The Mayor's Draft Air Quality Strategy
28 MARCH 2010
Mayor's Draft Air Quality Strategy
Following consultation with the London Assembly and functional bodies, which ran from October-November 2009, the Mayor published a second Draft Air Quality Strategy for public consultation on 28 March 2010. The consultation ended on 13 August 2010.
The strategy sets out a framework for delivering improvements to London’s air quality and includes measures aimed at reducing emissions from transport, homes, offices and new developments, as well as raising awareness of air quality issues.
Over the last few years, a number of innovative measures have been introduced to help improve air quality in London. Nevertheless, air pollution remains a problem in the capital, as is clear from the fact that European Union targets for air quality standards that were intended to be met in 2004 and 2005 have still not been achieved.
Health Study
The GLA commissioned the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) to carry out a study into the health impacts of poor air quality in London. The purpose of the study was to provide information for the Mayor's Air Quality Study, to inform Londoners of the impact pollution has on health and to enable engagement with the health sector and policy makers at a national and local level so that they understand the importance of cleaner air in London.
The study has used internationally accepted evidence-based risk factors associated with pollution to assess the contribution that prolonged exposure to poor air quality could make to the number of premature deaths in London. It concludes that poor air quality (specifically PM2.5) contributed to an equivalent of 4,267 premature deaths in London in 2008. This is consistent with evidence recently presented to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee which suggested that poor air quality in the UK could be contributing to as many as 50,000 premature deaths nationally every year.
Read the Health Study Report here
Integrated Impact Assessment Report
In preparing his Air Quality Strategy (MAQS), the Mayor is legally required to have regard to the effects its implementation would have on health, health inequalities, equality of opportunity, crime and disorder, climate change and sustainable development. To help ensure that emerging policies maximise benefits across these areas, the GLA commissioned Levett Therivel to undertake an independent Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) of the MAQS.
This report assesses the impact of the policies in the draft MAQS and makes recommendations for measures to prevent, reduce and offset adverse effects. It meets the requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations, which require it to be consulted on in parallel with the MAQS itself.
Read the IIA Scoping Report here
Local Measures Reports
Air Quality Consultants (AQC), in association with TRL Ltd, has completed two reports on potential local measures for PM10 and NO2 priority locations in London. The studies were carried out on behalf of Transport for London. The aim of the reports was to understand the potential of a range of possible local measures to address high levels of PM10 and NO2 at a range of locations across London. These documents were produced to inform the development of the Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy (MAQS) and also future sub-regional work. They do not take account of any revised modelling work or information that may supersede the studies cited in this report.
Local Measures for NO2 hotspots
Local Measures for PM10 hotspots
Air quality consultation
The Mayor recently held a public consultation on the Air Quality Strategy which ended on 13 August The final strategy is expected to be published later in 2010.
Appendix A - Implementation Plan
Appendix B - Further Technical Information
Appendix C - Meeting the requirements of the GLA Act 1999 (amended)
Appendix D - Glossary and Abbreviations
Habitats Regulations Assessment
Integrated Impact Assessment Scoping Report
Integrated Impact Assessment Final Report
London Assembly's response to the Mayor's Draft Air Quality Strategy
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