Wood-burning stoves face stricter rules under Labour plan to tackle air pollution
Labor ministers are considering introducing stricter rules for wood stoves to help reduce air pollution.
Following the publication of the government’s updated environmental plan (EIP), consultation will begin on measures to reduce the impacts of wood burning.
Reducing emissions could also see the introduction of clearer labelling, as well as tightening standards for new stoves.
However, Defra officials said: Independent They did not plan to consult on a ban on home burning by geographical area, or to ask for a ban on the use of old stoves that had already been sold.
In addition, there are no plans to make any rule changes for the Smoke Control Areas, which operate in many parts of the district and where people can only burn licensed fuel. “Those using stoves that comply with current SCA rules will not be required to stop using them,” Defra said.
Wood burners are a major source of PM2.5 particulate emissions, which have been linked to a number of health conditions in humans, including asthma, lung disease and heart disease.
The new air pollution target announced by the government as part of the updated EIP is to reduce PM2.5 levels by 30 percent compared to 2018 levels and achieve this target by December 2030.
The previous target was to achieve a 22 percent reduction by 2028.
Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, whose nine-year-old daughter died of an asthma attack linked to air pollution in 2013, welcomed the new PM2.5 target as a “win”.
Ms Kissi-Debrah is campaigning for “Ella’s Law”, which would require the government to achieve clean air across England by January 1, 2030, setting out a pathway to bring the country into line with World Health Organization air pollution guidelines.
“This isn’t Ella’s Law yet, but it’s a step in the right direction,” he said. “So I’m happy. I’ll always support anything that improves the climate and means fewer children will be hospitalized and fewer children will die.”
Stove Industrialists Association said that it welcomed the government’s attitude.
Executive Director Erica Malkin said: Independent: “We welcome the government’s measured approach to domestic burning outlined in its environmental recovery plan. The EIP recognizes that many households, particularly in rural and off-grid areas, rely on solid fuel secondary heating for affordable heating, energy security and resilience.”
He said modern eco-designed stoves offer significant reductions in particulate emissions compared to older appliances and open fires.
He added: “We share the government’s ambition to improve air quality while also ensuring that those who need or want to light are not unfairly penalised.”
Beyond air pollution, the updated EIP, published on Monday, includes £500 million in funding to create a quarter of a million hectares of “wildlife-rich habitats” to be created or restored by 2030.
Environment secretary Emma Reynolds said: “Our environment faces real challenges, including pollution in our waterways, very poor air quality in many areas and the decline of valuable species.
“This plan marks a step change towards restoring nature. Our ambitious targets are supported by real actions to eliminate harmful air pollutants, revitalize habitats and protect the environment for future generations.”
But environmental campaign groups said the plan represented “baby steps” and much more needed to be done to help the natural world on a much faster timescale.
Beccy Speight, chief executive of the RSPB, said: “The longer we wait for meaningful action, the wider the gap between where we are now and where we need to be in terms of nature restoration becomes huge. The scale of the problem is enormous; almost one in six species in Great Britain, from hedgehogs to sandpipers, are at risk of extinction; the loss is huge, real and growing.”
Kevin Cumming, rewilding director at Rewilding Britain, said: “Despite some welcome baby steps and tweaks around the edges – and although good ministers would like to see our protected landscapes wilder and more accessible – the UK government’s environmental recovery plan is woefully unambitious when it comes to tackling biodiversity and climate emergencies through large-scale nature restoration.”
