London’s Congestion Charge has been a key step towards improving public health. Yet, it is clear that more ambition is needed s the health of people living and working in London continues to be harmed by illegal and harmful levels of air pollution.… Read more →
Communicating the health impacts of air pollution
Like many issues, air pollution is very complex. But while for most of us it is obvious that air pollution is not good for our health and, therefore, that urgent action is needed, others need some convincing.… Read more →
British public, health organisations and MPs demand urgent action on air pollution
A growing coalition of leading health, transport and environment organisations has ramped up pressure on the government to act on clean air, demanding new clean air laws… Read more →
It’s time for stronger laws for cleaner air
The government needs to wake up and deliver new legislation that is ambitious with a legally binding commitment to meet World Health Organization guidelines for particulate matter by 2030 … Read more →
Share your views on the London Congestion Charge
The Mayor of London is currently running a consultation on proposed changes to the London Congestion Charge, which should contribute to cleaning up London’s toxic air.… Read more →
Older articles
Call on metro mayor candidates to tackle air pollution
Health professionals, teachers, scientists and local campaigners have come together to ask candidates in the metro mayor elections to “put the health of their communities first” and commit to tackling the air pollution crisis in their regions.… Read more →
Chancellor urged to raise first year VED rate to tackle air pollution
The Healthy Air Campaign has written to the Chancellor asking for a change in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) in the upcoming budget so that the extra costs of diesel pollution are reflected in the price of a new diesel car.… Read more →
Carole’s story: “Pollution nearly killed me. We need a new Clean Air Act.”
Until you’ve been through near-suffocation, you don’t know what a terrible feeling it is. My life changed forever after I collapsed because of air pollution. It’s an invisible danger. It nearly killed me.… Read more →
A Clean Air Act for the 21st Century
Just sixty years ago, towns and cities across the UK would be regularly smothered by smoke from coal fires burning in homes and factories. But, sixty years after the first Clean Air Act, air pollution is still damaging people’s health across the UK – we just can’t see it.… Read more →
What next for tackling air pollution in the UK?
In the recent consultation, despite saying that ‘tackling air pollution is a priority’, the UK Government has shown us they are not really up to the scale of the problem. The consultation has closed and responses have been submitted. However, this is not the end… Read more →
UK Government air quality consultation: our response
The UK Government’s consultation on its draft plans to improve air quality closed on 6 November 2015. Published under the title ‘tackling nitrogen dioxide in our towns and cities’, it did much to disappoint.… Read more →
Government launches air quality consultation
On Saturday 12th September the Government launched its long awaited consultation on new draft air quality plans to tackle levels of nitrogen dioxide. The consultation, a result of ClientEarth’s legal victory at the Supreme Court, comes after years of asking the Government to take ambitious action to protect people’s health from the harmful impacts of air pollution.… Read more →
MPs support action on air pollution
MPs support action on air pollution The Healthy Air Campaign was in Parliament last week to tell MPs about the dangers of air pollution and the need for action. MPs dropped by to meet with our campaigners, hear about ClientEarth’s landmark legal victory and speak to academics from King’s College about the air quality in… Read more →
Victory for clean air
ClientEarth have won a huge victory for the health of people in the UK. Just two week’s ago ClientEarth’s lawyers were in court fighting for our right to clean air. The UK Supreme Court has now agreed that the Government is not doing enough to protect us from the harmful impacts of air pollution and is ordering it to take “immediate action.” The Supreme Court has condemned the Government’s… Read more →
Defending our right to clean air
Today ClientEarth’s lawyers are at the Supreme Court defending our right to clean air. It is the final hearing of a four-year-long legal battle with the UK Government for failure to protect us from the most harmful impacts of air pollution. The outcome could help put the UK on a firm path towards cleaner air, preventing thousands of early deaths each year.… Read more →
Action needed at EU level
The EU needs to act on air pollution For the second time in less than a month, the UK is experiencing a dangerous smog event. People across the country are at risk. With both the UK and the EU moving so slowly towards any ambitious action on air pollution, we will continue suffering from these problems… Read more →
Dangerous air pollution across the country
Dangerous air pollution across the UK This week people living across the country face dangerous levels of air pollution. We will probably find increased reports of asthma and respiratory problems for many at-risk groups. But that’s not all. This is unlikely to be the last air pollution event this spring. With both the UK and… Read more →
April court date for air pollution case
Ruling due in air pollution case ClientEarth’s air pollution case against the UK Government will receive a judgment on the 29th April. This ruling could have a huge effect on our health. Many areas in the UK suffer from illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution. In fact, government plans show that some areas will not even… Read more →
MPs demand urgent action on air quality
MPs demand urgent action on air quality This week, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) – a group of MPs who hold the Government to account on environmental protection and sustainable development – published a damning report on air pollution in the UK. The report contains a number of recommendations which the EAC says need to… Read more →
A great win! EU court upholds right to clean air
