Last October, Environmental Protection UK (EPUK) announced that it would seek to build a new national alliance to work towards cleaner air for Britain. On the 21 January this year an initial meeting of interested parties was held at the House of Lords.

The meeting considered the current state of air quality in the UK, prospects for improvements in future, experience of environmental groups, industry and public bodies in campaigning for clean air as well as the scope for accelerating progress.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to form a new clean air alliance for the UK, with the aim of raising awareness of air pollution problems and promoting measures to deliver cleaner air more quickly, bringing in new resources and widening the range of partners involved in the work. An immediate objective would be to promote the all-party Environmental Audit Committee’s recommendations for action, and to try to ensure that the goal of cleaner air becomes a priority issue in this year’s general Election, and in current European discussions in Brussels.

Over the coming weeks, EPUK will be refining the specific objectives of the new Alliance and drawing up detailed plans for its work. At the same time, it will be seeking to extend the membership of the Alliance and to identify resources for the work. Any organisations or individuals who are interested in becoming part of the Alliance and supporting its work are invited to contact the EPUK Secretariat at secretariat@environmental-protection.org.uk.

A steering committee for the Alliance, representing a number of key interests, is being established, and is expected to have its first meeting in March. In the meantime a report of the January 21st discussions will be prepared and circulated.

King's are proud to be members of this new Alliance and look forward to ensuring that the UK air quality community's voice is heard at all levels of government and the media.

Item date 19/02/2015