Defra Air Quality Update IAPSC Birmingham 11 December Robert Vaughan National and Local Air Quality

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Defra Air Quality Update IAPSC Birmingham 11 December Robert Vaughan National and Local Air Quality"

Sharleen Little
5 years ago
Views:

1 Defra Air Quality Update IAPSC Birmingham 11 December 2012 Robert Vaughan National and Local Air Quality

2 Overview Historical and current day health impacts Communicating health impacts clearly Autumn Statement, New Ministers European Review of Air Quality Directives Review of Local Air Quality Management Air Quality Grant Summary 2

60 years since the Great Smog 60 years since Smog of December 1952 4,000 deaths recorded in 1 week in London Led to Lord Beaver Report and Clean Air Act

3 60 years since the Great Smog 60 years since Smog of December ,000 deaths recorded in 1 week in London Led to Lord Beaver Report and Clean Air Act Reduced SO 2 and smoke emissions dramatically Microgrammes per cubic metre Sulphur dioxide Smoke

4 Today? No exceedances of Limits for SO 2, CO or benzene. 60 Significant historic reductions in PM and NO X But decline has levelled off in recent years. Concentrations of NO 2 remain above legal requirements, especially in urban areas such as London. Just meeting the PM 10 limit value for particulate matter. Long term Health impacts attributed to PM 2.5 in 2008 were estimated to cause an average reduction in life expectancy of 6 months (an effect equivalent to 29,000 deaths each year) Annual mean concentration, µgm -3 (SO 2, NO 2, PM 10 ) SO2 all AURN urban non-roadside SO2 10 long-running AURN urban non-roadside NO2 all AURN urban non-roadside NO2 10 long-running AURN urban non-roadside PM10 all AURN urban non-roadside PM10 10 long-running AURN urban non-roadside 4

Air pollution is still in the headlines This is Nottingham Older Cars damaging attempts to reduce pollution (17 November) Derbyshire Times Air pollution kills 13,000 per year Daily Mail Air pollution

5 Air pollution is still in the headlines This is Nottingham Older Cars damaging attempts to reduce pollution (17 November) Derbyshire Times Air pollution kills 13,000 per year Daily Mail Air pollution in towns and cities ages brains of over 50s by 3 years (19 November) Hampshire Chronicle Greens launch campaign against air pollution in Winchester (30 November 2012) Lancashire Evening Post Air Quality on fume filled roads improves! (20 November)

6 Communicating health impacts is more important than ever Public Health Outcomes Framework Air pollution is key health outcome indicator Fraction of all-cause adult mortality attributable to anthropogenic particulate air pollution (measured as fine particulate matter, PM2.5) Shropshire Telford and Wrekin Staffordshire CC Stoke-on-Trent Dudley Coventry Birmingham England

7 NICE has published guidance on Walking and Cycling National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Walking and cycling: local measures to promote walking and cycling as forms of travel or recreation Issued: November 2012 guidance.nice.org.uk/ph41 Air Pollution and Climate Change Motorised transport in urban areas of England is associated with poor air quality, congestion, collisions and physical inactivity each costing society around 10 billion a year (Department for Transport 2009a). Reducing transport-related carbon emissions, by supporting a shift to walking and cycling, will help to address these adverse effects. It will also help ensure people are more physically active, so improving their health

Chief Medical Officer Annual Report highlights impacts of urban air pollution CMO annual report: On the state of the public s health Urban outdoor pollution has a substantial impact on health.

8 Chief Medical Officer Annual Report highlights impacts of urban air pollution CMO annual report: On the state of the public s health Urban outdoor pollution has a substantial impact on health. particularly among older people and those with existing conditions. Road transport is responsible for up to 70% of air pollutants in urban areas. poorest air quality and highest particulate concentrations found in London and Birmingham. Particulate concentration by upper tier local authority

9 Autumn statement 2012 The Government s economic strategy is to reduce the deficit, restore stability, equip the UK to succeed in the global race and rebalance the economy. Autumn Statement sets out further action the Government will take on: protecting the economy; growth; and fairness. Aspects relevant to air quality invest 1.5 billion to enhance and improve the road network and reduce congestion make a 42 million investment in the Sustainable Transport Fund in cycling infrastructure 9

10 New Ministerial priorities Secretary of State: Owen Paterson MP Boost growth in the rural economy whilst continuing to improve our environment. laser-like focus on growing our economy, improving the environment and controlling animal and plant diseases. Lord de Mauley - AQ responsibility Local authorities have key role to play in the delivery of our economic and environmental policies. From animal health to air quality. Defra are looking for win-win ideas where environment enables growth rather than holds it back. 10

11 European Update Commission public consultation on policy options for their Review is due to be launched imminently. 2 versions of the online consultation, one for experts, one for the general public. Closing date is expected to be 1 March. We want to encourage participation. Commission expect to publish new Directive proposals in September 2013 focus on compliance challenges through tightening the NEC and looking at scope for more source control legislation before proposing any amendments to the AQD. Euro 6/VI performance critical need to be confident it delivers Expectation of ongoing need for local measures to tackle hotspots Consultation will be listed at 11

12 National measures Investigating measures to support Uptake of new technologies Electric Vehicles Low carbon freight options recent LCvP report on opportunities to overcome barriers for low emission truck technologies Traffic management and area based approaches Developing evidence on what works and best practice examples Promoting Behaviour change Cycling and walking strategies Driver Behaviour and engine idling Review of local air quality management 12

13 Review of Local Air Quality Management LAQM has been effective in improving detailed understanding of local air quality Need to improve evidence on effectiveness of action plans and quantification of measures key barriers are - economic displacement; lack of political will/support); lack of funding/resources Key to success - close involvement of stakeholders incorporation into wider strategies/plans. 13

14 Will consult on changes to local air quality management in 2013 Aim - we want an LAQM where: Local action is focused on what is necessary to support air quality improvements and meet EU air quality standards Different tiers of local government and other stakeholders are clear on their roles and responsibilities and what they can do to help improve air quality Local authorities have simple reporting requirements with less bureaucracy and more time to concentrate on action to improve air quality and public health Local authorities have access to a range of effective and evidence based measures to support improvements in air quality including on transport and communications Developing consultation document expect to consult in May 2013 Further assessments - may consult sooner

15 Air Quality Grant 2012/13 Grants in process of being allocated and will announce details very soon Range of projects supported including Communications including Business/schools engagement, implementation of low emission strategies Traffic management measures Freight management measures Reviewing progress with 2011/12 projects to identify Successful projects Lessons learnt Best practice to share 15

16 Defra Update - Summary Historical and current day health impacts Improvements made but still significant impacts and still need for more action Communicating health impacts clearly Air Quality has significant impacts on public health Need for health impacts to be clear and well communicated Autumn Statement, New Ministers Priority remains economic growth, while continuing to improve the environment European Review of Air Quality Directives Watch out for the EU consultation paper Review of Local Air Quality Management Consultation in Spring 2013 Air Quality Grant Allocations to be announced shortly 16

Air Pollution and Health Making the case for action

Air Pollution and Health Making the case for action Robie Kamanyire Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Department Centre for Radiation, Chemical & Environmental Hazards Air pollution: still a problem