Air pollution court case against government fast-tracked

An air pollution court case against the UK Government has been fast-tracked by a High Court judge. ClientEarth launched a new legal challenge earlier this year over the government’s “repeated […]

An air pollution court case against the UK Government has been fast-tracked by a High Court judge.

ClientEarth launched a new legal challenge earlier this year over the government’s “repeated failure” to tackle air pollution, having previously won a case at the Supreme Court.

The environmental lawyers said Judge Justice Lang agreed to bring the hearing forward to 18th and 19th October because the Supreme Court had recommended “urgent action” in its ruling.

The papers lodged in March urges the High Court to get rid of the government’s current air quality plans, order new ones and intervene to make sure it acts accordingly.

ClientEarth Lawyer Alan Andrews said: “This is good news for everyone who wants to breathe clean air. The government has been dragging its feet, doing the bare minimum and hoping that air pollution levels drop over time. Unless the government is forced to act, air pollution will go on making people sick and causing tens of thousands of early deaths every year in this country.

“This is a reminder of how EU law protects British people from dangerous air pollution.”

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) told ELN it can’t comment on ongoing legal proceedings.

Last month London Mayor Sadiq Khan also joined the air pollution battle against the government.

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