BHF comment
Details on delayed local Clean Air Zones finally announced
Birmingham City Council yesterday announced details of its Clean Air Zone, the same day as Clean Air Day 2020.
Interruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic and problems with the Government’s vehicle checking service meant that the anticipated intervention wasn’t brought in earlier this year, as initially expected.
The measure will instead come into force in Birmingham on 01 June 2021.
In 2017, the Government mandated several cities, including Birmingham, with illegal levels of NOs to introduce Clean Air Zones in order to achieve compliance by 2021.
Protecting the nation’s health
Air pollution is the top environmental risk to health in the UK. Every year in the UK there are around 11,000 deaths due to heart and circulatory disease attributable to air pollution. The UK currently subscribes to EU limits on levels of dangerous particulate matter called PM2.5. However, these limits are not as stringent as those set out by the World Health Organization (WHO), which are more than twice as strict as the EU’s. We now need to see the Government commit to WHO guideline limits on toxic air in order to protect the nation’s health.While the interventions in Birmingham have been welcomed by the British Heart Foundation, other measures to help reduce air pollution are necessary, including national leadership to support councils and encourage bold action through health-based targets.
Supporting people to use other modes of transport, such as cycling and walking, are also vital in improving the nation’s air, as well as having added health benefits.
Progress in Birmingham
The Clean Air Zone announced in Birmingham, which covers an area of the city inside the inner ring road, is among the most comprehensive in the country. Once live, it will mean that the owners of the most polluting vehicles (those that do not meet the Euro VI standard for diesel of Euro IV emissions standard for petrol vehicles), will need to pay a daily charge to drive into or through the zone. There are some temporary exemptions for people living or working within the area.
Jacob West, our Director of Healthcare Innovation, said: “Clean Air Zones can play a vital role in cleaning up our toxic air, and it is good to see that Birmingham will be making long-awaited progress on their plans.
“Our research has shown that tiny toxic particles called PM2.5 pollution can cause serious damage to your heart and circulatory system, which can increase your chances of a heart attack or stroke. We know that road transport is a significant contributor towards dangerous levels of PM2.5 as well as NO2. That is why introducing Clean Air Zones can make a big contribution to improving the nation’s toxic air.
“While Birmingham’s commitment is a step in the right direction, this is an urgent health issue nationwide. Further tough action to address air pollution needs to be prioritised by national and local governments. Adopting robust, health-based targets for PM2.5 into the Environment Bill is crucial to achieve this, and protect the nation’s health.”
Elsewhere in the UK, Bath and North East Somerset Council also announced that their Clean Air Zone will be launched in March next year. While this still signifies progress and will be the first Clean Air Zone introduced outside London, there will be a number of significant exemptions to their zone, including that private vehicle owners will not have to pay the charge.
To ensure the scheme has the best possible effect on health, it must be evaluated and further action must be taken to ensure that the health of residents is protected.