"This shows contempt for the thousands of Londoners who die prematurely every year or suffer severe ill-health such as respiratory or heart disease as a result of breathing polluted air. It is a disgrace that the capital counts almost 1 in 10 of the worst areas in the country for air pollution. The people of London deserve serious action to stop these needless deaths, not exposure to even more toxic fumes. I hope the forthcoming ECJ ruling makes clear that the government must act to clean up the capital's air. Liberal Democrats have long been calling for effective action through a 'Big Switch' to electric-powered buses, taxis and vans so that at long last Londoners can have the clean air they deserve."
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
Supreme Court rules the government are breaking the law by not cutting air pollution in London
The Supreme Court has ruled the Government are breaking the law by not cutting air pollution levels in several cities including London. Levels of the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide currently breach EU limits in the capital and campaigners say the Government should be doing more. But the Mayor's office says emissions are down: “Airquality in the capital is taken extremely seriously and strenuous efforts are being made to improve it. Since the Mayor took office emissions of dangerous particulates (PM10) have fallen by 15% and of oxides of nitrogen by20% thanks to an ambitious package of measures including building Europe's largest fleet of low emission hybrid buses, retiring the oldest taxis and introducing tighter emission standards for lorries and vans.”
However Stephen Knight AM, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly environment spokesperson, commenting on the Supreme Court decision today to declare that there has been a breach of article 13 of the Air Quality Directive and to refer the case against the Government to the Court of Justice of the European Union, said: “This is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court confirming that the UK Government is breaking long standing air pollution laws in relation to dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide in our air, particularly in London. Not only are thousands of people dying prematurely due to air pollution but there is now the real prospect that the UK will face heavy fines that could be passed on to London. The Government and the Mayor of London should stop trying to get around European laws on air pollution and instead start taking decisive action to tackle the causes of air pollution in our capital. For a start, the Mayor of London must implement an Ultra Low Emission Zone urgently, not wait until 2020 as he currently plans.”
Another Liberal Democrat this time London MEP Sarah Ludford, a campaigner for clean air in London, has welcomed as "justified" the declaration of the Supreme Court in a case brought by environmental campaign group Client Earth that the UK government has breached European air pollution rules. The Court decided to refer the case to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for further clarification. "The Supreme Court declaration that the government has breached the EU Air Quality Directive is regrettable but necessary. Instead of acting swiftly to protect the public from harmful levels of air pollution, a Tory Environment Minister just last week shamefully tried to water down EU air quality rules and the Tory Mayor of London drags his feet."
"This shows contempt for the thousands of Londoners who die prematurely every year or suffer severe ill-health such as respiratory or heart disease as a result of breathing polluted air. It is a disgrace that the capital counts almost 1 in 10 of the worst areas in the country for air pollution. The people of London deserve serious action to stop these needless deaths, not exposure to even more toxic fumes. I hope the forthcoming ECJ ruling makes clear that the government must act to clean up the capital's air. Liberal Democrats have long been calling for effective action through a 'Big Switch' to electric-powered buses, taxis and vans so that at long last Londoners can have the clean air they deserve."
"This shows contempt for the thousands of Londoners who die prematurely every year or suffer severe ill-health such as respiratory or heart disease as a result of breathing polluted air. It is a disgrace that the capital counts almost 1 in 10 of the worst areas in the country for air pollution. The people of London deserve serious action to stop these needless deaths, not exposure to even more toxic fumes. I hope the forthcoming ECJ ruling makes clear that the government must act to clean up the capital's air. Liberal Democrats have long been calling for effective action through a 'Big Switch' to electric-powered buses, taxis and vans so that at long last Londoners can have the clean air they deserve."
