Air quality action planning: why do barriers to remediation in local air quality management remain?

Barnes, Joanna; Hayes, Enda T; Chatterton, Tim; Longhurst, James

Abstract

UK local air quality action planning has failed to remediate exceedances of air quality targets, particularly for nitrogen dioxide, which are widespread and persistent a decade after the first local action plans were drafted. This paper is relevant to a range of administrations charged with managing air quality. Using a literature review and local authority survey, it explores barriers to improving air quality, i.e. resource limitations, absence of local authority powers, and a lack of intra-governmental co-operation and inter-governmental co-ordination. It concludes that the causes of these inefficiencies are flawed subsidiarity and devolved responsibility decoupled from the powers necessary to implement required actions. Challenging opportunities to reconceptualise air quality action planning to protect public health are suggested. © 2013 University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 11, 2012
• Online Publication Date: Apr 3, 2013
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jun 25, 2013
• Journal: Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
• Print ISSN: 0964-0568
• Electronic ISSN: 1360-0559
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 57
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 660-681
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2012.762573
• Keywords: air quality, environment
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/817987
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2012.762573
• Contract Date: Nov 28, 2016