Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder has won the Green Ribbon Political Award recognising her outstanding environmental achievements.

Catherine was awarded in the “MEP of the Year” category for her work fighting for stronger European targets to tackle air pollution. The judges commended Catherine for generating public awareness of the issue and championing EU action to improve air quality, often in the face of opposition from the UK government.

Catherine is currently a lead negotiator on the EU’s 2030 air pollution limits and has helped ensure that the European Parliament prioritises improving air quality ahead of the vested interests of individual industries and countries.

Catherine  commented:

I am delighted to have been given this award and would like to thank all the tireless air quality campaigners who have worked with me on this vital issue.

With almost half of harmful pollutants in the UK originating from abroad, air pollution is a public health crisis that must be tackled at a European level.

We must work together in Europe to deliver cleaner air for future generations.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings