Government admits evasively EU air quality action
Government credibility on air pollution has hit a new low, shortly before the crucial Climate Change Bill debates, after being forced to admit European Commission action on Air Quality legal breaches
The Government has admitted that the United Kingdom (UK) has received a Letter of Formal Notice (first written warning) from the European Commission (the Commission) for failing to meet its legal obligations in relation to Air Quality. The admission came in a response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Campaign for Clean Air in London which has written again to the European Commission to urge further action. Both letters appear below.
While the Government’s response omits important details, the Campaign for Clean Air in London has uncovered further key details after the intervention of one of London’s leading MEPs John Bowis. Conservative Mr Bowis MEP was able to obtain independent confirmation that the Letter of Formal Notice was in respect of Sulphur Dioxide legal breaches and was decided by the Commission on 27 June and sent out to the UK on 29 June.
In response to an information request to the Commission, the Campaign for Clean Air in London found subsequently that the Letter of Formal Notice (Reference 2007/2184) on exceedances of hourly and daily limit values for Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), in so-called UK0029 air quality zone “Eastern”, was sent by Commissioner Dimas for the Commission on 29 June 2007 to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The response, with UK observations to the Commission’s view that UK has failed to fulfil its obligations of Article 3(1) and Section I of Annex I of Air Quality Directive 1999/30/EC, was due to be received by the Commission within two months of receipt. The UK was one of only five countries in the whole European Union (EU) to receive such a letter: the others being France, Italy, Spain and Slovenia.
The Campaign for Clean Air in London had already received a letter from the Commission confirming its investigations into breaches of EU limit values generally which was published on the BBC Action Network on 12 August 2007.
The two month deadline for replying to the Letter of Formal Notice passed last week after which the Commission can issue a “Reasoned Opinion” (final written warning) before considering involving the European Court of Justice two months later.
In a letter sent to Commissioner Dimas dated 3 September, the Campaign for Clean Air in London has urged the European Commission to:
1. “Announce that it has sent a first written warning to the UK as it did recently for another environmental “villain” Bulgaria:
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1788&format=HTML
We do not see any reason why the Commission would need to name the four other countries involved in such a News Release since some Governments may be being more transparent than others;
2. “Move quickly to send the UK a “Reasoned Opinion” (final written warning), and involve subsequently the European Court of Justice, in respect of the SO2 legal breaches unless the UK showed by 29 August a clear and credible plan to meet the SO2 Limit Values in the short term;
3. “Issue, given that the legal position for PM10 is effectively the same as that for SO2, a Letter of Formal Notice to the UK, at least in respect of London as a specific location, for breaching PM10 Limit Values in 2005 (and subsequently for 2006) with a “Reasoned Opinion” and the subsequent involvement of the European Court of Justice to follow quickly thereafter, unless the UK shows soon a clear and credible plan for meeting PM10 Limit Values by no later than the London 2012 Summer Olympics. We urge the Commission to press forward in this way, publicising transparently its actions at each step, in parallel with the second reading of the proposed new Air Quality Directive;
5. “Take appropriate and early action in respect of the very high levels of Nitrogen Dioxide in London; and
6. “Maintain the Commission’s tough stance on the content of the proposed new Air Quality Directive to achieve better protection for Europe’s citizens. Accept, only if it looks as though MEPs from some countries may seek to weaken the new regime for everyone, very regrettably, that we may be better with the current, muddled, Air Quality regime of many Directives than a weakened new regime.
“Respectfully, if the Commission does not act in the way we are requesting it will raise serious concerns about the likelihood of successful enforcement action related to Air Pollution whether for Air Quality, carbon dioxide emissions for cars or in respect of Climate Change. Please set an example now that will reassure Europe’s citizens about their future.”
COMMENTS (in alphabetical order):
John Bowis MEP, Conservative Spokesman for health and the environment and former MP for Battersea, said:
“Air pollution has a major health and environmental impact in our city: it is responsible for the death of 1,000 people in London each year and it shortens lives by an average of eight months. Respiratory and cardiovascular side-effects lead to increased hospital admissions, extra medication, millions of lost working days each year and hundreds of thousands of premature deaths.
