Integrating climate change management into the local air quality management process at a local and regional governance level in the UK

Abstract

Environmental policies should not be treated in isolation due to the synergistic and antagonistic relationships within the policy arena. For example, a combined strategy for climate change and local air quality can make better use of the possibilities to improve energy efficiency and introduce alternative fuels. In other words, combining environmental policies can achieve much more without additional costs. The Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) process has been in place since 1997 and through adaptation and diversification the system is now well established and can be most effective if managed correctly. Part of the LAQM process is the statutory requirement to develop an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) (should exceedences of an air quality objective be identified) and the non-statutory development of a local Air Quality Strategy (AQS). These and other facets of the LAQM process can be successfully adapted to integrate climate change management. To date, 183 local authorities in the UK have declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) for different pollutants; predominantly for NO2 and PM10. The sources of these pollutants are commonly found to be transport, industrial and domestic related; the same sources that are primarily responsible for CO2 emissions. During the development of the AQAP to alleviate the exceedence, careful consideration should be made as to whether the solution(s) utilised have a co-beneficial effect on both climate change and local air quality or if a trade-off has to be made. Due to the overlapping nature of air quality and climate change, these two facets of the LAQM system may be adapted to successfully integrate the management of local air quality and climate change and in doing so a significant and cost effective environmental benefit may be accrued.