By Lucy Caulkett-
The Eu Commission has sent a “final warning” to the UK for repeated breaches of legal air pollution limits in 16 areas including London, Birmingham, Leeds, and Glasgow.
The UK is among five countries served with the warning over continuous breaches of nitrogen dioxide levels, which coming factories, vehicles, and diesel engines. Air pollution is linked to the early deaths of about 40,000 people a year in the UK – and causes problems such as heart and lung diseases and asthma.
The Commission have threatened to take the matter to the European Court of Justice if no action is taking to resolve the problem within the next couple of months. Air pollution is responsible for heart and lung diseases, and is a killer of about 40,000 people in the UK annually. Whilst the UK has not officially left the EU, the EU commission has the legal power to kick a legal storm over the issue which comes at a time when the British government has her hands full with several political issues of its own. The news will be welcomed by campaigners ranging from health workers to environmentalists, keen for the government to take action on air pollution and launch a crackdown on diesel vehicles.
Disease
Brexit Commission Spokesman, Alexander Winterstein said: “It is a warning that we send to member states asking to comply, to take measures to fight this poor air quality that provokes respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease.”It is an important factor on the health of citizens.”So we ask the UK, as the other four member states, to take appropriate measures to fight this type of air pollution and we hope they comply. “For as long as the UK is a member of the European Union, rights and obligations apply. “European law applies fully.”.According to the European Commission, road traffic is responsible for around 40% of emissions of nitrogen oxides in the EU, with the contribution at ground level much higher. Around four fifths of nitrogen oxides which come from traffic come from diesel-powered vehicles, the Commission said.
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Jenny Bates, Friends of the Earth air pollution campaigner, said: “It’s shameful that the EU has to take legal action against the UK government to get it to deal with the dangerous levels of dirty air across the country.”Air pollution is responsible for tens of thousands of early deaths every year and is harming the health of an entire generation of children.”Current government plans have been shown to be too little too late.”She called for Government funding of clean air zones in pollution hotspots and for a Clean Air Act to protect the public from poor air quality after Brexit, when the UK could no longer rely on EU air quality rules and courts to push for action.
The warning may further tension between the UK government and the EU Commission ,who are still dealing with issues over Brexit.
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