Glasgow has set out refreshed plans to reduce levels of air pollution across the city, with feedback encouraged through public consultation.

The draft Air Quality Action Plan updates the actions the council will take over the next five years to minimise emissions from road traffic – the main source of the harmful pollutant, nitrogen dioxide.

Whilst Glasgow’s air quality has much improved in recent years, there remains an ongoing commitment to achieving the best air quality possible to benefit the health of city residents and visitors.

Action is required as both short and long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to a wide range of diseases, including asthma and respiratory infections – with evidence also now emerging of links to other conditions including type 2 diabetes and dementia.

Whilst the updated Air Quality Action Plan takes a citywide approach, there will remain a level of focus on the city centre due to its pollution levels remaining of concern – details of which were outlined in last year’s Air Quality Annual Progress Report.

Views on the draft Plan are being gathered through a public consultation which is open until 20 March 2024. You can take part in the consultation by clicking on this link.

Priorities identified within the draft Plan include:

• Continued enforcement of Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone and the roll out of its final phase to include zone residents.
• Supporting the development and implementation of transport strategies which can benefit air quality such as the targeted reduction of peak-hour private car traffic in the city centre. 
• A review of air quality monitoring, with a focus around schools, hospitals and care homes.
• The continuation of vehicle idling awareness campaigns and enforcement.
• Improving the emissions profile of the council’s own vehicle fleet.

The Plan will also support the acceleration of heat networks to reduce pollution from fossil fuel.

After taking consultee responses into account, the Air Quality Action Plan 2024 will be finalised and then approval sought from both the City Administration Committee and the Scottish Government.

A report on the draft Plan, and information on next steps was noted by the Net Zero and Climate Progress Monitoring Committee on 16 January 2024.