Labour Government dragging its feet over air pollution

The Labour Government is dragging its feet over improving the air we breathe, that is the claim by Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Climate Change and Rural Affairs Simon Thomas.

A series of questions by Plaid Cymru has revealed the Labour Government is taking its time over a framework for a clean air zone for Wales.

Air quality is a devolved matter. Last month the Welsh Government was criticised by environmental group ClientEarth for ‘inadequate plans’ and a lack of ‘concrete actions’ to tackle air pollution.

Client Earth is taking legal action against the UK Government over air pollution.

Plaid Cymru Mid and West AM Simon Thomas said

‘It is disappointing the Labour Government in Wales is dragging its feet over air pollution. A consultation on any framework for a clean air zone for Wales might not happen until the end of April next year.

“Earlier this year the Labour Government voted against three Plaid Cymru amendments to the Public Health (Wales) Bill to tackle air pollution, including the creation of a national air pollution strategy, issuing guidance to local health boards on alerting residents of high pollution levels, and issuing guidance to local councils on monitoring air pollution outside schools and active travel routes.

“Plaid Cymru has also campaigned to ensure Aberthaw power station reduces illegal emissions and get a legal obligation on Labour Cabinet Secretaries in Cardiff Bay to produce a strategy for Wales to reduce air pollution.

“Air pollution is the second largest cause of early death after smoking, killing 2,400 people prematurely each year in Wales. This accounts for 6% of all early deaths making air pollution one of the greatest public health emergencies we face.

“Research from the US has shown that living in an area of high air pollution can increase your risk of cancer by 10% and Public Health Wales’s own research shows a clear link between poor quality air and poverty and deprivation.

“A hard Tory-DUP Brexit could see air pollution targets scrapped and our air polluted further as much of our legislation comes from the European Union.

“Air pollution is set to become one of the biggest public health problems facing us and our communities. The Labour Government’s response to date has been lethargic and woeful.”

Llywodraeth Lafur yn llusgo’i thraed dros lygredd aer

Mae’r Llywodraeth Lafur yn llusgo ei thraed ynghylch gwella’r aer a anadlwn, yn ôl honiad yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet cysgodol dros Ynni, Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig, Simon Thomas.

 Mae cyfres o gwestiynau gan Blaid Cymru wedi datgelu fod y Llywodraeth Lafur yn cymryd ei hamser dros fframwaith am barth aer glân i Gymru.

 Mae ansawdd aer yn bwnc a ddatganolwyd. Fis diwethaf, beirniadwyd Llywodraeth Cymru gan y grŵp amgylcheddol ClientEarth am ‘gynlluniau annigonol’ a diffyg ‘camau pendant’ i fynd i’r afael â llygredd aer.

 Mae Client Earth yn cymryd camau cyfreithiol yn erbyn Llywodraeth y DG dros lygredd aer.

Meddai AC Plaid Cymru dros y Canolbarth a’r Gorllewin Simon Thomas

 “Mae’n siomedig fod y Llywodraeth Lafur yng Nghymru yn llusgo’i thraed dros lygredd aer. Efallai na fydd ymgynghoriad ar unrhyw fframwaith am barth aer glân i Gymru yn digwydd tan ddiwedd Ebrill y flwyddyn nesaf.

 “Yn gynharach eleni, pleidleisiodd y Llywodraeth Llafur yn erbyn tri o welliannau Plaid Cymru i Fil Iechyd Cyhoeddus (Cymru) i fynd i’r afael â llygredd aer, gan gynnwys creu strategaeth genedlaethol ar lygredd aer, cyhoeddi canllawiau i fyrddau iechyd lleol ar rybuddio trigolion am lefelau llygredd uchel, a chyhoeddi canllawiau i gynghorau lleol ar fonitro llygredd aer y tu allan i ysgolion a llwybrau teithio llesol.

“Mae Plaid Cymru hefyd wedi ymgyrchu i sicrhau fod gorsaf bŵer Aberddawan yn gostwng allyriadau anghyfreithlon a chael ymrwymiad cyfreithiol ar Ysgrifenyddion Cabinet Llafur ym Mae Caerdydd i gynhyrchu strategaeth i Gymru er mwyn lleihau llygredd aer.

 “Llygredd aer yw’r ail achos uchaf o farwolaeth gynnar wedi smygu, ac mae’n lladd 2,400 o bobl cyn eu hamser bob blwyddyn yng Nghymru. Mae hyn yn cyfrif am 6% o’r holl farwolaethau cynnar, sy’n golygu mai llygredd aer yw un o’r argyfyngau iechyd cyhoeddus mwyaf a wynebwn.

“Mae ymchwil o UDA wedi dangos y gall byw mewn ardal lle mae llygredd aer yn uchel gynyddu eich perygl o gael canser o 10% a dengys ymchwil Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru ei hun gysylltiad clir rhwng ansawdd gwael yr aer a thlodi ac amddifadedd.

“Gallai Brexit caled gan y Torïaid a’r DUP weld dileu targedau llygredd aer a llygru’r aer yn waeth, gan mai o’r Undeb Ewropeaidd y daw llawer o’n deddfwriaeth.

“Llygredd aer yw un o’r problemau iechyd cyhoeddus sy’n ein hwynebu ni a’n cymunedau. Bu ymateb y Llywodraeth Lafur hyd yma yn swrth a thruenus.”