1

Before the pandemic, the UK had made limited progress in improving air quality, with less...

Conclusion
Before the pandemic, the UK had made limited progress in improving air quality, with less than a quarter of air quality assessment areas meeting the annual mean limit for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Lockdown restrictions from March 2020 led to less traffic and changing travel patterns and many people experienced better air quality. But by September 2020, most towns and cities saw a return to pre-lockdown levels of air pollution. However, the temporary improvement in air quality in the spring does not mask the need for faster progress on air pollution. Longer term changes to how people live, work and travel as a result of the pandemic will bring opportunities, but also risks, and will require changes to policy which we discuss in the following chapters.
Paragraph Reference
18
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government Not Addressed
The UK has existing legally binding air quality limits, set out in UK legislation (Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010, National Emission Ceilings Regulations 2018). The Environment Bill additionally places a duty on the Secretary of State to set at least two further legally binding targets for air quality, one of which must be to reduce the concentration of ambient PM2.5. Both our existing limits and the new targets fall within the Environment Bill’s definition of “environmental law”—this places them within the remit of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), meaning they can be enforced by the OEP once it is operational. In contrast to the European Commission, the OEP will be able to carry out enforcement proceedings against all public bodies for suspected breaches of environmental law, including local authorities, rather than just national government.
Source
Committee Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry Air Quality
Report Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavirus: a glimpse of a different future or business as usual 11 Feb 2021 HC 468
View on Parliament website
Timeline
Recommendation age 5.3 yrs
Report published 11 Feb 2021