Sushruta will be launching its thematic issue on 'Climate Change & Health' in line with the UK Clean Air Day on 18 June 2020. You can contribute by writing about your local initiatives and sharing your knowledge and expertise on the topic. This edition will be led by our Student Editorial Board members representing the future of the profession. Deadline for contributions is 1 May 2020.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove has published a Clean Air Strategy which aims to cut air pollution and save lives, backed up through new primary legislation.
Air pollution is the fourth biggest threat to public health after cancer, obesity and heart disease and the new government strategy sets out how we will go further and faster than the EU in reducing human exposure to particulate matter pollution. These proposals are in addition to the government’s £3.5 billion plan to reduce air pollution from road transport and diesel vehicles, set out in July last year.
It is estimated that the action set out will reduce the costs of air pollution to society by an estimated £1 billion every year by 2020, rising to £2.5 billion every year from 2030.
The new strategy, which is now out for consultation, is a key part of our 25 Year Plan to leave our environment in a better state than we found it. It sets out:
- Goal is that by 2025, UK will halve the number of people living in locations where concentrations of particulate matter are above the WHO guideline limit of 10 ug/m3.
- UK will introduce new primary legislation, which will give local government new powers to improve air quality.
- UK will legislate to ensure only the cleanest domestic fuels will be available for sale, preventing 8,000 tonnes of harmful particulate matter from entering the atmosphere each year.