Asthma + Lung UK has welcomed new interim air quality targets for PM2.5 pollution - the most harmful pollutant to human health - in Labour's new Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP). The Government today announced it would tighten the target to cut the concentrations of PM2.5 – a fine particulate pollutant linked to asthma, lung disease and heart conditions – by 30% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels.
Ministers also announced a consultation on reducing the environmental impact of domestic wood burning – such as through bonfires or wood burners. Asthma + Lung UK has welcomed the more 'ambitious' targets unveiled today, but called on the government to go further in committing to evidence-based targets in line with long term World Health Organization guidelines.
Andrew McCracken, Director of External Affairs at Asthma + Lung UK, said: “Bringing forward the air quality targets to 2030 is a welcome step towards cleaner, healthier air that brings England in line with the goals Scotland and EU countries are working towards.
“Air pollution is linked to 43,000 premature deaths every year in the UK. (1) Particulates known as ‘PM2.5’ are invisible to the naked eye and small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs, reaching the bloodstream and causing illness such as asthma, lung cancer, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD). The quicker the government takes steps to reduce the amount of PM2.5 we breathe, the quicker it can reduce the number of people facing a life with these lung conditions.
“Ministers must now move from promise to action. The public consultation on wood-burning promised in the summer needs to begin without delay. Despite being used by only a relatively small number of households, domestic wood-burners produce nearly as much PM2.5 pollution as all road transport. (2) It is the only source of fine particulate pollution that has grown since 2003. (3)
“The more ambitious targets announced today are a clear recognition of the need to clean up our polluted air. We hope that ministers will soon go further and commit to stronger, evidence-based targets in line with long term World Health Organization targets, and outline the concrete measures needed to deliver them. Only then can every child in the UK grow up free from the suffocating grip of air pollution.”
References:
(1) How much of a problem is air pollution in the UK?
(2) Emissions of air pollutants in the UK – Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) - GOV.UK
(3) Emissions of PM2.5 by source | Institute for Fiscal Studies