Aimed at national and local government policymakers, fleet operators and vehicle manufacturers, the event will showcase clean air technology fitted to new buses, trucks and vans.
Just as important, it is being promoted as providing a forum for participants to examine potential policy frameworks designed to promote clean air in the UK.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, says the conference (SMMT Improving Air Quality: The Commercial Vehicle Contribution) will specifically address concerns about emissions hotspots, and cover how newer vehicle technologies are already helping to deliver on targets for UK emissions reductions.
"Bus and coach manufacturers have invested heavily in clean Euro 6 technology, which is already playing a vital role in eliminating emissions and making significant improvements to air quality," states Hawes.
"These vehicles feature the latest technologies, which, in tests on London's 159 bus route, demonstrated an 85-fold reduction in NOx emissions over the previous Euro 5 standard – as well as a virtual elimination of particulate emissions."
However, Hawes concedes that vehicle technology is only part of the solution.
"To help reach its full potential, we now need to engage policy makers, operators and manufacturers to facilitate a cohesive and sustainable transport policy framework," he says.
"UK government and local authorities must work together with industry to support the uptake of Euro 6 vehicles. Effective traffic management policies and systems – such as low emission zones – need to be developed in and around the UK's towns and cities."
Delegates will hear from commercial vehicle and bus manufacturers, including Ford, Iveco, Mercedes-Benz, Optare and Renault Trucks UK.
They will also hear from transport minister Baroness Kramer, who will deliver the event keynote.
Other speakers will include: Elliot Treharne, air quality manager, Greater London Authority; Dr Jon Lamont, CEO, Transport for Greater Manchester; and Doug Parr, chief scientist, Greenpeace.