CAMPAIGN UPDATE: 1 January 2010

The most-read stories of 2009

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

January

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has a legal duty to ensure air quality limit values are attained and not exceeded once attained

February

Leading NGOs call for Government commitment to comply fully with Air Quality laws

March

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

April

Latest research suggests 2,900 premature deaths each year in London due to dangerous airborne particles (PM10): nearly three times earlier estimates

May

Air quality: Fairer and more ambitious CO2 charge needed

June

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

July

UK does not satisfy any of the three conditions for a time extension to comply with limit values for dangerous airborne particles (PM10) in London

August

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

September

Mayor Johnson urged to apply Precautionary Principle for Air Quality Strategy assuming 6,300 to 7,900 premature deaths in London in 2005 due to dangerous airborne particles (PM10)

October

Verdict on Mayor Johnson’s draft Air quality Strategy: It’s a start but not yet ‘fit for purpose’

November

Mayor Johnson has a statutory duty to ensure his Air Quality Strategy includes policies and proposals for the achievement of the air quality standards

December

‘Clean Air in London’ applauds European Commission’s decision to reject UK’s application to delay compliance with health based laws for dangerous airborne particles (PM10) in London