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UK government fails to tackle air pollution at National Health Emergency level
Four select committees formed by UK members of parliament have called for a new Clean Air Act to tackle the UK's air pollution problem, which they said could provoke half a million more early deaths after Brexit if left undealt with.
In a joint report, they called for a new clean air fund, paid for by carmakers and emission-based taxes on diesel vehicles.
Lawmakers also called for the date for when conventional petrol and diesel cars will be banned to be brought forward.
The report also found that air pollution causes approximately 40,000 early deaths each year, with a cost to the UK taxpayer of £20bn each year.
Despite levels of contamination since 2010, the committee accused authorities of being more worried about "box-ticking and demonstrating compliance" than with actually taking bold action and finding solutions.
Neil Parish MP, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee said: "The government's latest plan does not present an effective response to the scale of the quality catastrophe in the UK. We are concerned that the government is treating air quality as a box-ticking exercise. Real change will require bold, meaningful action.
"The UK automotive industry is investing billions in technology and other measures to help address the challenge," said Mike Hawes, chief executive officer of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. "Vehicle manufacturers are funding scrappage schemes themselves to get the older vehicles off the road. Other sectors must also play their part in improving air quality."
Unfortunately, Labour MP Geraint Davies believed that Brexit could be used as an excuse for the government to lower standards further.
"It [Brexit] demands the government adopts World Health Organisation Air Quality standards to take leadership instead continuing to make excuses for bad practices."