The Supreme Court has declared that the UK Government is failing toprotect people from dangerous levels of air pollution. This decision pavesthe way for the European Commission to take legal action against the UK.
Air pollution causes 4,000 early deaths each year in London alone and posesa particular danger to children and those with existing health conditions.
The court case, brought by environmental lawyers at Client Earth, concerns16 cities and regions which government plans show will suffer from illegallevels of nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas - until as late as 2020 or 2025.
The Supreme Court confirmed that because the Government is in breach of theEU Air Quality Directive “the way is open to immediate enforcement actionat national or European level”. However, before deciding whether to takefurther action to enforce the law, it has referred a number of legalquestions to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Jean Lambert, Green Party Member of the European Parliament for Londonand an honorary founder member of Clean Air London said:
This ruling confirms what many of us have been saying for a long time:The UK Government must do more to protect the population from harmfullevels of air pollution.
For too long we’ve seen action on air pollution happening at a snail’space. The government must take heed of this ruling and get to work ondrastically reducing the levels of pollution in our towns and cities.
James Thornton, ClientEarth CEO, said
This historic ruling marks aturning point in the fight for clean air and will pile the pressure on OwenPaterson. Faced with court action on two fronts, he must now come up withan ambitious plan to protect people from carcinogenic diesel fumes. Untilnow, his only policy has been lobbying in Europe to try and weaken airpollution laws.
The Supreme Court recognised that this case has broader implications forEU environmental law: The Government can’t flout environmental law withimpunity. If the Government breaks the law, citizens can demand justice andthe courts must act.”