27/07/2009  Green MEP backs CleanAir campaign at London launch

Jean Lambert MEP has lent her full support to a campaign to ensure London meets air quality laws in time for to 2012 Olympics.

London's Green MEP will join ClientEarth, the environmental law and policy organisation, and other campaigners at City Hall this morning [Monday 27 July 2009] for the launch of CleanAir for London.

The campaign, launched three years from the day when the London Olympics will commence, aims to compel the UK authorities to tackle the issue of air quality fully. The UK is already facing unlimited fines for breaching European law on this issue.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Jean Lambert MEP said:

"Air pollution is an invisible killer, responsible for the early deaths of thousands of people in London every year. For far too many years the government has failed to take the necessary action to reduce the danger to human health, and vulnerable residents with existing breathing problems have particularly suffered.

"Along with my Green colleagues on the London Assembly, I have consistently fought for higher air quality standards. Despite agreed EU legislation, the UK has exceeded pollutant limits on a daily basis for the last four years. I have now called on the Commission to press ahead with legal proceedings against the UK if they continue to disregard their obligations to meet the targets as this situation is unacceptable.

"Too much time has already been wasted: what we need now is concerted action to reduce vehicle emissions as well as reduce the overall amount of traffic on our roads, in part by improving walking and cycling networks and facilities.

"I wholeheartedly welcome the launch of ClientEarth's campaign and will continue to work to achieve genuine political action and radical results on the ground to improve London's environment. When we welcome the Olympics to London in 2012 health will be high on the agenda. Cleaning up the air in our capital is one of the best ways the government can play its part to improve the wellbeing of all Londoners."

Background to CleanAir for London

London has the worst air quality in the UK and some of the worst in Europe. [1] There are around 3,000 air pollution deaths in London every year. [2] By comparison, workplace-related passive smoking contributed to 617 deaths per year across the UK prior to the smoking ban. [3] National air pollution healthcare costs reach £21 billion annually. [4]

Since 2005, the UK government has failed to meet legally binding targets to reduce dangerous airborne particles (known as limit values for PM10). Late last year the government missed a further deadline, and it only recently applied for a time extension on PM10. It aims to avoid fines and win more time to address a pressing problem that should have been prioritised years ago. To demonstrate its resolve to protect public health, the European Commission (EC) has launched infringement action over the initial legal breach.

ClientEarth does not believe that the UK government is entitled to a time extension for PM10. The UK does not meet the preconditions for the time extension that the government seeks, and current plans to eliminate breaches of PM10 in London by June 2011 are not credible. ClientEarth is taking legal action to compel the government to comply with its air quality obligations.

ClientEarth has today written to the European Commission urging it to reject the government's request for a time extension on PM10 in London. Without a delayed deadline the government will have to take decisive action now, rather than put off its obligations while more Londoners suffer the health effects of poor air quality.

Notes to Editors

Jean Lambert MEP is one of eight MEPs representing London and one of two UK Green representatives in the European Parliament. Jean was first elected in the 1999 European elections and was re-elected in 2004 and 2009.

ClientEarth brings a radically different approach to the green movement in Europe. We are activist lawyers committed to protecting the living planet for all who dwell on it. We fuse law, science and policy to create strategic solutions to key environmental challenges. ClientEarth's lawyers operate in a number of fields including climate change, marine policy and access to justice. For more information on ClientEarth's activities, please visit http://www.clientearth.org.

1. "Every Breath You Take" London Assembly report into London Air Quality - published May 2009.
2. 650 premature deaths per 1 million people
http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/spatial-assessment-of-pm10-and-ozoneconcentrations-in-europe-2005-1. Based on the proportion of 4,469,400 people aged over 30 in Greater London in 2007 this would equate to 2,905 deaths from PM10. This figure assumes that Londoners are exposed to no more than UK national average levels of air pollution.
3. Jamrozik, K. Estimate of deaths attributable to passive smoking among UK adults: database analysis, BMJ - published 1 March 2005.
4. Cabinet Office (2007) National Enforcement Priorities for Local Authority Regulatory Services.

News type: Press Releases