Roll out clean air zones to tackle air pollution

The Green Alliance has stressed that the most effective way to deal with dirty air in the UK is to roll out clean air zones across the country.

There is currently a lack of consistent regarding clean air zones. Several local authorities in the north have scrapped or deferred plans to introduce clean air zone, while cities in other parts of the UK are pressing ahead with the schemes to limit dirty vehicles.

The Green Alliance think tank argues that failing to address dangerous levels of air pollution will worsen public health and damage regional economies, with the north again set to lose out.

In 2018 government ministers, in response to a court case from Client Earth, directed 37 local authorities to develop plans for clean air zones to bring air pollution levels within legal limits in the shortest possible time. However, the Green Alliance report says that while schemes are going ahead in Bristol, Birmingham and London, many northern cities are lagging behind.

For example, Leeds cancelled its planned zone during the pandemic and the report says several other cities including Sheffield, Liverpool and Manchester are yet to finalise their schemes.

The paper highlights findings that show Greater Manchester’s economy would have been boosted by £25 million this year if it had committed to its initial plans, while Birmingham expects to gain around £50 million.

The Green Alliance recommends that local authorities implement the most comprehensive form of clean air zone and communicate it as part of a broader transformation plan for the area. The think tanks also urges the government to enshrine commitment to the WHO air pollution limit in law through the Environment Bill.