Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone plans: concerns relating to up-coming review

ClientEarth warns Greater Manchester authorities that delaying or diluting the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) risks legal challenge and exacerbates public health crises. The region continues to report illegal nitrogen dioxide levels, contributing to an estimated 1,200 premature deaths annually. ClientEarth argues that the CAZ is the most effective tool for compliance and that economic or political concerns do not justify delaying health protections, particularly for low-income and minority communities who are disproportionately affected.

• Greater Manchester suffers from persistent air pollution that exceeds legal limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) set by the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010. In 2020, it was one of only five UK reporting zones to report illegal concentrations of NO2, despite reduced traffic during the pandemic.
• Air pollution in the Greater Manchester region is estimated to cause 1,200 premature deaths every year and is linked to various health issues, including asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, and stunted lung growth in children.
• The proposed Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is identified as the most effective method for achieving legal compliance in the shortest time. ClientEarth asserts that cost or political popularity are not lawful reasons to scrap or delay the CAZ, and that the current 'class C' plan already risks being insufficient because it excludes private cars and is not fully operational until 2023.
• The health and economic benefits of the CAZ are significant, with estimates suggesting over £105 million in benefits to human health and the environment. Further analysis indicates the zone could prevent nearly 160 deaths and save over 350 hospital days annually due to respiratory conditions.
• Air pollution disproportionately impacts low-income individuals, ethnic minorities, and outdoor or transport workers, who are more likely to live in highly polluted areas while contributing least to the problem.

APA

ClientEarth (2022). Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone plans: concerns relating to up-coming review. https://www.clientearth.org/media/sr0po3oa/letter-to-gm-mayor-gmca-gm-councils-re-caz-review-11-jan-2022.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone plans: concerns relating to up-coming review. 2022. https://www.clientearth.org/media/sr0po3oa/letter-to-gm-mayor-gmca-gm-councils-re-caz-review-11-jan-2022.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=ClientEarth |title=Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone plans: concerns relating to up-coming review |date=11 January 2022 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/sr0po3oa/letter-to-gm-mayor-gmca-gm-councils-re-caz-review-11-jan-2022.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clientearth2022greater, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone plans: concerns relating to up-coming review}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, year = {2022}, month = jan, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/sr0po3oa/letter-to-gm-mayor-gmca-gm-councils-re-caz-review-11-jan-2022.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }