BSRIA response to clean air strategy

[edit] Draft Clean Air Strategy

On 22 May 2018, Environment Secretary Michael Gove published a draft Clean Air Strategy for consultation. The strategy is backed up by new primary legislation, and is in addition to the government’s £3.5 billion plan to reduce air pollution from road transport set out in July 2017.

The strategy includes proposals to ensure only the cleanest domestic fuels will be available for sale, suggesting there should be a clamp down on all sources of pollution, including coal-burning and wood-burning stoves. However, Environment Secretary Michael Gove said it would be "disproportionate" to have a uniform ban on certain fuels, as air pollution effects in rural areas are significantly less compared to urban areas because they are dispersed.

BSRIA responded to the proposals, suggesting that more education is needed.

Allan Wilson, a test engineer at BSRIA, said:

“With the introduction of the EcoDesign Directive for solid fuel appliances scheduled for 2022, the legislation makes provision for the significant reduction in all measured emissions including particulates. There doesn’t, however, appear to be a policy to address emissions from existing appliances or open fires including BBQs.

“While there is tighter legislation being introduced in terms of appliance manufacturers having to demonstrate compliance, there is no control as to how they are operated once sold to the consumer. Education as to how the end user operates their new and existing appliances would contribute greatly in the reduction of ‘real’ emissions. Part of the education piece should be the promotion of appropriate fuels that are ‘fit to burn’. For both new and existing appliances."

[edit] Final Clean Air Strategy

On January 14 2019, the government published the final Clean Air Strategy based on the responses received during the consultation period for the Draft Strategy – which ran from May to August 2018. The new document places further restrictions on wood-burning stoves and open fires as part of a plan to combat air pollution in England.

BSRIA's response to the new strategy conceded that it had made a good start and was going in the right direction. However, Allan Wilson said:

"BSRIA calls on government to reach deeper into the causes of pollution and continue to press forward in making real reductions to encourage sustainable clean combustion. The bigger problem produced by open fires and the old stock of solid fuel stoves over the previous century that burn wood and coal – is yet to be addressed. From a solid fuel appliance angle, the strategy is balanced and the proposed measures are in line with the introduction of the Ecodesign Directive.”