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

Welsh Government to increase Education Maintenance Allowance income thresholds from September 2026

The Welsh Government has announced revised income thresholds for the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), effective from September 2026. The changes are expected to enable at least 1,500 additional 16- to 18-year-olds to qualify for the £40 weekly allowance. The income thresholds for households with one dependant will increase from £23,400 to £24,570, while the threshold for households with two or more dependants will rise from £25,974 to £27,273. The EMA is intended to help cover costs such as travel, meals and study materials, with the aim of reducing financial barriers to education. Applications for the EMA will open on 27 April 2026.

Welsh Government publishes third annual special measures progress report for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

The Welsh Government has published its third annual special measures progress report for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which was placed into level five special measures on 27 February 2023 due to concerns over governance, leadership, and performance. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles MS, highlighted areas of progress over the past three years but noted that serious concerns remain regarding operational performance and timely access to planned care, cancer services and urgent and emergency care services. The report emphasises that the Health Board must deliver rapid and sustained improvement to ensure safe, timely access to high-quality care services across North Wales.

ICASC calls for urgent government action on safeguarding, dementia and MND, with the LGA and DHSC agreeing

The Independent Commission on Adult Social Care (ICASC) has published a letter by its Chair, Baroness Casey, to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, urging immediate action on adult safeguarding, dementia and Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Recommendations include: establishing a National Safeguarding Board, an urgent review of safeguarding powers, increased investment in dementia drug trials, faster progress on the Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia, appointing a Dementia Tsar, and introducing a fast-track ‘passport’ for MND patients. Baroness Casey reiterated these concerns in her speech at the Nuffield Trust Summit.

New guidance explains timing of phased-in Procurement Act 2023 transparency requirements

The Cabinet Office has published new guidance on the latest transparency requirements to come into effect under the phased implementation of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023). The guide details the commencement of PA 2023, ss 69–71 and below threshold identifier requirements. PA 2023, s 69, requiring publication of payments compliance notices (demonstrating compliance with 30-day payment terms), commenced on 1 January 2026, with the first notices due for publication between 31 March and 29 April 2026. From that point notices will be due within 30 days of the last day of each reporting period. PA 2023, s 70, mandating quarterly publication of contract payment information (on payments over £30,000 under public contracts), commences on 1 April 2026 and applies only to procurement procedures commenced on or after that date. Contract payment information must be published within 30 days of each quarter end. PA 2023, s 71, requiring contract performance notices for key performance indicators (KPIs) on contracts valued above £5m annually and upon termination, and breach reporting within 30 days, commenced on 1 January 2026. Finally, from 1 April 2026, contracting authorities must obtain unique identifiers from suppliers awarded notifiable below-threshold contracts valued at £12,000 or more for central government and £30,000 or more for sub-central authorities. Where applicable, the guidance notes relevant exclusions and timescales for procurements regulated by the Welsh Ministers, and various contract types including utilities contracts awarded by private utilities and concession contracts. Annex A to the guidance provides a helpful reminder of the key dates.

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