Air

Global air quality management is an increasingly important topic, not only in terms of industry emissions but in terms of impacts on health and well being.  CIWEM is working in a number of areas to increase awareness of air quality issues globally. CIWEM's work on air quality matters is coordinated through its Air Quality technical panel.

CIWEM is a partner in the Healthy Air Campaign, a coalition of NGOs led by ClientEarth including Asthma UK, the Campaign for Better Transport, Clean Air in London, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Environmental Protection UK, Friends of the Earth, Living Streets, Sustrans and the London Sustainability Exchange.

CIWEM believes the Healthy Air Campaign has an important role in bringing the issue to the attention of the public, the media, and politicians. For more information visit the Healthy Air website hosted by ClientEarth.

CIWEM is concerned that the coalition government has not commiteed to action to achieve the EU limit values for 2010. CIWEM's air quality panel have pursued this matter with the Secretary of State. For more information see the panel page.

CIWEM submitted evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee report on Air Quality. The Report found that: "Poor air quality reduces the life expectancy of everyone in the UK by an average of seven to eight months and up to 50,000 people a year may die prematurely because of it. Air pollution also causes significant damage to ecosystems. Despite these facts being known air quality is not seen as a priority across government and the UK is failing to meet a range of domestic and European targets." "The cost-benefit analysis is clear: what is needed is the political will to make this a priority and to commit the resources to address it now so that we can reap the benefits of improved health."

Policy Position Statements 

• Control of Odour
• Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations in the Atmosphere
• Transport Biofuels
• Health Impact Assessment for Land Use Planning

Air Quality information 

For the latest information on air quality please see the sites below:

• Defra - Air and Atmosphere home
• Defra - UK Air information resource
• Defra Air quality news
• Defra's latest pollution summary for the UK
• Welsh Assembly Government - Air quality and pollution prevention
• Air quality in Wales - Welsh air quality forum
• Air quality in Scotland - Scottish Air quality forum
• Air quality in Northern Ireland - NI Air

Other consultation responses and articles on air quality can be downloaded from the documents sidetab