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Archived press release

Government air pollution targets should be tougher

17 September 2001

NEW AIR POLLUTION TARGETS DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH SAYS FOE

Friends of the Earth welcomed today's Government announcement of tougher targets for cutting air pollution, but said it didn't go far enough.

Friends of the Earth is particularly concerned that:

• the particles target is still weaker than the one Labour inherited from the Conservatives in 1997. The Government has said that pollution levels for particles will not be exceeded on more than seven days per year in Scotland and most of the UK, and 10-14 days per year in London (to be achieved by 2010). The Tories' target was four days per year by 2005.
• there's still no target for ozone - the one major pollutant whose concentrations are not being reduced.

Roger Higman, air pollution campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:

“We're pleased that the Government has pledged to clean up our air, but it must go further. Even if these new targets are met, air pollution will still cause suffering to thousands of people every year. Despite Government promises far more needs to be done to cut traffic levels and improve public transport.”

For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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