Bruce Allen, CEO of HETAS, has commented on the government’s Air Pollution in the UK 2023 report.
This year’s report highlights the necessity of properly measuring and understanding where our nation’s emissions stem from.
The Air Pollution in the UK 2023 report has shown that the UK continues to meet all its targets for PM2.5, and the hard work of the heating and solid fuel industry has resulted in reduced emissions across the nation, including meeting national exposure reduction target across all zones.
The way that PM2.5 is measured across the UK is currently being expanded to make these estimates as accurate as possible, and ongoing efforts by government and industry will help future reports to paint a clearer picture of where these emissions come from, and how they can be minimised.
However, the results in the Air Pollution in the UK 2023 report show the success of recent measures taken to date, including technology advancements, cleaner, high-quality fuels, and consumer-focused education on how to burn responsibly.
The report has highlighted the necessity of properly measuring and understanding where our nation’s emissions stem from, also known as source apportionment. By investigating what areas and behaviours are creating the most pollution, we can focus our efforts on aligning legislation and encouraging best practices, continuing to minimise domestic combustion emissions.
Legislation in England, such as the Ready to Burn scheme and smoke control areas, have created effective preventative measures that help minimise emissions. The Ready to Burn scheme has provided support to those purchasing wood fuel, certifying that fuel is dry and ready to safely burn. As of 2024, there are over 2,000 fuels certified as Ready to Burn across England, and this number keeps growing as those not complying with the legislation face enforcement action. Measures such as these, when paired with responsible appliance usage and maintenance, have been imperative in reducing domestic heating emissions.
As domestic burning remains a popular alternative way of heating homes for a number of reasons, such as increasing fuel costs, it is crucial that users feel empowered to burn safely and sustainably. Emissions estimates are an important way for our industry to measure our progress, to adapt measures and champion change that reduces emissions and protects our environment.