Air quality: draft Clean Air Strategy 2018

Overview

Last summer, we published our plans for reducing roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations in the UK, setting out our approach to meeting the statutory limits for NO₂.

This draft of our Clean Air Strategy outlines our ambitions relating to reducing air pollution in the round, making our air healthier to breathe, protecting nature and boosting the economy. In this draft strategy, we set a clear direction for future air quality policies and goals. The strategy sits alongside three other important UK government strategies: our Industrial Strategy, our Clean Growth Strategy and our 25 Year Environment Plan. It can be downloaded here or viewed below.

We are consulting here on a draft strategy developed by the UK government, setting out how we will work towards meeting these ambitious reductions in England (and where relevant across the UK). However, air quality is a devolved matter with responsibility also resting with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. Since air pollution does not respect national boundaries, securing the necessary improvements will require action in all parts of society and across the UK.

The strategy, therefore, highlights the importance of effective co-operation with the devolved administrations and Chapter 9 briefly sets out actions already underway in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to cut air pollution right across the UK.

Why your views matter

The draft Clean Air Strategy 2018 sets out actions to improve air quality by reducing pollution from a wide range of sources. It affects a broad range of sectors and touches on the interests of many.

We would like your views on the actions being proposed to reduce air pollution and its effects, and to hear whether you have any further suggestions.

We are consulting on each of the main themes of the strategy document: our understanding of the problem; protecting the nation’s health; protecting the environment; securing clean growth and innovation; reducing emissions from transport; reducing emissions from farming; reducing emissions from industry; and leadership. We also ask for your views on the strategy as a whole in the last chapter on progress against targets.

We understand that many of those wishing to respond to this consultation may have interests pertaining to only some of these areas. We have designed the accompanying survey to enable you to concentrate on the areas that are most relevant to you, as well as providing an opportunity to comment on the strategy as a whole. Click on the link below to start.

You can also choose to submit your response to the consultation questions by email to cleanair.consultations@defra.gsi.gov.uk or by post to Clean Air Strategy consultation, Air Quality and Industrial Emissions Team, Defra, Ground Floor, Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.

If you choose to provide a response separate to the online survey, please outline whether you are an individual or responding on behalf of an organisation (and provide relevant details). Please also let us know whether you would like your response to be treated as confidential, and if so why (please see related information in the section 'At the end of the consultation' in Annex A of the draft strategy that is attached below).

The responses we receive now are important and will inform the final UK Clean Air Strategy and detailed National Air Pollution Control Programme to be published by March 2019. We want to hear from all interested parties to help us shape our final strategy.

If you have any questions on this consultation, please email: cleanair.consultations@defra.gsi.gov.uk

If you would like to keep in contact with us, to express interest in this any other Defra consultation. Please give us your details through the link below.

https://gov.smartwebportal.co.uk/defra/public/webform.asp?id=108&id2=1D06F7