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Friends of the Earth: Supreme Court orders UK Govt to act on air pollution

news release

Welcoming today’s UK Supreme Court ruling, ordering the Government to produce a new air pollution plan following a case brought by Client Earth, Friends of the Earth air pollution campaigner Jenny Bates said:  “UK air pollution kills tens of thousands of people prematurely every year and places a huge burden on our over-stretched NHS – it’s a scandal that it has been allowed to continue for so long.

“Thanks to this ruling the Government will have to take immediate action on our filthy air. This should include bolder measures to ensure that vehicles are cleaner and traffic levels are cut.

“Cycling must be made safer, public transport more attractive, and road-building plans – which would add to the problem – should be scrapped.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Supreme Court judgement and press summary.

2. The UK Government’s existing plans bring UK levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) within legal limits are not expected to succeed until after 2030 – 20 years after the original 2010 deadline.

3. In November 2014, the European Court of Justice ruled that the UK must have a plan so that the time period before legal requirements are met “is as short as possible”, and that it is the UK courts who can order the Government to produce such a plan:

4. The problems of air pollution, who is particularly at risk and the joint policy solutions of the Healthy Air Campaign (HAC), of which Friends of the Earth is a partner.

For press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust

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