| Topic: | Re:Re:Air pollution in Putney | |
| Posted by: | Jonathan Callaway | |
| Date/Time: | 02/05/13 20:00:00 |
| This 1/2 hour BBC programme is an excellent summary of the air pollution issue which I would urge all those concerned about air pollution to watch. It tells us where the pollution is coming from, who and what is to blame and what we can do about it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01s7twg/Bang_Goes_the_Theory_Series_7_Episode_8/ At a recent air quality conference I learnt that real world emissions from diesels are far worse than manufacturers' official figures, right across the engine size spectrum from the smallest cars to the largest buses and lorries, while predicted (or rather promised) emissions from petrol engines are actually very close. I am hoping to get a copy of the presentation involved, given by Dr Ian Mudway of Kings College London. It is highly instructive. some top of the range Mercs, for example, can pollute as much as small buses! To my mind, the solutions proposed on the BBC programme are blindingly obvious - if we urban dwellers don't want to suffer permanent long term damage from breathing in vehicle emissions we must quickly reduce both the number of vehicles and the emissions per vehicle. Berlin, the programme tells us, (and many other sources confirm this) has done just that over the last 4 years by banning the oldest and dirtiest diesels. The German interviewee states that the local authorities asked themselves a single question - does the city belong to the cars or the people? - and acted decisively on the answer. Will London do the same? The Suprme Court may finally force action to be taken. |