Defra refuses to boost pollution plan despite threat of EU fines

Jessica Shankleman
clock

Government says poor performance of European standards for cars will make it too difficult to achieve nationwide compliance with NO2 air quality limits

The government has refused to improve its long-term air quality plans to bring nationwide nitrogen dioxide levels (NO2) within legal limits by 2015, despite concerns from local authorities and green groups...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Policy

Circularity can be Britain's resilience strategy for a turbulent century

Circularity can be Britain's resilience strategy for a turbulent century

The UK is not simply exposed to the price of oil, it is exposed to the wasteful design of its economy, writes WRAP's Keith James

Keith James, WRAP
clock 19 May 2026 • 6 min read
Polluting diesel lorries risk driving up UK inflation – phasing them out is a no-brainer

Polluting diesel lorries risk driving up UK inflation – phasing them out is a no-brainer

The end of the road for diesel lorries will help ease pressure on inflation, while electric HGVs can cut freight transport costs, writes Green Alliance's Nicholas Davies

Nicholas Davies, Green Alliance
clock 18 May 2026 • 4 min read
Local election fallout, oil industry re-sets, and lab-grown meat breakthroughs

Local election fallout, oil industry re-sets, and lab-grown meat breakthroughs

BusinessGreen Editor’s Briefing: May part two

BusinessGreen staff
clock 15 May 2026 • 2 min read