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has delivered its judgment in ClientEarth’s case on illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide across the UK, and firmly upheld our right to breathe clean air. The ECJ ruled that the UK must act to clean up illegal levels of air pollution “as soon as possible”. Under current plans the UK will not meet legal limits for nitrogen dioxide until after 2030 – 20 years after the original deadline.… Read more →
European Court verdict on air pollution case due
European Court of Justice to rule on UK air pollution case This Wednesday (19th November 2014), the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will deliver its judgment in ClientEarth’s case against the UK Government over its failure to tackle air pollution. ClientEarth, a member of the Healthy Air Campaign, has taken the UK Government to court… Read more →
Healthy Air Campaign launches policy call
Today, the Healthy Air Campaign has published a set of measures which would improve air quality across the UK. These policies are supported by Healthy Air Campaign partners, and we urge all political parties to commit to implementing them.… Read more →
Welcome to Brussels! – video
Welcome to Brussels! Air pollution is not only a problem in the UK, but a huge problem across Europe. Every year 400,000 people die prematurely because of poor air quality. The European Parliament has the power to change this, if they act now. Our friends at the European Environmental Bureau made the video above to… Read more →
The Sun and the air – newspapers call for action on diesel
The Sun and the air Today, the Sun launched a campaign to scrap diesel cars, and to compensate diesel drivers for new restrictions on their vehicles. As you know, we’re campaigning for urgent action to reduce air pollution across the UK and diesel fumes are a huge part of the problem. So it is great… Read more →
Guide to European legal actions for clean air
The European Clean Air campaign has produced an online resource for citizens, NGOs, local authorities, policy and decision makers to access information about legal actions on air pollution across Europe. You will find current proceedings against other European member states, completed or ongoing legal cases in connection with violations to the Air Quality Directive, and current developments related to the air pollution control measures. … Read more →
UK will miss air pollution deadline by over 20 years
ClientEarth’s case against the UK Government was heard at the Court of Justice of the European Union today, just as the Government snuck out the revelation that they wouldn’t meet legal air pollution limits until after 2030. In the 20 more years or more that Greater London, West Yorkshire and the West Midlands will have dangerous levels of NO2, tens of thousands of people will die due to exposure.… Read more →
Your practical guide to EU air quality law
Our right to clean air is enshrined in EU law. So in theory, EU citizens could take their national governments to court to demand they take action to clean our air. In reality, this is a difficult undertaking. ClientEarth has created a straightforward, easy to use guide to EU law with practical tips on how it can be used to fight for clean air whether you are a concerned citizen, an experienced campaigner or an environmental lawyer. … Read more →
Vote for your right to clean air
Are you planning on voting in tomorrow’s EU elections? If not there is one issue that should shake you out of your apathy and into the polling booth:
Air pollution is one of the most serious public health risks facing us today, causing 29,000 premature deaths each year in the UK. … Read more →
Our air pollution problems aren’t just going to blow over
Much of the UK suffered from high air pollution for most of last week, grabbing headlines as never before. The exotic addition of Saharan dust proved convenient for some, who seemed grateful of having something else to blame it on. … Read more →
Air pollution is a home-grown health crisis
Air pollution has been all over the news this week, and rightly so – it’s an invisible health crisis and the UK government is failing to protect us. … Read more →
Its official, air pollution is the world’s largest single environmental health risk
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that air pollution is now the world’s largest single environmental health risk, causing 7 million premature deaths each year worldwide: 3.7 million from outdoor air pollution and 4.3 million from household air pollution.… Read more →
UK Government keep oh so quiet about smog
It might well have escaped you that we have been in the middle of a serious smog episode in England and Wales. … Read more →
UKLPG support the Healthy Air Campaign
We’re pleased that UKLPG, the trade association of the UK liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry, has announced it is supporting our mission to combat air pollution.
The first of hopefully many industry supporters* of the campaign, they will help us to reach a broader audience as well as demonstrate that tackling air pollution goes hand in hand with economic growth – the right kind of economic growth where our health doesn’t pay the price.… Read more →
Europe takes legal action against UK for air pollution failure
The European Commission has today launched legal action against the UK government for failing to protect people’s health from harmful air pollution.
The UK government must either take action to reduce levels of carcinogenic diesel fumes, or face a legal process that could result in significant fines.
The Commission was spurred into action by the UK Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in a case brought by ClientEarth.… Read more →
We welcome new partner the UK Health Forum
We are pleased to announce that the UK Health Forum are the latest addition to the Healthy Air Campaign. CEO Paul Lincoln says this on the subject:
“Air pollution needs more attention, it poses a serious threat to our health and can’t be ignored any longer. UKHF supports the Healthy Air Campaign to raise the profile of this issue and call for meaningful action, which will go towards preventing key public health issues such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, health inequalities and climate change.”… Read more →
Pollution increases risk of heart attack at levels below EU limits
Living in a city increases your chance of having a heart attack due to the air that you breathe.
