THE UK government is being hauled back into court over its failure to tackle air pollution. A group called ClientEarth is asking the High Court to order ministers to come up with a better plan for improving air quality.
The case concerns levels of nitrogen dioxide, an invisible gas that mainly comes from road traffic. High levels shorten lives by raising the risk of heart attacks, strokes and respiratory disorders.
A 1999 European Union directive setting legal limits for nitrogen dioxide levels came into force in 2010. Six years later, these limits are still being exceeded in many places across Europe, partly because a high proportion of cars run on diesel.