Air pollution: European Commission launches legal actions against the UK
Section 1
The European Commission has taken legal action against the UK due to the excessive levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air and for breaching its obligation to reduce these levels by 2010. Of the 43 zones in the UK, 40 exceed the standard set by the European Air Pollution Directive in 1999 to take effect in 2010. The Directive states if the deadline has not been met, an extension can be granted upon the approval of submitted air quality plans. Air quality plans have been submitted for the majority of these zones, but there remain 16 cities that the government says will be unable to realistically reach the standard by 2015.
Air pollution causes 29,000 premature deaths in the UK each year; it can lead to serious respiratory problems such as bronchitis, asthma and emphysema and the World Health Organisation has confirmed that air pollution can also cause cancer. The poor quality of the air can cause heart attacks and children who grow up near busy roads can have underdeveloped lungs. On top of this, 100 million workdays are lost each year through related illnesses and the costs to society, including the damages to crops and buildings, amounts to 23bn euros each year in Europe (BBC, 2014). While a large proportion of air pollution originates from stationary sources, like factories and power plants, there are many millions of mobile sources, namely motor vehicles. The major source of NO2 seems to be from traffic fumes.
Nitrogen dioxide is a poisonous gas, which comes from the burning of fossil fuels, mainly as a by-product of diesel engines. It is a significant air pollutant as it contributes to the creation of smog and acid rain which impacts human health. Therefore, the government is in breach of its legal duty “to protect people from the harmful effects of air pollution” by these levels being in excess.
Section 2
Economic efficiency offers a useful criterion to measure the performance of the economic system or certain parts of it
The European Commission has taken legal action against the UK due to the excessive levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air and for breaching its obligation to reduce these levels by 2010. Of the 43 zones in the UK, 40 exceed the standard set by the European Air Pollution Directive in 1999 to take effect in 2010. The Directive states if the deadline has not been met, an extension can be granted upon the approval of submitted air quality plans. Air quality plans have been submitted for the majority of these zones, but there remain 16 cities that the government says will be unable to realistically reach the standard by 2015.
Air pollution causes 29,000 premature deaths in the UK each year; it can lead to serious respiratory problems such as bronchitis, asthma and emphysema and the World Health Organisation has confirmed that air pollution can also cause cancer. The poor quality of the air can cause heart attacks and children who grow up near busy roads can have underdeveloped lungs. On top of this, 100 million workdays are lost each year through related illnesses and the costs to society, including the damages to crops and buildings, amounts to 23bn euros each year in Europe (BBC, 2014). While a large proportion of air pollution originates from stationary sources, like factories and power plants, there are many millions of mobile sources, namely motor vehicles. The major source of NO2 seems to be from traffic fumes.
Nitrogen dioxide is a poisonous gas, which comes from the burning of fossil fuels, mainly as a by-product of diesel engines. It is a significant air pollutant as it contributes to the creation of smog and acid rain which impacts human health. Therefore, the government is in breach of its legal duty “to protect people from the harmful effects of air pollution” by these levels being in excess.
Section 2
Economic efficiency offers a useful criterion to measure the performance of the economic system or certain parts of it
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