Law and policy

UK air quality law and policy is found at different levels of government. The UK Government is required to produce a UK Air Quality Strategy. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) coordinates reporting for the UK as a whole. Responsibility for meeting air quality targets - concentration limits for various air pollutants in outdoor air - are devolved. Other legislation deals with emissions of air pollutants.

The National Air Pollution Control Programme (2022) sets out how the UK aims to meet its 2020 and 2030 emissions reduction commitments for five pollutants: nitrogen oxides, ammonia, non-methane volatile organic compounds, particulate matter and sulphur dioxide.

Air quality law and policy across the UK can be found here:

• Defra, Clean Air Strategy (2019)
• Scottish Government, Cleaner Air for Scotland (2015)
• Information on air quality law and policy in Northern Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affair's discussion document, A Clean Air Strategy for Northern Ireland (2019)
• Welsh Government, Clean Air Plan for Wales (2020).

Local authorities across the UK are required to review air quality in their areas and designate 'management areas' where they are needing to improve compliance with air quality targets - this is known as the Local Air Quality Management framework.