As the Leveson inquiry wears on, there is another trial in the Royal Courts of Justice today which will determine the quality of the air we breathe. A group of Climate Rushers dressed in marigolds, pinnies and headscarves met early this morning to set to work on cleaning a message into the pavement outside the Courts, dusting the rails and making sure that the clean air message is heard by all going into the Court.
Today marks the first day of a hearing in the Court of Appeal where DEFRA’s action on air pollution will be scrutinised. ClientEarth brought a case to the High Court in December 2011 and as a result of this case DEFRA was forced to admit to breaching European Union law on air quality. However, the judge did not force DEFRA to adapt plans to improve air quality in the UK to address this breach of EU law. Today the Court of Appeal will re-examine the case. We decided it was the perfect time to take our clean air campaign to the Courthouse to tell DEFRA to clean up their act.
Air pollution is linked to the early deaths of 29,000 people in the UK, childhood asthma and permanent reduced lung capacity in children as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart disease in over 65s. It’s a public health epidemic and we need the government to improve air quality immediately instead of making London citizens (and those around the UK) breathe deadly air for another thirteen years.
The legal challenge was brought against Caroline Spelman, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, because current air quality plans for 17 regions and cities (including London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow) will not achieve legal limits for air quality until 2020, with safe breathing in London postponed until 2025 even though the deadline for achieving these limits was 1 January 2010. This is extension is illegal and unfair to everyone living in the UK - but today’s hearing is an opportunity for DEFRA to make real change to the quality of life for everyone living in the UK’s polluted towns and cities.
You tell Defra to clean up their act by using these twitter buttons or joining us on our next clean air action!
.@defragovuk clean up your act! Traffic pollution is linked to nearly a 3rd of childhood asthma cases. http://bit.ly/KuUHlw #CleanAirTrial
Tweet #CleanAirTrial
.@defragovuk clean up your act! Air pollution causes permanent reduced lung capacity in children. http://bit.ly/KuUHlw #CleanAirTrial
Tweet #CleanAirTrial
.@defragovuk clean up your act! Air pollution is linked to 29,000 early deaths per year in the UK. http://bit.ly/KuUHlw #CleanAirTrial
Tweet #CleanAirTrial
.@defragovuk clean up your act! I’m sick of breathing toxic air. http://bit.ly/KuUHlw #CleanAirTrial
Tweet #CleanAirTrial
Learn more about our clean air campaign on our Campaigns page.
Tags: air pollution, air qualty, asthma, Caroline Spelman, clean air, clientearth, Climate Change, climate rush, Court, DEFRA, dirty air, Royal Court's Justice, traffic pollution