Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024

1 Air quality targets: general

(1) The Welsh Ministers may by regulations set long-term targets in respect of any matter relating to air quality in Wales.

(2) The Welsh Ministers must exercise the power in subsection (1) so as to set a long-term target in respect of one of the following pollutants—

(a) ammonia;

(b) PM10;

(c) ground level ozone;

(d) nitrogen dioxide;

(e) carbon monoxide;

(f) sulphur dioxide.

(3) A target set under this section must—

(a) specify a standard to be achieved, which must be capable of being objectively measured, and

(b) specify a date by which the standard is to be achieved.

(4) Regulations under this section may make provision about how the matter in respect of which a target is set is to be measured.

(5) Regulations under this section that set the target required under subsection (2) must specify that the target is set to comply with that subsection.

(6) A target is a “long-term target” if the specified date is at least 10 years after the date on which the target is set.

(7) A target under this section is set when the regulations setting it come into force.

(8) In this Chapter‍—

(a) “PM10” means particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter not exceeding 10 micrometres‍;

(b) “specified standard” and “specified date”, in relation to a target set under this section, mean the standard and date specified under subsection (3).