“I welcome the work that the Campaign for Clean Air in London has done in exposing the Government’s negligence in not tackling unacceptable levels of sulphur dioxide in the UK’s streets. The UK is one of only five EU Member States to receive such a warning. We should be leading the way in environmental standards across Europe, not forever playing catch up.
“The World Health Organisation is currently advising people with a history of cardiovascular problems not to travel to the Olympics in Beijing next year because of concerns over air quality. I hope the UK Government can take action now to avoid the same problems in London in 2012.”
Chris Huhne MP, Shadow Cabinet Member for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for the Liberal Democrats, said:
“Defra simply does not take seriously enough the international obligations that we agreed through the EU Council. Air quality is a key issue that the Government must now address urgently.”
Jenny Jones, Green Party member of the London Assembly, said:
“Air pollution is a massive issue which both the Government and many local authorities just aren’t taking seriously. It is unacceptable that the European Commission and the Government are locked in this slow motion dance, behind the scenes, whilst Londoners are breathing in toxic fumes on a daily basis. The European Commission must take action against the UK to enforce the rules and protect our health.”
Baroness Ludford MEP, Liberal Democrat, said:
“DEFRA’s reluctance to act in an open manner raises important questions about the integrity and value of the UK Government’s air quality strategy. There is an apparent failure to take seriously the commitments in that strategy and to respect EU legally binding pollution limits, on top of this refusal to be transparent. Well done to the laudable Campaign for Clean Air in London for digging out the truth in typically dogged fashion! As an MEP I am very grateful for its briefings and calls to arms.
“It is pretty shameful that the EU has had to launch action against the UK for breaching sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission limits in Eastern England. London’s record on air quality is no better, and unacceptable given its position as a world city, and that is why Liberal Democrats wanted the Low Emission Zone scheme to be strengthened. Thank goodness the European Commission is setting an example with SO2. However, in order to ensure the health of Londoners, we encourage it to go further and force the Government to address the diesel- produced fine particles that are so damaging to lungs. We have many such “hotspots”, not only in central London, but also in busy outer London locations where those readings are too high.
“Hopefully, this formal action will act as a wake-up call for the Government, but we all need to support the Clean Air campaign to strengthen its hand against inaction. Government at present is frankly hypocritical, talking green while hell-bent on airport expansion including building a third runway at Heathrow (we need to watch that there is no “fixing” of the air quality readings here). It is difficult for Londoners to feel confident that the Government is serious about air quality objectives. As an MEP I intend to push the Commission to take a tough line on all breaches of EU emissions limits, related both to road transport and to aviation, and to press in the European Parliament for a robust new Air Quality Directive.”
Simon Birkett, Principal Contact for the Campaign for Clean Air in London, said:
“We welcome the Government’s disclosure of the European Commission’s intervention in respect of Air Quality breaches of legal requirements. However, we are dismayed by the Government’s continuing lack of transparency and action in the area of Air Quality.
“We have needed John Bowis MEP, fighting for London, to find out separately when the Letter of Formal was sent to the UK and in respect of which legal breaches of Air Quality. This is not good enough when it follows quickly publication of the Government’s new Air Quality Strategy which itself demonstrated a lack of political will.
“Do the 4,000 people seemingly exposed to unhealthy levels of sulphur dioxide in UK0029 air quality zone “Eastern” in England, perhaps in the vicinity of one industrial plant, know that the European Commission has had to take action to protect them? For details, please see pages 71 to 73 of Volume 2 of the new Air Quality Strategy published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on 17 July 2007.
