Overview
- The government opened an Environmental Improvement Plan consultation on cutting emissions from domestic stoves, fireplaces and bonfires.
- Ministers set a tougher goal to reduce PM2.5 concentrations by 30% by 2030 compared with 2018 levels.
- Options under review include banning sales of older, non‑compliant wood‑burning stove models and strengthening Smoke Control Area enforcement, with existing installations not retrospectively banned.
- Ricardo’s report estimates curbing non‑essential domestic burning could prevent about 1,500 deaths annually, avoid 3,741 diabetes and 1,493 asthma cases, and save £54 million for the NHS with £164 million in productivity gains.
- Officials say measures will minimise impacts on households that rely on burning and will respect cultural festivals, while industry group HETAS urges practical, enforceable approaches and notes cleaner models already meet proposed standards.