Air quality and emissions

This Air quality and emissions topic is part of a series of topics in the Lexis+® UK Environmental law and climate change topic. Other topics on the environment and climate change include:

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Contaminated land and flood management
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Environmental information regulation
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Energy efficiency in buildings
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Low carbon transition and renewable projects

In the UK, the Climate Change Act 2008 forming the legislative basis for carbon reduction targets, with a legally binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 100%, or net zero, from 1990 levels by 2050 climate change and sustainability is becoming an increasingly important part of the government focus. UK targets and plans fit into wider international developments in this area with key frameworks such as the Paris Agreement, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, the EU Green Deal and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN has named 2020–2030 as the Decade of Action, calling for an acceleration to sustainable solutions for the world's biggest challenges—ranging from poverty and gender to climate change, inequality and closing the finance gap. All

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Latest Local Government News

LGA urges Chancellor for additional council funding ahead of spring statement

The Local Government Association (LGA) has written to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, ahead of the 3 March Spring Statement, urging further action to stabilise council finances amid sustained cost and demand pressures. It warned that, despite recent funding growth and a multi‑year settlement that has improved certainty, councils remain in their weakest financial position, with underfunding leading to reduced neighbourhood services, constrained preventative work and increased pressure on vulnerable residents. The LGA highlighted that 35 councils have required exceptional financial support for 2026–27, with 22% of social care authorities relying on temporary measures such as capitalising day‑to‑day spending or raising council tax above referendum thresholds. It reported that capitalisation directions have reached £6.9bn since 2020–21 and that councils have delivered £27.9bn in savings and efficiencies since 2010–11, but stated that continued reliance on asset sales and borrowing to sustain essential services is unsustainable and called for further resources and long‑term reform to support service protection and forward planning

IoL reports conviction of out‑of‑area taxi driver for illegal plying‑for‑hire

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IoL reports dismissal of appeal in Cheltenham private hire licensing case

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Education Committee launches inquiry into AI and EdTech in education

The Education Select Committee has launched an inquiry into the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and educational technology across all education sectors. This cross-party committee will access the opportunities these tools present and the risks they may pose to learners, specifically focusing on children’s digital rights, the balance between privacy and participation, and safeguarding risks associated with evolving AI tools.

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