents over 1,000 people and businesses in the area between Hyde Park Corner and Queen’s Gate, to the consultation being carried out by Transport for London (TfL) on your behalf on a proposal to introduce a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in 2008. This letter is supported fully by the “Campaign for Clean Air in London” which seeks to achieve urgently World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended standards of air quality throughout London noting that most of these were expected to be achieved by January 2010 in 1999 legislation.

Summary

The Knightsbridge Association supports strongly road pricing and emission schemes in general and seeks that they should be ambitious, effective and well thought through. We have been concerned to discover from the consultation documents for the proposed LEZ that a serious problem with particulate matter air pollution (PM10) is still expected in 2010 and that:

1. The Base Case for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution in London over the next few years is expected now to be more than twice as bad as TfL had thought only last January and with no end now in sight;
2. European Union (EU) legal limits and WHO recommended standards for NO2 are not being given the same priority as the same limits for PM10 even recognising the differences between them;
3. The proposed benefits of the LEZ are now less than they were in early 2006;
4. The latest proposal for the LEZ does not address adequately the major changes that have taken place in the external environment since the first LEZ consultation in January 2006;
5. The consultation documents make clear that the proposed LEZ will have a “negligible” impact on climate change and no “significant impacts on traffic levels or congestion”; and
6. Costs are higher than they would have been if action had been taken as soon as 1999 air pollution legislation was published and will increase sharply if tough action is delayed.

Fresh thinking is need urgently by TfL and the Mayor to deliver a more ambitious LEZ that tackles much sooner and more effectively the serious air pollution problem in London.

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