Europe takes action against UK for breaching air pollution limits

Europe takes action against UK for breaching air pollution limits

Europe takes action against UK for breaching air pollution limits

UK has failed multiple times in applying the environmental law. So action against Britain has been taken for exceeding the air pollution limits. Since 2010, Britain has been continuously exceeding the maximum limit of NO2 that can be emitted. The most shocking factor is that UK has already exceeded its annual pollution emission limit for this entire year just in 5 days.

"In principle it could start later this year, but first we have to decide on a referral to court," an EU source said. "Your goal is always to get them to comply without taking them to court."

A recent estimate states that nearly 50000 Britons die prematurely each year from diseases caused by air pollutants such as fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. Around 6 million working days are lost due to pollution related illness annually.

Britain is already failing in its application of laws on air quality, water standards, and the conservation of several species, particularly marine porpoises, according to the latest review. A high-profile environmental case against the UK at the European court of justice could inflame eurosceptic passions, as fears grow on the continent about the potential shock waves from Brexit.

Pieter de Pous the deputy director of the European environment bureau, said: "This review is the latest sobering reminder of the UK government's shameful lack of ambition when it comes to environmental protection.

"Given May's extremely worrying threats to turn the UK into a tax and deregulation haven post-Brexit, any future deal granting the UK access to the single market must come with strict conditions – and rock-solid guarantees from the UK – to ensure that it complies with existing and future EU environmental law."