REACTION: EU Commission Sends Final Warning for Britain Over Failure to Tackle Air Pollution

In reaction to the news that the European Commission has sent a "final warning" to the UK for failing to address repeated breaches of legal air pollution limits in 16 areas including London, Birmingham, Leeds, and Glasgow, Greenpeace clean air campaigner Paul Morozzo, said:

“Air pollution affects us all. It can help to cause and worsen life threatening conditions like heart disease and asthma; and ultimately that’s shortening people’s lives. And we know that diesel is a big cause of the illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution that the EU commission is concerned about. Yet unbelievably, the government is still incentivising consumers to buy brand new diesel cars that are pumping out illegal levels of pollution. That must change. Vehicle Excise Duty on car sales should incentivise cleaner vehicle choices and deter diesel sales as they produce more harmful air pollution.”