Air quality in the UK
In 1995, the Environment Act set out the legal
requirement for ministers to “prepare and publish a
statement…referred to as 'the strategy' containing policies with
respect to the assessment or management of the quality of air”. The
Scottish Government develops domestic policies and initiatives to
improve air quality and reduce risks to human health.
SEPA and the Scottish Government work in
partnership with the other devolved administrations and the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to
ensure objectives set out in the Air Quality Strategy for England,
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are achieved and that
transposition and implementation of European Community (EC) and
other international obligations are taken forward.
These pages describe the on-going development of the air quality
strategy in the UK.