Government admits breach of air quality law

摘要

An attempt to force the government to prepare and consult on more ambitious air quality plans fell at the High Court on 13 December. But environment department (DEFRA) lawyers did concede for the first time that the government is in breach of EU requirements on nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Infringement action by the European Commission now seems inevitable. In July, environmental NGO Cli-entEarth applied for a judicial review (ENDS Report 439, P 25). It contended that plans published in a DEFRA consultation on NO_2 on 9 June were inadequate and unlawful under EU law. DEFRA conceded a separate challenge, regarding the lack of consultation on plans to cut London's particulate levels, before it came to court. A consultation was consequently launched on 12 October (ENDS Report 441, PP 27-28).