Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 strategy: progress report
This sets out the policy framework for air quality in Scotland to 2026 and includes a comprehensive list of actions across ten policy areas. This fourth annual report summarises progress on actions since the last report in June 2024.
3. Summary of progress
Clean Air Act Review
The Clean Air Act 1993 (CAA 1993) has been reviewed with support from SEPA, local authorities and wider stakeholders. The review identified four areas to consider on domestic burning more generally: enforcement, emissions, nuisance and installation. The next step is to engage with stakeholders on the areas highlighted in the review, exploring the feasibility of potential measures to improve air quality. This work will be taken forward as part of the development work for the next air quality framework.
One element of the review was to address the regulatory gap between the CAA 1993 and the Medium Combustion Plant Directive. This regulatory gap has now been closed through the general aims of the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025, approved by the Scottish Parliament on 30 April 2025.
Nature Based Solutions
Working together with stakeholders and NatureScot a range of case studies have been brought together to showcase the multiple benefits that nature-based solutions can deliver for urban challenges, benefiting air quality as well as supporting wider natural benefits such as biodiversity and fostering well-being. This is now available on Nature Based Solutions.
Supporting Engagement on Air Quality
Earlier this year, the Scottish Air Quality Engagement Network (AQEN) was launched. The AQEN brings together air quality stakeholders to share ideas, knowledge andbest practice, and signpost to relevant air quality information. This network will continue to support the delivery of CAFS2 actions, and the development of the next air quality framework.
To improve the visibility of air quality information the UK-Air website now provides a Local Air Quality Information Page, aimed at the general public, on what is happening in their local authority to improve air quality under the Local Air Quality Management framework, including three key air quality improvement measures that the local authority would like to raise awareness of amongst local communities.
AQMA revocations
The number of AQMAs (Air Quality Management Areas) in Scotland is reducing from 43 to 19. Revoking an AQMA means that these areas no longer experience consistent exceedances of air quality objectives for pollutants like Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) and Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10). This demonstrates a positive trend in air quality improvement across the whole of Scotland, as a result of local authorities actively monitoring and implementing measures to meet air quality objectives.
The revocation of the Crieff AQMA and the planned revocation of the Whirlies AQMA in Summer 2025 completes the CAFS2 action to revoke all AQMAs where trunk roads are the primary contributor of air pollutants.