Air Quality/Transport and Low Emissions: The National Perspective

1
Air Quality/Transport and Low Emissions The
National Perspective

• Care4Air 2009
• Robert Vaughan
• National and Local Air Quality
• Defra
• 17 September 2009

2
Overview

• Is air quality improving?
• Meeting NO2 limits
• National and local Action
• Low emission cities the way forward?
• Transport, air quality and carbon

3
Is Air Quality Improving?

• Particulate matter
• Urban background particulate levels averaged 19
  micrograms per cubic metre (µg m-3) in 2008
  compared to 22 µg m-3 in 2007.
• Overall decreasing trend since 1993.
• Roadside particulate levels averaged 26 µg m-3 in
  2008 compared to 27 µg m-3 in 2007.
• A general downward trend since 1997, although
  decline has slowed since 2001 and has been
  subject to increased fluctuation.
• Nitrogen Dioxide
• Meeting limit value over nearly all UK land area
  and population and
• at 65.50 of UK urban road network

4
Euro Standards for HGVs

• Vehicle Emission standards have improved since
  1992
• Improvements will continue to 2015 and beyond

5
Annual average concentration(µg m-3) for NO2 and
PM10
Monitored
Modelled
Time
6
Climate Change Opportunities and risks
Air Quality Good
Climate Change Good
Climate Change Bad
Air Quality Bad
7
Air Quality is improving but...

• Reductions appear to be plateauing,
• Particulates have no safe limit and further
  progress is needed on fine particles (PM2.5)
• Reduced emissions not consistently leading to
  reduced levels at roadsides
• Still exceeding NO2 annual limit value alongside
  major roads in many towns and cities
• UK and other major Member States need more time
  to meet NO2LV
• Climate change is presenting new challenges
  diesel, biomass

8
Meeting the NO2 limit value

• Directive 2008/50/EC adopted June 2008 allows
  Member States to seek more time to meet NO2 limit
  value deadlines
• Most major member states are expected to apply
  for NO2 extension
• Must submit details of measures taken and planned
  to meet limit value and where necessary detail
  further measures that will be taken to meet limit
  value
• UK considering national measures and will work
  with local authorities to review evidence and
  action plans
• Likely to consult on application early 2010 and
  apply Summer 2010

9
National and Local Action on Air Quality

• National
• National Measures to incentivise vehicle
  improvement
• Defra/LA Air Quality Summit lead by Ministers
  and LGA
• Consultation on action to meet NO2 limit value by
  2015
• Use measures in focused way eg
• significant sources of emissions eg HGVs/bus
  fleets in target areas,
• key urban areas 70 of exceedences in 6 urban
  areas
• Local
• Consult local authorities to confirm the national
  picture and review action plans and further
  measures
• Review Local Air Quality Mgmt and action planning
• Bring together synergies from transport planning,
  land use planning and Climate Change
• Low emissions strategies encompassing technology,
  planning and behaviour.

10
Low Emission Cities and regions
Freight mgt
Urban planning Construction mgmt
Bus partnership
Transport planning
Low emission Vehicles
Community engagement
NI 194
11
Contact details
12
Air Quality and Transport

• Iain Forbes
• Department for Transport

13
DfT is committed to delivering a sustainable
transport system
DfT policies have had a significant impact on
vehicle pollutant emissions
DfT is keen to integrate air quality with wider
transport policy and planning
14
DfT is committed to delivering a sustainable
transport system
15
DfTs policies have had a significant impact on
vehicle pollutant emissions
16
DfT is keen to integrate air quality with wider
transport policy and planning
17

• Iain Forbes
• Environment Policy and Delivery
• Head of Air Quality Strategy Branch

Zone 1/33 Great Minster House 76 Marsham
Street London SW1P 4DR
Tel [phone] Fax [phone]
2512 iain.forbes_at_dft.gsi.gov.uk