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BHF urges faster action on air pollution – Friends of the Earth reaction

news release

Commenting on today’s call by the British Heart Foundation for the government to go further and faster with plans to tackle air pollution, Friends of the Earth air pollution campaigner Jenny Bates said: 

“Ministers must move rapidly to clean up the UK’s filthy air. It’s a national scandal that millions of people are exposed to fine particle pollution that breaks international heath guidelines.

“Legally-binding World Health Organisation air pollution standards must be included in the government’s Environment Bill, along with a new duty on all public bodies to help meet these targets.

“It’s not just about swapping cars, vans and lorries for cleaner models – we to cut down on the number of all vehicles on our roads. Even electric vehicles produce significant fine particle pollution from brake and tyre wear.

“The government must invest in better public transport, and safer cycling and walking. Getting people out of their cars will not only reduce air pollution and protect health – it will help cut climate-wrecking emissions too.”

ENDS 

For more information and interview requests contact the Friends of the Earth press office on 020 7566 1649 / 07718 394786 (out of hours – please do not text this number) media@foe.co.uk

Notes to editors: 

1. Friends of the Earth is an international community dedicated to the protection of the natural world and the wellbeing of everyone in it. We bring together more than two million people in 75 countries, combining people power all over the world to transform local actions into global impact. For more information visit: friendsoftheearth.uk follow us at @friends_earth, or like our Facebook page 

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