MPs: UK air pollution is a ‘public health emergency’
May 3, 2016
Richard Howard, from thinktank Policy Exchange, welcomed the new report, but said: “It could go even further by making the case for wider fiscal reforms – for example changes to road tax and company car tax to dis-incentivise diesels.”
Related Blogs

6 New Technologies Which Could Improve Urban Air Quality
In this blog, Richard Howard, Policy Exchange’s head of environment and energy, considers the potential for a number of emerging technologies to improve urban air quality.

Use fiscal policies to drive away from diesel and clean up air pollution
Richard Howard, Policy Exchange’s Head of Energy and Environment, discusses recommendations for a higher road tax on new diesel cars to improve air quality.

Why London needs a boiler scrappage scheme
Richard Howard, Policy Exchange’s Head of Environment & Energy, looks at the prospect of a boiler scrappage scheme, and argues the ambition of the scheme should be increased.

Why we must do more to tackle London’s air pollution crisis
Richard Howard, Policy Exchange’s Head of Environment & Energy, sets out the findings from our new report on air pollution in London, Up In the Air. The report reveals that 25% of London’s school children, and 44% of London’s workers spend their day in areas with NO2 levels above legal limits.
Related Publications

Up in the Air: How to solve London’s air quality crisis – Part 2
Up in the Air: Part 2 sets out a comprehensive package of measures to clean up air pollution in London, in particular focusing on the two main sources of pollution – road transport and gas combustion.

Up In the Air: How to solve London’s air quality crisis – Part 1
Nearly 25% of all school children in London and 44% of the Capital’s workforce are exposed to levels of air pollution that exceed legal and healthy limits. Up in the Air analyses data from over 100 air quality monitoring sites across London. It shows the most polluted parts of the capital currently have levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) nearly four times the legal limit, with 12.5% of London’s total area exceeding the legal limit for NO2, and that deprived areas are more likely to be affected.
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In The News

London Air Pollution Became a Major Issue in Its Mayoral Race
Time’s report on Air Pollution and the London mayoral election quotes Richard Howard, head of Policy Exchange’s Environment and Energy unit.

Londoners would live a month longer with cleaner air’
The Evening Standard report on the Policy Exchange Environment and Energy Unit’s report “Up in the Air: How to solve London’s air quality crisis – Part 2”.

The truth about London’s air pollution
Richard Howard, Policy Exchange’s Head of Environment and Energy, is quoted by The Guardian stating action is needed at EU level to set and enforce tough vehicle emissions standards, at national level to reform tax incentives for diesels, and at local authority level to create low emissions zones.

Smog ‘red alert’ forces schools to close in Beijing
The TES cites findings from Policy Exchange’s recent report on air pollution – Up in the Air- that 25% of London’s schoolchildren attend schools in areas with air pollution above legal limits.
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