Independent review on air quality published
03 September 2019
Article: 53/3509
An independent review on the Cleaner Air for Scotland Strategy has found that Scotland is performing well on air quality by both EU and global standards. The review, chaired by Professor Campbell Gemmell, found that concentrations and emissions of most major pollutants continue to fall as a result of action taken to date.
‘Cleaner Air for Scotland – The Road to a Healthier Future’, published in 2015, is Scotland’s first strategy specifically dedicated to tackling the issue in Scotland.
The independent review recommends a precautionary public health approach to air pollution reduction, that further consideration be given to the impact of new building developments on air quality levels, and further emphasis be given to the shift to more sustainable transport modes.
The report of the Health Environment Working Group (HEWG), the sub-group that reviewed the evidence on the health impacts of air pollution, is summarised in Annex 5 of the report.