Europe starts lawsuit against Britain over pollution failings
EUROPE is taking Britain to court for failing to tackle unacceptably high levels of pollution.
The European Commission has complained that the UK has not set out a plan to improve levels of toxic nitrogen dioxide in its cities, despite being granted an extension until 2015 to sort out the problem.
London will not be in a position to meet the requirements until at least 2025, and 15 other areas of Britain will fall into line in 2020, the commission said, citing a Supreme Court decision last year that found Britain was in breach of the EU Air Quality Directive.
“Air quality has improved significantly in recent decades. Just like for other member states, meeting the NO2 limit values alongside busy roads has been a challenge,” said the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
The commission has given the UK two months to respond.