Climate Change and Air Quality Progress Report 2022 to 2023

There has been a consistent reduction in recorded levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at most monitoring locations for the last five years (2018 -2022) (please see figures 5-8). In 2022, there was a general decrease in concentrations recorded at most monitoring locations with a few exceptions. Although some locations did see a slight increase in concentrations in 2022 when compared to 2021 data, it is noted that the concentrations have not returned to those levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022, air quality monitoring showed there was only one exceedance of the annual mean National Air Quality Objective for NO2 within Buckinghamshire. This was a new monitoring location added in 2022 located within the Friarage Road Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in Aylesbury.

Monitoring completed in the Tring Road AQMA over the last five years has shown that concentrations of NO2 have consistently been below the annual mean objective level of 40 μg/m3.

Results from new monitoring locations set up in January 2022 have not been included in the graphs.

The following shows the data for the Wycombe Area AQMAs.

There is a period without data for 2021/22; diffusion tube W4 at Abbey Accommodation was not accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Monitoring has resumed in 2022.