Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024, which received Royal Assent in February 2024, brought forward measures which will result in improvements in air quality in Wales, reducing public health impacts associated with a poor air environment. Today I am pleased to announce that the sections of the Act that relate to Local Air Quality Management and the four Smoke Control Areas in Wales have come into force. To support this, we have published guidance for Local Authorities to support them in meeting their new obligations within the Act. This delivers further on the commitments we made in our Programme for Government to address the climate and nature emergencies.
The quality of air we breathe affects our health and well-being every minute of the day. The World Health Organization has described air pollution as the world’s largest single environmental health risk. Our Programme for Government recognised the high importance of improving the air environment by making a commitment to introduce this Act.
The Act introduced a requirement on Local Authorities to undertake an annual review of air quality, also an obligation for an air quality action plan to contain a projected compliance date which must be agreed with Welsh Ministers. The Act also amended the Clean Air Act 1993 to enable Local Authorities to better manage and enforce emissions of smoke in Smoke Control Areas.
Smoke control covers the control of pollution from solid fuel burning from chimneys in homes and businesses within Smoke Control Areas. Criminal offences are hard to administer and rarely result in prosecution. The Act and associated guidance make it easier for Local Authorities to take enforcement action by introducing civil monetary penalties, to replace current criminal sanctions, which can be instigated by Local Authorities where smoke is emitted from a chimney within a smoke-control area. In implementing the relevant sections of the Act, the Welsh Government is continuing to support Local Authorities to make sustained improvements to air quality for their local communities.
This statement is being issued during recess to keep Members informed. Should Members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.