What is the Wales Environment Bill and what difference will it make?
Joseph, Head of Devolved Nations, Asthma + Lung UK takes us through the new Welsh Environment Bill and the impact it will have on air pollution in Wales.
Air pollution in Wales
Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to public health, second only to smoking. At a cost £1bn per year to our NHS, air pollution is draining our resources, straining our health system and cutting short almost 2000 lives a year in Wales. It is a public health crisis.
There is no safe level of air pollution. An air pollutant is any substance in the air that could harm people. Particulate matter, known as PM, and nitrogen dioxide are particularly damaging.
When people are exposed to high pollution levels, for example on a busy road or during a high pollution episode, they breathe in these toxic materials into their lungs. Many people initially experience immediate symptoms such as irritated airways, feeling out of breath and coughing.
Taking action on toxic air in Wales
Poor air quality has been linked to several conditions, with growing emerging evidence that highlights the high levels of air pollution impacting every level of society by increasing the chances of lung cancer, childhood asthma, COPD, miscarriage, premature birth/low birth weight, heart disease, dementia, mental health, obesity and, many other conditions.
In the 2021 Welsh General Election we called on parties to support an ambitious new Clean Air Bill. All four parties listened and committed to it, so on 21 March, the Minister for Climate Change, introduced the new Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) Bill.
What will the Environment Bill do?
New air quality targets – Ministers will get powers to set new air quality targets helping us to reduce air pollution and have the right to breathe clean air
Promoting awareness – Ministers will have a duty to promote awareness of the health and environmental impact of air pollution and the steps that can be taken to reduce it.
National Air Quality strategy – Ministers will need to develop a new 5 year air quality strategy. The currently have a Clean Air Plan, but making it strategy defined in law will strengthen it.
Local air pollution – The Bill will change the system that local council use to monitor air pollution and take action to reduce it. At the moment councils can declare air quality management areas where there are pollution hotspots, but then take little action to address it. The new system will be more robust with annual reviews and action needed.
Smoke control - Domestic burning accounts for 38% of PM2.5 , so in order to meet the ambitious new air pollution limits that Wales needs, we need to tackle domestic burning. The Bill will move smoke control offences from criminal to civil offences, allowing councils to issue fines. It is hoped that this will improve enforcement and better awareness that burning wood or coal is bad for air pollution and dangerous for people with lung conditions.
Road charging – Ministers already have the power to introduce Clean Air Zones in cities, but the Bill will give them powers to introduce charged on motorways or other main roads linking towns and cities if it will tackle air pollution.
Anti-idling measures – the Bill will lead to higher fines for vehicles idling and will be used particularly around schools and medical centres.
Noise pollution – Whilst most of the Bill is focussed on air pollution, the final section focusses on developing a soundscape strategy and tackling noise pollution.
What happens next?
It takes time for a bill to become law. The next stage is for the Senedd Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure committee to scrutinise the Bill and recommend changes. We support the Bill but there are areas where we feel it could be improved, such as including World Health Organization air pollution targets. We also want to see details of how air pollution will be monitored and enforcement will be improved. We’ll work with Members of the Senedd to push for these changes.
Have your say
It would be really helpful for as many people as possible across Wales to share their views on air pollution and take part in the committee’s consultation. If you would like to do so, click here.
You can learn more about air pollution in your local area and get involved in our campaigns by visiting our Clean Air campaigns hub.
