The Government should consider a diesel scrappage and ensure that Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) changes target NO2 pollution as well as CO2, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has said.
As part of its response to the Government’s Draft Plans to improve air quality in the UK, the EAC said such a move would encourage drivers away from polluting diesel vehicles.
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Huw Irranca-Davies, MP environmental audit committee chair, said: "Tens of thousands of premature deaths are being caused in the UK every year by illegal levels of air pollution on our roads. Despite mounting evidence of the damage diesel fumes do to human health, changes to Vehicle Excise Duty announced in this year’s Budget maintained the focus only on CO2 emissions. This was a missed opportunity to also incentivise vehicles which emit less NO2.
"The Chancellor has the chance to strike a better balance on this next week. The Treasury must use Vehicle Excise Duty to create long-term incentives for drivers to buy cleaner hybrid and electric cars that minimise both CO2 and harmful pollutants. Introducing a national diesel scrappage scheme could also provide a short-cut to cleaning up the air in our cities."
The Committee welcomed the Government’s plans to create a national framework of Clean Air Zones, but warned local authorities may struggle to meet air quality targets due to ‘severe’ funding cuts.
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