“With Particulate Matter and Sulphur Dioxide EU legal limits both due to have been met throughout the UK by January 2005, with no time extensions or derogations, we have written again to Commissioner Dimas asking him to publicise the European Commission’s enforcement actions, to accelerate action on Sulphur Dioxide and to take formal enforcement action against the UK, at least in respect of London as a specific location, for its breaches of EU legal limits for Particulate Matter in 2005 (and subsequently 2006).
“We wish to thank John Bowis, Chris Huhne, Jenny Jones and Baroness Ludford particularly for their latest support of our Campaign and the European Commission for its transparency and positive action as we head towards the European Parliament’s Environment Committee meeting scheduled for 9 October and the crucial second reading of Europe’s proposed new Air Quality Directive due on 10 December.
“We wish to thank too Mayor Livingstone, Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron and Len Duvall for their support of our Campaign and encourage them to build boldly upon their current and proposed Air Quality initiatives, to lead pressure on the Government on London’s behalf to play its part finally and to deliver sustainably clean air standards throughout London by no later by than the London 2012 Summer Olympics.
“We encourage the Government to begin rebuilding its credibility on Air Quality by producing credible plans, to the European Commission’s satisfaction, to meet all of the EU’s Air Quality requirements sustainably throughout London by no later than the London 2012 Summer Olympics.
“Specifically, London needs the Government to: approve Crossrail; approve Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology and testing standards for the abatement of nitrogen oxides in older vehicles; accelerate the adoption of vehicles meeting Euro 4/IV and Euro 5/V engine emission standards and the adoption of SCR equipment in new and older vehicles; reduce the use of diesel engines generally relative to petrol engines in cities; assist with the introduction of “tag and beacon” road pricing; and establish a Committee on Climate Change that is required and empowered to consider air pollution holistically. The bottom line is that London needs some help from the Government to improve its Air Quality and Londoners won’t take “no” for an answer.”
CONTACT
Simon Birkett
Principal Contact
Campaign for Clean Air in London
Simon can be contacted through the Campaign’s homepage on https://cleanair.london/
PLEASE SEE BELOW COPY OF LETTER RECEIVED ON DEFRA LETTERHEAD
Ergon House
Area 3C
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Telephone: 020 7238 6000
Web: www.defra.gov.uk
Simon Birkett
Principal Contact
Campaign for Clean Air in London
Date: 24 August 2007
Dear Mr Birkett
Re: Public enquiry regarding Article 226 letters on air quality
This letter is in response to your e-mail of 2 August (and subsequent telephone conversation with Chris Snary) in which you made the following request:
“Please will you send to me electronically a copy of any request(s) received directly or indirectly by Defra from the European Commission since 1 May 2007 for information on the measures that the UK, as a Member State, intends to take to improve the situation in respect of breaches of EU legal limits for air quality and meet the requirements in the Air Quality Directives currently in force and a copy of any response(s) sent to such a request.”
Your request has been considered under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3391).
As you are aware, a Commission request of the type you mention is likely to be made as part of, or in relation to, the formal infraction procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. In so far as your request therefore relates to ongoing infraction proceedings, I confirm that we hold correspondence from the Commission pursuing infraction proceedings against the UK concerning an infringement of the First Air Quality Daughter Directive (1999/30/EC) (reference: infringement No. 2007/2184). This comprises a letter of formal notice. As you are aware, a letter of formal notice is part of the administrative phase of live infraction proceedings. This phase of infraction proceedings can be followed by a judicial phase, should the Commission wish to refer a case to the European Court of Justice. Having considered the correspondence in question, and the context of Article 226 proceedings generally, we are not disclosing this correspondence for the reasons set out in this letter.
We have reached our decision on the basis that we consider that the Article 226 correspondence between the UK and the Commission engages the exceptions in regulation 12(5)(a) (which applies where disclosure of information would adversely affect international relations), and in regulation 12(5)(b) (which applies where disclosure of information would adversely affect the course of justice) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. This is because the information relates to infraction proceedings which are ongoing. These exceptions are subject to a public interest test.
