Having undertaken an extensive review of the existing strategy, the new Air Quality Strategy proposes to
retain the majority of air quality standards at their current levels.
Current air quality limits
For example, the current limits for PM10 (annual mean of 40 µg/m³ and daily mean of 50 µg/m³ with 35 exceedances; lower limits in
Scotland ) will be retained. However, the strategy does introduce
a new policy framework for tackling fine particles (PM2.5) similar to the approach being proposed in the new European Air Quality Directive, which is currently under negotiation.
An annual mean of 25 µg/m³ (12 µg/m³ in Scotland) and a target to reduce average concentrations at urban background sites by 15% between 2010 and 2020 has been set. The annual mean limits are not considered particularly challenging, except maybe for heavily urbanised areas (e.g. London ), and are to be achieved by 2020.
New measures
The strategy puts forward three specific new measures which it believes could generate significant benefits to the UK, these include:
- incentivising the early uptake of new tighter European Vehicle emissions standards
- increased uptake of low emission vehicles; and
- reducing emissions from ships.
There are another set of measures 'requiring additional development work' that will not be pursued in the short term, but will be reassessed in the future. These include:
- a national road pricing scheme;
- low emission zones;
- retrofitting catalyst-based diesel particulate filters to HGVs;
- reducing emissions from small combustion plants.
The strategy also identifies a number of measures that are unlikely to generate health and environmental benefits which outweigh present costs, or are not currently feasible or otherwise are superseded by other measures being taken forward. These measures are not being kept for ‘immediate review’.
Strategy for 2020
The strategy estimates that air pollution currently reduces the life expectancy of every person in the UK by an average of 7-8 months, with estimated annual health costs of up to £20 billion. The government considers the measures put forward in the strategy have the potential to reduce the impact on average life expectancy to five months by 2020.