Why Is the UK Facing Court for Breaching Emissions Limits?

In the ever-threatening face of global warming and climate change, the world has stringent legislations in place regarding nitrogen dioxide emissions. As a continent, Europe enforces strict restrictions and when enterprises don’t comply, they have to face up to the consequences (EU commission taking UK to court for emissions breaches). A Welsh coal plant is the latest offender, accused of releasing nitrogen dioxide limits that were more than twice the legal limit.

Located in the Vale of Glamorgan, the Aberthaw coal-fired power station is now facing European court over its sky-high NOx emissions. Despite the fact that the EU’s large combustion plant directive has capped NOx emissions at 500mg per cubic metre, Aberthaw currently operates under a permit which allows it to release 1200mg. This is over 50% more than the continental limit and has got EU environmentalists in a flurry.

Noxious NOx

So why is it so important that nitrogen dioxide emissions are kept in line? In the UK alone, toxic fumes emitted by Britain’s coal plants are the cause of 1600 premature deaths and an estimated £2.7 billion worth of respiratory health problems a year. The following article also provides further insights into the deathly impact of air pollution: EU Environment Watchdog Claims Air Pollution Kills Thousands in Europe Every Year. As well as causing health problems, NOx emissions also affect the ground level ozone layer, which can cause acid rain. This has devastating effects on forests, waterways and buildings, as well as fast-tracks the risk of eutrophication.

Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP for South West England and Gibraltar is outraged at the findings and accuses the government of taking an alarmingly blasé approach to the issue. “This is further evidence of the government’s refusal to take air quality seriously and another nail in the coffin of their claim to be the greenest government ever,” she says.

Doug Parr, Greenpeace’s chief UK scientist is also critical of the blatant refusal to comply with legislation, urging that “The leaders of the next government need to keep their promises and get on with the job of phasing out unabated coal within the next decade.”

A hard line from the EU

While the UK has pledged to “constructively” invest in the upgrade of the Aberthaw power station, the EU says the seven year deadline is well and truly missed. Now, the commission maintains that it would be “impossible” for the plant to meet the 200mg restrictions which will be enforced in 2016.

“The UK came to us with a national transition plan, showing how they wanted to reach the next directive’s target. But they did not give enough evidence that what they presented would translate into real life,” explains a commission official.

So how will the Aberthaw Power Station case impact both Britain and the EU as a whole? As a nation, the UK claims that it will continue to work closely with the European commission and tackle industrial emissions by “setting stringent limits for industrial installations, including coal power stations.” From an EU perspective, a successful shut-down of the Aberthaw Power Station will pave the way for a brighter future when it comes to enforcing NOx emission laws, and combating climate change.