What Impact Does Net Zero Action on Road Transport and Building Heating Have on Exposure to UK Air Pollution?

ABSTRACT: This study explores the cobenefits of reduced nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), and particulate matter (PM), through net zero (NZ) climate policy in the UK. Two alternative NZ scenarios, the balanced net zero (BNZP) and widespread innovation (WI) pathways, from the UK Climate Change Committee's Sixth Carbon Budget, were examined using a chemical transport model (CTM). Under the UK existing policy, Business as Usual (BAU), reductions in NO₂ and PM were predicted by 2030 due to new vehicle technologies but plateau by 2040. The BNZP and WI scenarios show further reductions particularly by 2040, driven by accelerated electric vehicle (EV) uptake and low-carbon heating in buildings, with the building contribution to PM reduction being 2-3 times greater than ro

SUBMITTER: Assareh N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11755711 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature