A UK-based environmental law organization has filed a lawsuit against the UK government in an attempt to force the UK government to make changes to improve air quality within the country. This lawsuit comes just a year after the UK government lost at the supreme court and was ordered to revise existing air pollution plans.
ClientEarth announced in a press statement on Friday that it has filed a lawsuit with the High Court. The organization, which argues the government is in breach of its legal duty to produce ‘inadequate’ air quality plans, will serve UK government lawyers with this claim.
UK government faces second court battle over air pollution plans https://t.co/2Pg2gTFSxg #no2dirtyair pic.twitter.com/b3gLPDcx3e
— ClientEarth (@ClientEarth) April 28, 2016
“The government’s new plans to tackle air pollution are woefully inadequate and won’t achieve legal limits for years to come,” said ClientEarth lawyer Alan Andrews. “The longer they are allowed to dither and delay, the more people will suffer from serious illness or an early death.”
“Today’s decision means we will be returning to court to demand that ministers respect our right to breathe clean air,” Andrews said. “The health evidence is mounting and, as we saw yesterday, MPs from across the political spectrum agree with us that the government is not doing enough.”
UK Gov will face renewed legal action over failure to tackle air pollution https://t.co/KybNVcNMEN pic.twitter.com/gWDmw677xE
— ClientEarth (@ClientEarth) April 28, 2016
Air pollution causes 40,000 – 50,000 early deaths every year, leading MPs to declare that air pollution is a “public health emergency.”
“This is the second time the government has been taken to court over air pollution. They must now take immediate action to prevent people being needlessly killed by the air they breathe,” said Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation. “Air pollution affects everyone [and] it has greatest impact on the most vulnerable – children, the elderly, and those with lung conditions.”
Since 2010, the city of London has been in breach of EU rules on nitrogen dioxide emissions. Back in December, the government released new plans that said the city would comply with EU air pollution regulations by 2025 – a 5 year improvement on previous projected estimates. However, according to ClientEarth, these plans are simply not enough.
In January, just 8-days into the new year, the country’s air pollution crisis was brought to light once more when a street in West London breached annual limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). On Thursday, a judge granted the request made by environmental lawyers at ClientEarth for a new judicial review.
Very pleased High Court has granted us permission to go back to court. Maybe now govt will take action #No2dirtyair https://t.co/XOdksUsW1F
— JamesT ClientEarth (@JamesThorntonCE) April 28, 2016
“The government has dragged its feet on tackling air pollution and that is simply not good enough. It is about time the government set out a clear, comprehensive plan to go much further, much faster,” said Mary Creagh MP, chair of the environmental audit committee.
In response to this recent development, a spokeswoman for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “Our plans clearly set out how we will improve the UK’s air quality through a new programme of Clean Air Zones, which alongside national action and continued investment in clean technologies will create cleaner, healthier air for all. We cannot comment on ongoing legal proceedings.”
“There is clear consensus that the government’s plans are wholly inadequate to address this public health crisis,” said Kerry McCarthy, shadow environment secretary for the Labour party. “It should not take legal action to force the environment secretary to take urgent action and help save lives.”
Image: Flickr, Pedro Szekely
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