MPs: UK air pollution is a 'public health emergency' | Environment | The Guardian

MPs: UK air pollution is a 'public health emergency' | Environment | The Guardian

MPs: UK air pollution is a 'public health emergency'

Cross-party committee of MPs says the government needs to do much more to tackle the crisis, including a scrappage scheme for dirty old diesel cars

 A face mask was placed Nelson’s Column on 18 April 2016 in a Greenpeace protest to highlight air pollution. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Damian Carrington

@dpcarrington

Wednesday 27 April 2016 00.50 BST

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Air pollution in the UK is a “public health emergency”, according to a cross-party committee of MPs, who say the government needs to do much more including introducing a scrappage scheme for old, dirty diesel vehicles.

The government’s own data shows air pollution causes 40,000-50,000 early deaths a year and ministers were forced to produce a new action plan after losing a supreme court case in 2015.