The World Health Organization (WHO) published revised Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) for pollutants in ambient air in September 2021. The guidelines for particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are substantially lower than the previous (2005) guidelines; the updated long-term (annual average) AQG for PM10 is 15µg/m3, for PM2.5 is 5µg/m3 and for NO2 is 10µg/m3.

The UK’s Environment Act 2021 also establishes a legally binding duty on government to bring forward at least two new air quality targets in secondary legislation by October 2022. Earlier this year, Defra published it’s proposed targets in this area as part of a wider consultation for all new environmental targets.

The proposed air quality targets are:

• Annual Mean Concentration Target (‘concentration target’) – a maximum concentration of 10µg/m3 to be met across England by 2040
• Population Exposure Reduction Target (‘exposure target’) – a 35% reduction in population exposure by 2040 (compared to a base year of 2018)

There have been criticisms that these targets are not ambitious enough, and do not align with the WHO’s guidelines. This forum therefore considers: should the UK adopt targets aligned with the WHO guidelines, and if so, how would we implement them?

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Our speakers

Claire Holman has worked on air quality for the past four decades since being awarded her PhD for research into ozone pollution in 1980. She is currently a director of Air Pollution Services, a specialist air quality consultancy, working on a range of Government Agency and other research projects, as well as overseeing air quality assessments for planning applications. She is a former chair of IAQM, and an experienced expert witness for planning inquiries and litigation. She provided evidence on the government‘s lack of adequate policies to improve air quality at the inquest into the death of Ella Kissi-Debrah, on behalf of her family, and worked for ClientEarth on their successful challenges to the government’s Air Quality Plans. She also led the development of a number of IAQM guidance documents.

Carl Hawkings started his working life at ERM in 1986 as an Ecologist. Sharing one of the few PCs in the London office with an air modeller he soon started helping out with modelling and air studies. He transferred to the air team between 1988-2000 when he joined ADM Ltd. Carl currently works with a range of clients including Shell, in their major projects team. His air and EIA work involves him in many different sectors including transport, infrastructure, power, oil and gas, cement and incineration. He has worked in over 40 countries worldwide, most recently providing air quality management training in Iraq and managing EIAs in Nigeria, Qatar, UK offshore and Bangladesh. He managed the air quality team in Arup for a year during a staff leave of absence and has recent operational experience, covering for 4 months as the Environmental Manager on an oil seed rape plant in the UK. He has contributed to IAQM guidance and been a member since its formation.

Tim Williamson is a Technical Director for AQC, specialising in the synthesis of evidence and data to provide support for policy development and decision makers. He has around 25 years’ experience in environmental policy development, focusing on air quality, having operated at the local, national and international scales. From 2005 to 2016, he led multidisciplinary evidence teams in UK Government, covering first air quality and then waste and resource efficiency. Tim has extensive experience of environmental policy development in the UK and Europe, developing the evidence base to support negotiations on the Clean Air for Europe Directive, revised NECD and Circular Economy package. As a consultant Tim delivered projects drawing on his air quality, climate change, policy analysis and project management skills. These include an analysis of UK air quality policy options post-Brexit and a review of EU funding and policy alignment for the Urban Partnership. He recently led a project for RSSB on air quality targets for GB rail and has contributed towards guidance for Member States on the National Air Pollution Control Programmes.

This event is free for professional IAQM members to attend, non-members are welcome to attend for a small fee of £25. A member of the IES team will contact you to organise payment.