UK government launches 'ambitious' air pollution plan

The British government has launched a new plan to tackle air pollution, aiming to reduce people's exposure to particulate matter.

The government said the Clean Air Strategy 2019 is an "ambitious long-term" policy, which aims to reduce the costs of air pollution to society by £1.7 billion ($2.18 billion) every year by 2020, rising to £5.3 billion every year from 2030.

Specific measures have not yet been revealed, but the new proposal comes on top of an existing commitment to halve the number of people living in areas breaching World Health Organization, or WHO, guidelines on particulate matter by 2025.

To keep the public informed of the project's progress, the government will publish evidence early this year on what action is needed to meet WHO guidelines. The government says Britain will become the first major economy to adopt air quality goals based on WHO recommendations, going far beyond European Union requirements.

"While air pollution may conjure images of traffic jams and exhaust fumes, transport is only one part of the story and the new strategy sets out the important role all of us - across all sectors of work and society - can play in reducing emissions and cleaning up our air to protect our health," said Environment Secretary Michael Gove, adding that air pollution continues to shorten livesand reduce quality of life in Britain.

However, campaigners have criticized the government's new strategy for not including legally binding goals on air quality.

The Financial Times reports that Britain is one of six European Union countries currently facing fines at the European Court of Justice, owing to persistent violations of air-quality limits.