Air Pollution

House of Lords written question – answered at on 29 July 2013.

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Photo of Lord Berkeley Lord Berkeley Labour

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the pollution-weighted concentrations of PM2.5 particulate matter for the United Kingdom as reported last September to the European Commission for each of 2009, 2010 and 2011; and what is the required reduction in exposure by 2020 under Directive 2008/50/EC.

Photo of Lord de Mauley Lord de Mauley The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Article 15 of the Air Quality Directive 2008/50/EC sets targets for the reduction of national exposure to PM2.5. The percentage reduction varies according to concentrations in 2010 (measured by reference to an average exposure indicator for a 3-year period). The concentrations for the UK in 2009-11 were as follows:

• 2009: 13 micrograms m-3;

• 2010: 13 micrograms m-3;

• 2011: 14 micrograms m-3.

Based on this, the UK has a target to reduce national exposure by 15% from 2010 levels by 2020. Member States are required to take all measures not entailing disproportionate costs to meet this target.

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