EU air quality targets need full UK commitment

2.00.00pm GMT Tue 11th Dec 2007

London Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford has challenged the UK Government to sign up not only to the letter but also to the spirit of the EU's imminent new air quality directive which toughens the rules.

Speaking from Strasbourg after the European Parliament voted to accept amendments made by German Liberal MEP Holger Krahmer putting more teeth into the legislation, Sarah said:

"The EU has succeeded in both simplifying and strengthening air pollution laws in order to get tough on improving air quality across Europe. If governments act early, then they can meet the targets. We must have no repeat of experience in London where deadlines for cutting diesel pollution were missed."

"The UK government must not duck and weave on these pollution-cutting goals. It should tackle head on hotspots at key sites such as central London and must not try to wriggle out of pollution limits around Heathrow in order to sneak through a third runway."

"The environmental impact of a third runway would be intolerable, and the noise and air pollution impact on the health of local residents unacceptable. The European Commission will have to be vigilant that the new air quality rules are fully respected, not sidelined."

"I strongly congratulate activists like the Campaign for Clean Air in London for their determined pressure for these more effective controls which, if properly implemented, could seriously cut the shocking tally of 1600 deaths a year in London as a result of air pollution."