A/HRC/40/55
standards, policies and programmes to determine if they are consistent with their
human rights obligations related to air quality, and amend them if necessary.
112. Specific actions that States should consider as part of the national air quality
action plan include:
(a)
Prohibiting the construction of new fossil fuel power plants and
replacing existing fossil fuel power plants with renewable sources of energy (by 2030
in high-income nations and 2050 elsewhere);
(b)
Eliminating all remaining fossil fuel subsidies, except for LPG cooking
programmes;
(c)
systems;
Supporting the growth of distributed renewable energy generation
(d)
pollution;
Reducing, minimizing or avoiding government actions that cause air
(e)
Conducting assessments of the environmental, health and human rights
implications of new projects, policies and plans that could cause air pollution;
(f)
(g)
pollutants;
Disseminating information about best available technologies;
Requiring industry to reduce and eliminate emissions of harmful air
(h)
Requiring the oil and gas industry to recover and use methane and other
gases released during the exploration, development and production processes;
(i)
Prioritizing emission reductions from high-polluting industrial facilities
such as coke ovens, smelters, refineries, cement plants and brick kilns;
(j)
Refusing to issue permits for new polluting facilities or activities in areas
that are air pollution hotspots until air quality in such areas meets national standards
and would continue to meet those standards despite the additional pollution;
(k)
Ensuring an integrated approach to tackling air pollution and climate
change to maximize co-benefits;
(l)
Promoting compact and mixed-use urban design;
(m)
Protecting and expanding urban green spaces;
(n)
Prioritizing investments in safe walking, safe cycling and rapid public
transit over infrastructure for private vehicles;
(o)
Shifting to cleaner vehicles by strengthening emission standards and fuel
efficiency rules while accelerating the transition to zero emission vehicles;
(p)
Implementing building codes, rules and standards that substantially
increase energy efficiency in buildings;
(q)
Improving waste management by prohibiting the open burning of
garbage, avoiding incineration and requiring the capture of methane at landfills;
(r)
Creating laws, policies and programmes to discourage or prohibit
burning of crop residue or agricultural waste and assist farmers to shift to cleaner
practices;
(s)
Lowering ammonia emissions from livestock manure and fertilizer use,
in part by promoting a predominantly plant-based diet;
(t)
Educating the public about the adverse health effects of air pollution and
the benefits of implementing solutions;
(u)
Using government procurement policies to advance all of the foregoing.
113. All new or amended laws, standards, policies and programmes should
incorporate public participation, with an emphasis on including vulnerable
populations and communities suffering from poor air quality. Accessible, affordable
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