Archived press release

EU rejects UK bid to avoid air quality targets

11 December 2009

The European Commission has today rejected the UK's bid for extra time to meet European air quality standards. The UK request was opposed by Friends of the Earth lawyers who have been acting for affected communities in Wales.

Laura Gyte, Friends of the Earth's solicitor who has represented Port Talbot residents, said:

"The UK has known about these limits for years - we are delighted that the EU has rejected the Government's bid to carry on polluting.

"All relevant public bodies must now urgently get on with the important job of ensuring that UK air quality standards designed to protect health and the environment are met."

Gordon James, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:

"Air pollution mainly affects people from poorer communities - today's ruling is an important step in protecting their health.

"The Government should put its efforts into meeting air quality standards rather than trying to avoid them."

Lawyers at Friends of the Earth's Rights and Justice Centre have been working with residents of Port Talbot to make sure that air quality standards near to Corus' Port Talbot steel works are met.

Last year the environmental campaign group's lawyers succeeded in forcing the Welsh Assembly Government to produce a legally required Air Quality Action Plan to bring local air quality within legal limits.

Under European law the UK has to ensure that it meets strict limits for PM10s [1] in the atmosphere. It had to meet those limits by 1 January 2005. However, earlier this year the UK applied to the Commission for a further two years to meet its PM10 limits including Port Talbot and London.

Port Talbot is one of eight urban 'Hot Spots' in the UK which has breached air quality limits for PM10s in recent years.

Notes to Editors:

1. PM10s are very small particulate matter (less than 10 micrometers). Both short-term and long-term exposure to ambient levels of PM10s are consistently associated with respiratory and cardiovascular illness and increased mortality (reduction in life expectancy) as well as other ill-health effects.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust