“The Government’s new Clean Air Strategy lacks coherence and a truly joined-up approach for reducing emissions from transport.” The coach and bus industry does not always agree with everything that the Urban Transport Group (née PTEG) says, but this statement is one many will support.
The strategy – on which consultation has opened – was launched yesterday (Tuesday) by Environment Secretary Michael Gove.
It sets out the Government’s plans to tackle the growing air pollution problem and specifically to reduce harmful particulate matter emissions – tiny particles that cause short and long-term health problems – by 30% by 2020, and 46% by 2030.
If you want to understand the subject, then the 104-page document explains it well. You can read it here
It also admits that everything from agriculture (mainly ammonia) to trendy wood-burning stoves has an affect: It’s not just road transport that is the bad boy.
Yet the strategy contains little new information on how to curb emissions from road transport, which is responsible for 80% of roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations, another pollutant that negatively affects our health.
Dr Jon Lamonte, CEO of Transport for Greater Manchester and UTG lead Board member for air quality, says: “Improving poor air quality caused by transport requires a herculean effort, and cities must be given the adequate powers, support and, most crucially, the funding needed to deliver effective local air quality plans.” He has a point.
https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environmental-quality/clean-air-strategy-consultation/
