Cleaner Air for Scotland 2: consultation

10. Further Progress Review

179. Air pollution is a complex multi dimensional issue.  Whilst good progress has been made, a lot remains to be done with, in some cases, potentially significant financial and societal implications.  The costs of not taking further action will continue to impact us all, however, in terms of negative health impacts, congestion, public safety, loss of amenity, climate change and a failure to maximise the potential for better quality of life and ultimately improved economic performance.  Such failure will only serve to further exacerbate health inequalities and overall risks to public health for much of the population, besides having wider implications for efforts to tackle the global climate emergency.

180. For these reasons it is important that, whilst focusing on delivery of CAFS 2 over the short to medium term, we must also have an eye to the bigger picture and identification of additional priorities in the coming decades.  There are two elements to this; refinement and retargeting of actions and policies as new evidence on the health and environmental impacts of poor air quality comes to light, and continued alignment with other long term policies, notably the commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.  As with the original strategy, CAFS 2 will therefore have a five year life cycle.

Actions

We will:

• Initiate a review on progress with implementing CAFS 2 during 2024, with a view to having a further version of Scotland’s air quality strategy in place by the end of 2025.

Question on progress review 

20. Do you agree with the proposed review timeframe?

A) Yes

B) No

C) Neither agree nor disagree

Additional comments in support of your answer

Equality Impact Questions Cross Referred to the EQIA

181. Ensuring that there are no negative equalities impacts from this strategy is a key part of the development. Presented alongside this consultation paper is a partial Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA). This document examines where possible equalities impacts could be and will help us ensure that any negative impacts will be avoided. A final EQIA will be prepared and presented following this consultation. We would welcome your feedback on the partial EQIA.

21. Are you aware of any additional equalities impacts of the proposals in this strategy?

22. Do you think introducing legislation to control the supply of the most polluting domestic fuels, as described in chapter 7 of this consultation, will have disproportionate impacts on remote/rural or island communities? Please provide evidence where possible in support of your answer.

23. Do you think this strategy will disproportionately impact low income households? Please provide evidence where possible in support of your answer.

Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment Questions Cross Referred to the BRIA

182. Assessing the impacts from this strategy on businesses is a key part of the development. Presented alongside this consultation paper is a partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA). This section of the consultation paper is designed to examine where possible impacts could be and will help us finalise the BRIA, which will be prepared and presented following this consultation. 

183. When answering these questions it should be noted that CAFS 2 is a high level strategy. Any regulations which follow on to support the proposals in CAFS 2, will be required to undergo further impact assessments. 

Questions

24. Are you aware of any additional business or regulatory impacts of the proposals in this strategy? Please provide any supporting evidence that you are aware of.

25. Do you anticipate that the proposals in this strategy will have differing impacts for large/small scale businesses? Please provide any supporting evidence that you are aware of.

26. Would there be different impacts for those that operate in Scotland only and those that operate across different parts of the UK? Please provide any supporting evidence that you are aware of.

27. Would there be different impacts for those that operate in remote/rural or island communities? Please provide any supporting evidence that you are aware of.

Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report Questions

Questions

28. What are your views on the accuracy and scope of information used to describe the environmental baseline set out in the Environmental Report?  

29. What are your views on the predicted environmental effects as set out in the Environmental Report? 

30. What are your views on the findings of the SEA and the proposals for mitigation and monitoring the environmental effects set out in the Environmental Report?