We have considered the balance of public interest under regulation 12(1)(b) (refusal to disclose environmental information if in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosure). We consider the case for disclosure is transparency and public interest in action by the Commission to seek to enforce compliance with the Air Quality Directives. That said, we are also mindful that information on exceedances of the air quality limit values which could, in principle, trigger Article 226 infractions proceedings, is already available to the public as required by those Directives and the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2007.
We consider the case for withholding arises because this information is part of a legal dispute between the Commission and the UK Government. As the investigations and infraction proceedings are ongoing, we consider disclosure at this stage would risk undermining the investigations, conduct, and handling of the case. It is not the practice of the European Commission to release information relating to infraction proceedings on the basis of Article 4.2 of Regulation (EC) 1049/2001, which covers access to documents emanating from Community Institutions. This is because infringement investigations call for genuine cooperation and an atmosphere of mutual trust between the Commission and the Member State concerned, so as to enable the parties to open discussions with a view to a rapid resolution of the dispute, and this would be seriously undermined by subjecting the process to public scrutiny. In the interests of preserving the atmosphere of mutual trust between the Commission and Member States, we consider that the public interest is best served by withholding the information you have requested.
This principle has already been recognised by the Information Commissioner, concerning a similar request for correspondence relating to infraction proceedings. In a decision notice dated 18 September 2006 (Reference FS500110720), he accepted that the exemption provided by Section 27 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 concerning international relations is engaged (that provision reflects regulation 12(5)(a) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004) and that there was a strong public interest in maintaining the exemption. In his view, disclosure was likely to affect the UK’s ability to negotiate flexibly.
I confirm that Defra has not received any other Commission correspondence in the period you specify.
I attach an annex giving contact details should you be unhappy with the response you have received.
Yours sincerely
Helen Ainsworth
Policy Advisor, EU Air Quality
Air and Environmental Quality Division
PLEASE SEE BELOW COPY OF LETTER SENT ON CAMPAIGN FOR CLEAN AIR IN LONDON LETTERHEAD
Commissioner Stavros Dimas
The Commissioner for the Environment DG
Environment Directorate-General
European Commission
B – 1049
Brussels
Belgium
By post and email to: [email protected]
3 September 2007
Dear Commissioner Dimas
Pursue and publicise enforcement of Air Quality Limit Values
Thank you for asking Marianne Klingbeil to reply to my letter on behalf of the Campaign for Clean Air in London urging you to ask the European Court of Justice to commence enforcement action against the United Kingdom (UK) for breaching European Union (EU) legal limits for Air Quality for which no time extensions or derogations are allowed. I have followed up valuably with Ms Klingbeil and her team on some points.
Most importantly, thank you for everything you are doing on many fronts to improve Air Quality for Europe’s citizens. The poor performance of some national Governments in this regard emphasises the importance of your role. Again, we have copied President Barroso since some of the issues raised in this letter may have implications for other portfolios.
The Campaign for Clean Air in London submitted a Freedom of Information request to the UK Government to discover that the UK has received a Letter of Formal Notice (first written warning) from the European Commission (the Commission) in respect of breaches of the Air Quality legal limits (attached). We discovered separately, following intervention by John Bowis MEP, that the Letter of Formal Notice relates to sulphur dioxide (SO2) and was decided by the Commission on 27 June and sent out on 29 June (07/2184 (UK)). Ms Klingbeil, in her letter, made clear that the Commission has requested information from Member States on the measures they intend to take to improve the [Air Quality] situation and to meet the requirements of the AQ Directives. This will include particulate matter (PM10) following the breaches in 2005 (and subsequently for 2006).
