The Welsh Government has launched a new Clean Air Plan with the aim of improving air quality across the country. 

A range of measures will be taken including more active travel infrastructure, improving rail services and achieving zero tailpipe emissions from buses and taxis by 2028.

The government will also implement an electric vehicle charging strategy, supporting an increase in the proportion of ultra-low-emission vehicles and investigate other measures to support a reduction in personal vehicle use, such as Clean Air Zones and Low Emission Zones. 

In Wales, poor air quality is responsible for between 1,000 – 1,400 premature deaths every year. 

Lesley Griffiths said: ‘I am very pleased to announce the launch of our Clean Air Plan, which sets out how we will look to improve air quality across Wales and deal with those problems caused by air pollution, during the next 10 years.

‘The aims outlined in the Plan are there to safeguard the most vulnerable, but improving our air quality nationwide will be to the benefit of everyone in Wales, and it’s something we should all want and strive for. But in order to achieve that, we have to take action now.

‘While the work outlined in the plan will run across government, the measures involved cannot be achieved by government alone – well have a role to play in ensuring that we tackle the problems of air pollution and poor air quality.’