Atmospheric Legislation Flashcards
(12 cards)
What case is considered a ‘landmark case’ for atmospheric legislation?
- Trail Smelter Case 1941
- Zinc and Lead smelter operated along the columbia river by a canadian mining company
- SO2 emissions proven to damage crops, trees and pastures in US state of Washington
- US government awarded $428,000 compensation and imposed emission limits and monitoring requirements
What was the conclusion of the Trail Smelter Case 1941
“No state has the right to use or permit the use of its territory in such a manner as to cause injury by fumes in or to the territory of another of the properties or person therin, when the case is of serious consequence and the injury is established by clear and convincing evidence”
List the pollutants which need regulation ‘the Kyoto basket’ from the 1992 UNFCC agreement?
- CO2
- CH4
- N2O
- HFCs
- PFCs
- SF6 (GWP 23,900)
- NF3 (Doha addition) - GWP up to 18,700
State the name and year of both the international convention and the subsequent protocol that address protection of the ozone layer.
- UN Vienna Convention for the protection of the Ozone Layer 1985
- The Montreal Protocol 1987
What is the name and date of key international legislation that ‘endeavours to limit and gradually reduce and prevent air pollution using the best available technique not exceeding excessive cost’
UN Geneva Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution 1979
What is SDG 7
Affordable and Clean Energy
What UK atmospheric legislation was introduced after the great london smog
- The Clean Air Act 1956 and 1968
- Prohibits the emissions of dark smoke from chimneys and created smoke control areas
What did the Environment act 1995 introduce
- Established a National Air Quality Strategy
- Established Local Air Quality Managment Regime (LAQM)
- Places responsibilities on local authorities to monitor and assess air quality in the respective areas regularly (Annual status reports)
- Established local air quality management areas (AQMAs) and subsequently produce an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP)
Briefly describe the key outcomes of the ClientEarth v. The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs & Her Majesty’s Government case from the Supreme Court hearing in 2015.
- The UK Supreme Court ruled that the government was failing to meet its obligations under the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive, particularly concerning nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) pollution levels.
- The Court ordered the UK government to produce new, compliant Air Quality Plans (AQPs) by the end of 2015 — to bring pollution levels within legal limits “as soon as possible.”
- The existing plans were ruled inadequate.
- This was a landmark case, as it was the first time the UK Supreme Court ordered the government to act on environmental grounds
What goal is clean air under the UK 25 YEP and how will this be acheived?
- Goal 1
- Meeting legally binding targets to reduce emissions of five damaging air pollutants - Should halve the effects of air pollution on health by 2030
- Ending the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040
- Maintaining the continuous improvement in industrial emissions by building on exisiting good practice and regulatory framework
What part of the Environment Act 2021 covers air quality and environmental recall and what does it outline?
- Part 4: Air quality and environmental recall
- Grants Government power to introduce an environmental recall of vehicles if they are found to be emitting pollutants beyond permissible limits or failing to meet environmental standards
Summarise the Clean Air Strategy (2019 and 2023)
- Air pollution is the top environmental risk to human health in the UK
- Air pollution problem extends beyond road transport and industrial level burning of fossil fuels
- If all actions are achieved the economic costs of society from air pollution could be cut:
- By £1.7 billion every year by 2020
- Increasing to £5.3 billion every year from 2030
