Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024 (2024 asc 2).

The aim of the Act is to improve the quality and reduce the impacts of airborne pollution on human health, nature, the environment and economy. The Act creates a framework for the Welsh Ministers to set targets in relation to air quality in Wales in respect of one of the following pollutants: ammonia; PM10; ground level ozone; nitrogen dioxide; carbon monoxide; sulphur dioxide. It provides for the target-setting process; review and reporting on targets. The Act under Chapter 2 of Part 1 creates new duties for the Welsh Ministers to take steps to promote awareness of the risks to human health and the natural environment caused by air pollution and ways of reducing or limiting air pollution. The Act also places Welsh Ministers and local authorities under a duty to promote active travel as a way of reducing or limiting air pollution and makes provision for this duty to be imposed, by regulations, on other public authorities. The Act also amending the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25) under section 80 give to the Minister the power by regulations to amend this section for the purpose of changing the period within which they must review the National air quality strategy. Part 2 regulates noise and soundscapes, requiring Ministers to produce a national strategy on soundscapes. 4.The Act comprises 31 sections and two Schedules.