Air Quality and Pollution

Poor air quality in Greater Manchester is responsible for hundreds of early deaths and thousands of extra hospital admissions each year. Public transport produces less air pollution per journey than cars and taxis, but buses in particular also produce significant pollution. So public transport is both part of the solution and part of the problem.

Better air quality is a key shared priority between GMPTE and local and national government. Evidence indicates exposure to certain air pollutants can have serious implications for human health and reduce quality of life. In addition, the growth in climate change gas emissions (also known as greenhouse gases), is now recognised as a serious social, economic and environmental issue at both local and global levels.

The Greater Manchester LTP (Local Transport Plan) 2 Air Quality Strategy and Action Plan http://www.gmltp.co.uk, has been developed in a bid to reduce emissions over the next five years.

More information on some detailed and related issues is given here:

Particulate Traps

GMPTE research suggests that between a third and a half of particulate pollution on major bus corridors, and at bus stations, come from buses. The current bus fleet means that particulate traps are the most cost-effective method of reducing particulate (black smoke) emissions from buses, in line with the Greater Manchester Air Quality Action Plan and the Department for Transport Air Quality Shared Priority.