Air pollution limit twice as high as recommendation

The government has proposed to set air quality limits that would allow twice as much small-particle pollution in England as the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends as an upper limit.

The new target is to reduce levels of fine particulate matter to 10 micrograms per cubic metre by 2040. WHO guidelines from last year say that concentrations of PM2.5 should not exceed five micrograms per cubic metre on average over a year.

Although the government has said that the proposal would reduce exposure to fine particulates, campaigners have understandably argued that the measure is inadequate and will continue to leave millions of people exposed to dangerously dirty air.

As part of new proposals set out under the Environment Act, the government is also committing to: reducing nutrient pollution in water in England; halting the decline in species by 2030 and increasing species abundance by 10 per cent by 2042; halving residual waste produced by 2042l and increasing tree canopy and woodland cover from 14 per cent of England to 17.5 per cent by 2050.

The government will now consult on the targets, with a view to making them legally binding towards the end of this year.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “These proposed targets are intended to set a clear, long-term plan for nature’s recovery. In a post-EU era we now have the freedom to move towards a system that focuses on nature’s recovery, as well as its preservation, and which places more emphasis on science and less emphasis on legal process. The change in approach will help us in the pursuit of the targets we are setting under the Environment Act.”

Ruth Chambers, of the Greener UK coalition, said: “The targets on offer are a decent start, but it’s hard to see them making the necessary changes at the necessary speed. Genuine ambition would see targets for protected habitats and resource consumption, and with shorter deadlines. We cannot wait 15 years or longer to see if there’s an improvement.”