Isra-Mart srl: Defra seeks national low emissions zones to reduce nitrogen oxide pollution

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Isra-Mart news:

The government is pushing to create national low emissions zones to reduce levels of nitrogen pollution, as it comes under increasing pressure to comply with European Union air quality standards.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed today that it will file an application to the European Commission in September for a five-year extension to meet legal nitrogen oxide (NO2) limits.

The department has launched an eight-week consultation on its air quality plans setting out actions it has already taken and planned measures to meet the annual EU NO2 limits in England as soon as possible. There will be separate consultations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The plans cover 40 of the UK's 43 air quality zones that exceed NO2 limits. It shows that NO2 emissions fell 39 per cent between 2000 and 2009, and that 95 per cent of UK roads assessed are slated to meet the NO2 limits by 2015.

Separately, Defra revealed that it is also consulting with councils across the UK with a view to introducing a network of low emissions zones similar to those already in place in London and Oxford.

A Defra spokesman told BusinessGreen that the national zones could help limit levels of NO2, but that the decision would ultimately lie with individual local authorities, which would then implement a zone specific to their region.

"There's been a lot of work on low emissions zones over the years, but with the focus we have to meet this NO2 target we're having a serious look at where they can be implemented," he said.

The news came as Defra confirmed that it has finalised details of additional action in London to reduce particulate matter (PM10), which will be sent to the Commission to meet an 11 June deadline.