These developments and others in recent weeks show that the Commission is taking a tough approach to Air Quality enforcement, as we had hoped it would, and are therefore most welcome. We are most concerned though that the UK Government is resisting transparency (as can be seen in its letter to us and attached here), may seek unnecessary delays in responding to the Commission’s requests or may seek to persuade the Commission that the UK’s new Air Quality Strategy (AQS) shows how Limit Values will be met for SO2 and PM10. In our view, much greater transparency is needed, delays are unacceptable when so many lives are at stake and – having read many pages within the three volumes – the UK’s AQS shows clearly that Limit Values for SO2 will NOT be met by 2020 (see pages 71 to 73 of Volume 2 of the new Air Quality Strategy published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)) and avoids showing equivalent information for PM10 (other than general non-compliance). We would be pleased to discuss this evidence with your officials. For the record, the carefully considered view of the Campaign for Clean Air in London is that the UK Government has not yet made reasonable efforts to meet EU Limit Values and has not made public how it plans to do so in future.
Given the above, we urge respectfully the European Commission please to:
1. Announce that it has sent a first written warning to the UK as it did recently for another environmental “villain” Bulgaria:
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1788&format=HTML
We do not see any reason why the Commission would need to name the four other countries involved in such a News Release since some Governments may be being more transparent than others;
2. Move quickly to send the UK a “Reasoned Opinion” (final written warning), and involve subsequently the European Court of Justice, in respect of SO2 legal breaches unless the UK showed by 29 August a clear and credible plan to meet SO2 Limit Values in the short term;
3. Issue, given that the legal position for PM10 is effectively the same as that for SO2, a Letter of Formal Notice to the UK, at least in respect of London as a specific location, for breaching PM10 Limit Values in 2005 (and subsequently for 2006) with a “Reasoned Opinion” and the subsequent involvement of the European Court of Justice to follow quickly thereafter, unless the UK shows soon a clear and credible plan for meeting PM10 Limit Values by the London 2012 Summer Olympics. We urge the Commission to press forward in this way, publicizing transparently its actions at each step, in parallel with the second reading of the proposed new Air Quality Directive;
4. Take appropriate and early action in respect of the very high levels of Nitrogen Dioxide in London; and
5. Maintain the Commission’s tough stance on the content of the proposed new Air Quality Directive to achieve better protection for Europe’s citizens. Accept, only if it looks as though MEPs from some countries may seek to weaken the new regime for everyone, that, very sadly, we may be better with the current muddled Air Quality regime of many Directives than a weakened new regime.
Respectfully, if the Commission does not act in the way we are requesting it will raise serious concerns about the likelihood of successful enforcement action related to Air Pollution whether for Air Quality, carbon dioxide emissions for cars or in respect of Climate Change. Please set an example now that will reassure Europe’s citizens about their future.
Please will your office acknowledge receipt of this letter to the sender’s email address? There is no need to reply formally to it – we would rather your officials were not distracted from the necessary enforcement action!
With best wishes.
Yours sincerely
Simon Birkett
Principal Contact
Campaign for Clean Air in London
By hand:
Winston Fletcher, Chair, The Knightsbridge Association
Carol Seymour-Newton, Honorary Secretary, The Knightsbridge Association
Cc:
President Barroso
Commission Vice-President Verheugen
The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Defra
Marianne Klingbiel, Head of Unit, Air Quality, Environment DG
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London
Sian Berry, Principal Speaker and Green Party candidate for Mayor of London
John Bird, Independent candidate for Mayor of London
ORGANISATIONS
Amenity Societies
