Clean Air Plan for Wales launched

The Welsh Government has outlined the measures it will take to improve the country’s air quality under its Clean Air Plan for Wales: Healthy Air, Healthy Wales.

In Wales, poor air quality contributes to a reduced life expectancy equivalent to between 1,000 and 1,400 deaths each year – often having a pronounced impact on the most vulnerable, such as the very young or very old, and those with respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.

The new Clean Air Plan identifies a range of actions to be delivered by the Welsh Government and its partners to improving the nation’s air quality, whilst also supporting the natural environment through actions supporting biodiversity and Welsh agriculture, reducing emissions from industry and creating sustainable places to live in.

Some of the measures include: significant investment in active travel infrastructure, improving rail services and for a zero tailpipe exhaust emission taxi and bus fleet by 2028; investigating the use of road user charging, Clean Air Zones and/or Low Emission Zones; a new electric vehicle charging strategy and a shift to ULEVs for waste collection; increasing air quality monitoring through the development of a new Air Pollution Monitoring Network; intelligent tree and hedge planting alongside expanding woodlands to support air quality improvements; and proposals for a new Clean Air Act for Wales to enhance existing legislation and introduce new powers to further tackle air pollution.

Lesley Griffiths, the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, said: “I am very pleased to announce the launch of our Clean Air Plan, which sets out how we will look to improve air quality across Wales, and deal with those problems caused by air pollution, during the next 10 years.

“The aims outlined in the Plan are there to safeguard the most vulnerable, but improving our air quality nationwide will be to the benefit of everyone in Wales, and it’s something we should all want and strive for. But in order to achieve that, we have to take action now. Much of that work is already underway – despite the recent pandemic, we have been able to support local authorities in commencing work on schemes to improve air quality across Wales, with the changes to Castle Street being one example.

“We know that as people across Wales have responded to those restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they have changed how they do things and taken on new habits – including decreasing their reliance on cars, and doing more in their local areas, rather than feeling the need to travel long distances.”