UK Supreme Court. Image: LondonMMNews

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the government must take immediate action to cut air pollution.

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs had been defeated in an action by ClientEarth.

The ruling has been seen as a significant victory for campaigners who started legal action after the UK breached EU limits for nitrogen dioxide in the air.

The number of deaths from air pollution in the UK is estimated to be around 29, 000 year.

That’s more than alcohol and obesity combined.

Supreme Court Justice Lord Carnworth said:

I would make a mandatory order requiring the Secretary of State to prepare new air quality plans … in accordance with a defined timetable, to end with delivery of the revised plans to the [European] Commission not later than 31 December 2015.

Members of the public had mixed thoughts on the topic:

Full ruling is downloadable on this link

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