Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs has reinforced the Welsh Government’s determination to improve air quality across Wales.
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
Lesley Griffiths has today issued new guidance to Local Authorities on air quality management. The guidance stresses the importance of planning for the long term, integrating policies which can impact on air quality, involving local communities in solutions to local air quality challenges, collaborating with others and preventing problems from getting worse or from arising in the first place.
The new guidance follows the Welsh Government’s commitment to developing a clean air zone framework for Wales as part of a UK-wide consultation to develop a new air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide.
The Cabinet Secretary said:
“The average levels of air pollution across Wales continue to improve but we must do more to ensure the overall improving trends continue across Wales and compliance is achieved in pollution hotspots.
“The responses to our recent consultation on local air quality management were very supportive of our air quality proposals for Wales. This new guidance and our commitment to develop a clean air zone framework for Wales marks our determination to ensure clean local environments for the wellbeing of our future generations”.
The UK’s first Clean Air Day is being co-ordinated by the charity Global Action Plan. It offers people a chance to find out more about air pollution, to share information with friends and colleagues and to take action to make the air cleaner and healthier for everyone. Clean Air Day activities will focus in particular on the cities and regions of the UK already known to be putting in place low emission zones or clean air zones.
Clean Air Day (external link) in Wales will also mark the development of a much-needed programme of awareness-raising and educational activities in Wales.