Certain regulations on vehicles and carbon dioxide emission targets are currently regulated by the EU. The UK Government has put in place statutory instruments intended to retain these regulations when the transition period ends for leaving the EU. This article looks at three draft SIs which make amendments to current legislation to ensure the regulations can function effectively after the transition period, and that the UK meets its obligations under the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol.
Documents to download
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Air Pollution in England: Recent Developments (1 MB, PDF)
Poor air quality is estimated to cause approximately 40,000 premature deaths a year in the UK. The UK is bound by EU laws that regulate air pollution, in particular the 2008 ambient air quality directive 2008/50/EC. In recent years greater attention has been drawn to pollution levels in urban areas, particularly nitrogen dioxide (NO2), the most common source of which are diesel engine road vehicles. A number of legal cases have been brought against the government, challenging their proposed plans to reduce emissions and the speed at which the plans will be implemented. This briefing summarises the provisions in the ‘Clean Air Zones Framework’, published on 5 May 2017, at the instruction of the High Court. The Framework provides guidance for local authorities in England when establishing both charging and non-charging zones, and sets out the permitted vehicle emissions standards. The briefing also summarises the reaction to the proposals, and the general election manifesto commitments made by the main political parties on the subject of air pollution.
Documents to download
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Air Pollution in England: Recent Developments (1 MB, PDF)
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