The petition of Staff and pupils of Godwin Junior School, Forest Gate,
Declares that we are deeply concerned about the air quality in the area around our school and London in general; we are concerned about how air quality impacts on our rights to the best possible health and a safe, clean environment under Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; further that it is unacceptable to us that the number of children who suffer from breathing difficulties such as asthma and bronchitis is increasing as a result of poor air quality; further that it is unacceptable to us that 443 schools in London are in a location where the air quality levels are illegal; further that nearly 10,000 deaths a year can be attributed to air pollution; and further that we all have a right to the best possible health and a safe, clean environment to live, work and study in.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to dedicate more time and resources to find longer term solutions to improving air quality.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Lyn Brown , Official Report, 25 July 2019; Vol. 663, c. 1552.]
[P002476]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (Theresa Villiers):
The Government thank the petitioners for raising the issue of air quality around your school and in London generally.
This is an issue the Government take very seriously. Air quality has improved significantly over recent decades and will continue to improve thanks to the action we have already taken. Average levels of nitrogen dioxide at the roadside are at their lowest level since records began. Emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by almost 27% between 2010 and 2016 and are also at their lowest level since records began. We recognise however that more needs to be done because there is increasing evidence of the impacts that poor air quality has on public health, on the economy, and on the environment.
The most immediate air quality challenge is nitrogen dioxide concentrations around roads, the only statutory air quality limit that the UK is currently failing to meet.
In July 2017, we published the UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations, setting out how we will achieve compliance in the shortest possible time, supported by a £3.5 billion investment into air quality and cleaner transport. In July 2018, the Government published the Road to Zero strategy, which sets out our comprehensive approach to reducing emissions from road vehicles and meet our 2040 mission to end the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans. The cycling and walking investment strategy published in 2017 sets out the Government’s plans for cycling and walking, with an ambition up to 2040 for making cycling and walking the natural choices for short journeys or as part of a longer journey.
The Government are committed to continue improving the UK’s air quality and actions are ongoing to support implementation of measures that will minimise air pollution. In January we published our clean air strategy, which includes new and ambitious goals, legislation, investment and policies for England, which will help us to clean up our air faster and more effectively.
We are the first major economy to set goals working towards the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations on particulate matter emissions, which is why the WHO has praised our clean air strategy as
“an example for the rest of the world to follow”.
In London, the Mayor is responsible for mitigation of local air pollution in areas where people may be exposed, including schools. The Mayor, and local authorities in London, have powers to take actions to improve local air quality. For example, local authorities can issue fixed penalty notices to drivers leaving engines running unnecessarily after being asked to turn off their engine. The ultra-low emission zone and the congestion charge operate in London in relation to pollution from road vehicles.
The Government have provided almost £500 million to local authorities to enable action to tackle harmful roadside emissions of nitrogen dioxide and £3 million has been awarded to local authorities this year via the air quality grant fund. We have also introduced the implementation fund to support local authorities to take action as soon as possible, encouraging implementation of measures such as electric charge point hubs, traffic management systems via junction improvements and bus priority measures, and incentivising ultra-low emission taxis through licensing schemes and leasing electric vehicles.