Oxford 'leading the way' on air quality target

Oxford City Council said its new target sent "a clear message about the importance of going beyond mere legal compliance"

A local authority has said it is "leading the way" by adopting a more stringent air quality target.

Oxford City Council said it had become the first area to seek to "close the gap" between the UK's legal limit on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and the World Health Organisation's guidelines.

Its new target of 20 µg/m³ by 2030 is half the legal limit, but will still exceed the guideline of 10 µg/m³.

A council report said the new target sent "a clear message about the importance of going beyond mere legal compliance".

The council's existing target of 30 µg/m³ was set in 2021, and the authority said it was on track to meet it by the end of this year.

In a report, the council said that air pollution contributed to "millions of deaths and years of healthy life lost each year" around the world.

The council stated its "main priorities" for 2026-2030 were "continuing the reduction of transport emissions".

It pointed to the traffic filters, workplace parking levy, and the expansion of the zero emission zone, as three schemes led by Oxfordshire County Council that would improve air quality.

The council said the new local NO2 target was "legally non-binding" but it would "regularly monitor" progress towards the goal.

The report added: "By taking this step, Oxford City Council reinforces its commitment to clean air and sends a clear message about the importance of going beyond mere legal compliance.

"It continues to champion efforts to improve air quality for everyone who lives in or visits the city, advocating for healthier, safer environments through sustained pollution reduction."