The UK government is failing by a wide margin to meet its legal obligations to combat air pollution in London. Environmental law and policy organisation, ClientEarth, have a launched a new campaign to ensure full compliance with air quality laws in London in time for 2012 Olympics.

London has the worst air quality in the UK and some of the worst in Europe. Recent figures have suggested that air pollution directly contributes to around 3,000 deaths each year in London alone – subsequent research has indicated that the figure may be significantly higher than this. The air quality failures in the capital are part of a wider national problem, with an estimated healthcare cost of up to £21 billion every year.

In July, ClientEarth launched their ‘Clean Air for London’ campaign to ensure full compliance with air quality laws. The UK, along with sixteen* other EU member states, have asked the European Commission for more time to reach the air quality limits. The timing for the campaign could not better, with London due to take centre stage with the 2012 Olympics this is no time for the UK to be dragging their feet.

European law has set targets to reduce levels of dangerous airborne particles (known as PM10). Greater London has failed to meet these targets in every year since they became legally binding in 2005. The Government recently applied for a time extension for complying with these limits, despite having already missed the deadline set by the European Commission for doing so. By obtaining an extension, the UK Government aims to avoid fines and win more time to address a pressing problem that should have been prioritised years ago. To demonstrate its resolve to protect public health, the European Commission has launched infringement action over the initial legal breach.

ClientEarth does not believe that the UK government is legally eligible for a time extension for PM10. The UK does not meet the preconditions required by European legislation for the time extension and current plans to eliminate breaches of PM10 in London by June 2011 are not credible. Therefore, ClientEarth is taking legal action to compel the government to comply with its air quality obligations. On 27 July 2009 ClientEarth wrote to the European Commission urging it to reject the government’s request for a time extension on PM10 in London. Without a delayed deadline it will have to take decisive action now, rather than prolong its obligations while more Londoners suffer the health effects of poor air quality.

The UK government can and should make great efforts to improve London air quality in time for the London 2012 Olympics. Actions taken to tackle air pollution will save lives, improve the quality of life of all Londoners and save billions of pounds in healthcare costs.

- HEAL and our member organisation, the European Federation of Allergy and Airway Diseases Patients Association (EFA), have recently entered their second year of their European air quality campaign. In 2008 we set up a website (in 3 languages) to inform European citizens of the air quality in their area. This year we will translate the website into a further four languages and, with the help of EFA members, we will write to those member state governments that have applied for time extensions to enquire if they have carried out health impact assessments of not meeting the limit values. Read more here