Dundee Air Quality Progress

A new report highlighting improvements to Dundee’s air quality will be considered by Councillors next week, with all city monitoring sites having met safe legal limits in 2025.

The Air Quality Update outlines results from monitoring harmful pollutants like Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) at six continuous monitoring stations, and notes the compliance with legal limits at the additional 83 NO2 diffusion tube sites throughout Dundee.

Climate, Net Zero & Environment Committee Depute Convener Cllr Lee Mills said: “These results show the action taken in recent years to decrease harmful emissions and improve air quality in the city is working.

“A great deal of effort is put into collecting this vital data and delivering on the city’s Air Quality Action Plan, doing what we can to electrify fleet, encourage active travel and invest in the relevant infrastructure.

“This work drives the progress for our broader vision of a cleaner and greener Dundee.”

During the 2025 reporting year, the Council took forward a number of key actions including:

• The approval of a new Air Quality Action Plan in November 2025;

• The completion of the multi-million pound refurbishment to create the Bell Street Green Transport Hub facility;

• Growth in electric taxi numbers, with 261 fully electric taxis now operating in Dundee;

• Continued success of the Bikehangar scheme between Cyclehoop and the Council, with an overall occupancy of 88% across Dundee in each Bikehangar in use;

• Positive action to lower local transport-related emissions by members of both the Commercial Fleet vehicles and taxi/private hire vehicles ECO stars schemes.
   

The report also provides an annual update on the performance of Dundee’s Low Emission Zone. Data show there were 30% fewer contraventions in the final quarter of the year compared with the equivalent period twelve months previously.

Cllr Ken Lynn, Chair of the Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership Integration Joint Board said: “Significant progress has been made on improving air quality and targeting pollutants in Dundee.

“The Air Quality Action Plan is specifically designed to bring about positive health benefits for the public, especially for the young, the elderly and those living with underlying health conditions.

“We are in the early stages of this process. However, alongside partners, we continue to monitor these outcomes.”

The Climate, Net Zero & Environment Committee will meet on Monday 8th June to discuss further.

If approved by the Committee, the Air Quality Annual Progress Report and Dundee LEZ Annual Report will be submitted to the relevant bodies.