Helen Ainsworth, EU and International Air Quality, Defra
Jenny Bates, London Regional Campaigns Co-ordinator, Friends of the Earth
James Bidwell, Chief Executive, Visit London
John Brewster OBE, Chairman, Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, Corporation of London
Patricia Brown, Chief Executive, Central London Partnership
Robert Buxton, Deputy Chairman, West London Residents Association
Sarah Dudgeon, National and Local Air Quality, Defra
Nick Fairholm, Transport for London
David Higgins, Chief Executive, Olympic Delivery Authority
Tim Hockney, Executive Director, London First
Professor Frank Kelly, Kings College London
Dr Michal Krzyzanowksi, Regional Adviser, Air Quality and Health, WHO
Sarah Legge, GLA Principal Policy Adviser – Air Quality
Blake Ludwig, Campaign Director, Alliance Against Urban 4x4s
Professor Bob Maynard, Health Protection Agency
Paul McLoughlin, UK General Manager, Zipcar
Philip Mulligan, Chief Executive, Environment Protection UK
Derek Picot, Chairman, The Knightsbridge Business Group
Dr Gordon Taylor, Chairman, West London Residents Association
Dr Martin Williams, Head of Air and Environment Quality Division, Defra
LEADING POLITICIANS
Peter Ainsworth MP, Shadow Secretary of State, Defra, Conservative
Greg Barker MP, Shadow Minister for the Environment, Conservative
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody MP, Chair of the Transport Committee, Labour
Mark Field MP, Conservative
Chris Huhne MP, Shadow Environment Secretary, Liberal Democrat
The Rt. Hon. Michael Jack MP, Chairman of the Environment and Rural Affairs Select Committee
The Rt. Hon. Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State, Department for Transport, Labour
Susan Kramer MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Liberal Democrat
The Rt. Hon. Sir Malcolm Rifkind QC MP, Conservative
The Rt. Hon. the Lord Rooker, Minister of State, Defra Joan Ruddock MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Jonathan Shaw MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for the South East
Theresa Villiers MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Conservative
Phil Woolas MP, Minister of State, Defra
Tim Yeo MP, Chairman Environmental Audit Committee, Conservative
Gerard Batten MEP, London, Independence
John Bowis MEP, London, Conservative
Chris Davies MEP, Liberal Democrat Robert Evans MEP, London, Labour
Mary Honeyball MEP, London, Labour
Syed Kamall MEP, London, Conservative
Ms Jean Lambert MEP, London, Green Party
Baroness Ludford MEP, London, Liberal Democrat
Linda McAvan MEP, Labour
Claude Moraes MEP, London, Labour
Charles Tannock MEP, London, Conservative
Angie Bray AM, Leader of the Conservative Group, GLA
Tony Arbour AM, Conservative
Richard Barnes AM, Conservative
Robert Blackman AM, Conservative
Brian Coleman AM, Conservative
Roger Evans AM, Conservative
Elizabeth Howlett AM, Conservative
Bob Neill AM, Conservative
Andrew Pelling AM, Conservative
Jenny Jones AM, Leader of the Green Group, GLA
Darren Johnson AM, Chair of the Environment Committee, GLA, Green
Len Duvall AM, Leader of the Labour Group, GLA
Jeanette Arnold AM, Labour
John Biggs AM, Labour
Nicky Gavron AM, Labour
Joanne McCartney AM, Labour
Valerie Shawcross AM, Labour
Murad Qureshi AM, Labour
Mike Tuffrey AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, GLA
Dee Doocey AM, Liberal Democrat
Sally Hamwee AM, Liberal Democrat
Geoff Pope AM, Liberal Democrat
The Lord Tope, AM, Liberal Democrat
Peter Hulme Cross AM, One London Group, GLA
Damian Hockney AM, One London Group, GLA
Councillor Sir Simon Milton, Leader of the Council, WCC, Conservative
Councillor Alan Bradley, Chair, Go Green Board, WCC, Conservative
Councillor Merrick Cockell, Leader of the Council, RBKC, Conservative
Councillor Daniel Moylan, Deputy Leader, RBKC, Conservative
Councillor Frances Blois, WCC, Conservative
Councillor Tony Devenish, WCC, Conservative
Councillor Philippa Roe, WCC, Conservative
Councillor Dr Iain Hanham, RBKC, Conservative
Councillor Margot James, RBKC, Conservative
Councillor Mrs Shireen Ritchie, RBKC, Conservative
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
Rebecca Brown, Environment Quality Unit, RBKC
Guy Denington, Team Manager, Environment Quality Unit, RBKC
Martin Low, Director of Transportation, WCC
Mike LeRoy, WCC
Mahmood Siddiqi, Chief Traffic Engineer, RBKC
