Air pollution targets likely to be missed, says watchdog

‘The worst-affected areas should be able to find out when air quality will improve’

AIR pollution targets are likely to be missed by the Government, putting people’s health at risk, according to a report from the national audit office.

Targets to reduce four out of five major air pollutants by 2030 will be missed, according to the latest projections, the watchdog found, damaging people’s health and the environment.

“Government is dragging its feet on tackling air quality and it’s people’s health that will suffer,” said Meg Hillier MP, the chair of the public accounts committee.

Whitehall was criticised for lacking clarity on levels of air pollution being suffered and its efforts to reduce it.

“Those living in the worstaffected areas ought to be able to find out when and how their air quality is likely to improve,” said Gareth Davies, the head of the National Audit Office (NAO).

“Proper communication with the public has been sorely lacking,” said Ms Hillier. Publishing information that can’t be understood is pointless, she added.

“Properly engaging with the public on air quality is vital so that they can become part of the solution.” Low public awareness of the sources of pollution was mentioned in the coroner’s report into the 2013 death of Ella Kissi-debrah, nine, the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed as a cause of death.

The report said the Government had not been able to build enough public support for clean air zones, though which users of the most polluting vehicles would pay to drive. Such zones have been strongly criticised in London and Birmingham and a proposal in Manchester is being reviewed after it was delayed by Andy Burnham, the city’s mayor.

The Government said Covid-19 was the biggest reason for its inability to tackle dangerous levels of nitrous oxide, but the NAO said many of the problems encountered predated the pandemic. It also cast doubt on a claim by National Highways that there were no “viable” solutions to reduce the gas, which is produced by internal combustion engines, from nearly half roads where limits have been breached.