We have been told we need to do something about our air pollution:
Failing to protect us from air pollution
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So the government is making promises:
Queen’s Speech confirms legally binding targets for air pollution | Air Quality News
Government introduces ground-breaking Environment Bill | gov.uk
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Whilst some are unimpressed…
Environment protection bill targets lack ambition | Financial Times
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… others don’t really see it as a ‘pandemic’ as such – or at least, that the current air pollution is being misconstrued:
The main challenges to air pollution at the moment come not from nasty capitalists intent on poisoning the rest of us for their own financial campaign – as is often made out – but from over-hasty and ill-thought-out measures to reduce carbon emissions. The Blair governments, backed by the EU, encouraged a huge switch from petrol to diesel cars in the 2000s – in spite of diesels emitting much higher levels of nitrogen oxides and particulate pollution. One of the significant contributors to particulate pollution now is from burning wood – both in power stations and in domestic boilers and stoves. Both activities, perversely, have been and still are encouraged through financial incentives.
The myth of Britain’s air pollution pandemic | The Spectator
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In other words, things are much more complicated and need a more nuanced approach
Solutions to air pollution: how to improve air quality? | Solar Impulse
25 solutions to Air Pollution | Climate Tracker
From the WHO:
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