The British Medical Journal today published a study showing that a 5 μg/m3 increase in annual mean PM2.5 was associated with a 13% increased risk of coronary events.
This story has been covered widely in the media, including the Today programme (at 35:50), the BBC News, and the Telegraph.… Read more →
EU fails to respond to new science on health impacts of air pollution
The European Commission yesterday released their ‘Year of Air’ package of proposals to tackle air pollution, which causes 420,000 deaths across the EU.
2013, the EU ‘Year of Air’, was certainly significant in terms of new evidence of the devastating health impacts of air pollution.… Read more →
Defra forced to rethink plan to scrap local air quality monitoring
Overwhelming public pressure has forced government to reconsider plans to scrap local air quality monitoring.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) today published a summary of responses and its reply to the controversial consultation… Read more →
Healthy Air Campaign support fourth carbon budget
A report published by the Committee on Climate Change today draws attention to the broader benefits of action to tackle climate change.
Analysis carried out to evaluate the health and environmental impacts associated with the fourth carbon budget measures finds that the monetised benefits almost negate the costs of implementation.
… Read more →
MEPs: Our lungs are in your hands
ClientEarth was among those joining MEPs at the European Parliament in Strasbourg to tell European Commissioners that ‘our lungs are in your hands’.
15 MEPs including London’s Jean Lambert and Sarah Ludford joined the action, using a giant pair of inflatable lungs to highlight their dissatisfaction with the delay of the air package… Read more →
It’s official: Outdoor air pollution causes cancer
Today the specialised cancer agency of the World Health Organisation announced that it has classified outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, after reviewing the latest scientific evidence, concluded that there is sufficient evidence that exposure to outdoor air pollution causes lung cancer. … Read more →
David Cameron’s follow up to PMQ
In July, Cambridge MP Julian Huppert asked a great air quality PMQ, referencing research on the increased risk of heart failure from air pollution. Although disappointed with the drab reply, we were at least reassured to know that David Cameron intended to follow this up with a written response.… Read more →
Air pollution increases risk of low birthweight
A study published today in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine shows exposure to common air pollutants and traffic pollution during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of low birthweight in newborn babies.
It’s particularly depressing that this research should be published on the same day as the latest report from the European Environmental Agency, detailing the UK’s pitiful performance on air quality.
… Read more →
Zac Goldsmith MP supports the Healthy Air Campaign
In September Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith wrote to Lord de Mauley to set out his “serious concerns” about the proposals set forward as part of Defra’s review of local air quality management in England. Highlighting the Healthy Air Campaign’s response, he urged the Defra minister to take our recommendations on board.… Read more →
Government air pollution plans endanger hearts and lungs
The British Heart Foundation and Asthma UK are among the Healthy Air Campaign partners challenging damaging government proposals on air pollution.
Defra’s plans to revise the system of local air quality management would remove the responsibility for local authorities to assess air pollution and declare where it is a problem. … Read more →
Say no to government cover up
Something pretty sinister is happening this summer, veiled in complex technical jargon and acronyms.
Defra, lead government department on air quality, is proposing that we scrap responsibilities for local authorities in England to monitor local air quality and prepare plans to improve it where it is a problem.
We’re outraged… Read more →
PM cop out
Julian Huppert MP addressed the following question to David Cameron during Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday:
“Three quarters of a million British people suffer from heart failure, a condition which uses a million hospital beds every year. Research funded by the British Heart Foundation shows that even low levels of air pollution can significantly increase this risk. … Read more →
Studies reveal new air pollution danger for hearts and lungs – now what?
Air pollution contributes to lung cancer incidence in Europe and is a danger to people living with heart failure, increasing their chance of hospitalisation and death. These are headline results from two studies published today in the Lancet.… Read more →
Protected: WHO will the government listen to?
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Birmingham get moving
Community members dressed in gas masks have been campaigning outside the Town Hall in Birmingham today to raise awareness of the dangerous and illegal levels of air pollution in the city.… Read more →
BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory take on air pollution
The most recent episode of the BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory series has made the dangers of air pollution visible – and really brought home the facts… Read more →
ClientEarth triumph in the Supreme Court
Wednesday 1st May 2013 was a good day for air quality. A legal battle which began in 2011 has resulted in a formal ruling from the highest court in the land that the UK Govt is failing in its legal duty… Read more →
Ed Miliband: improving air quality can help us to grow our economy
Ed Miliband spoke out firmly in favour of action on air pollution in a BBC Radio Manchester interview yesterday, and said he believed it could benefit the economy… Read more →
Mayor’s office: keep children out of the playground when air pollution is bad
The Mayor’s office have advised that London’s schoolchildren should be kept indoors for their own safety when air pollution is bad – on average once a month.… Read more →
Speak out against air pollution
Take a few minutes to let the European Commission know that you want Healthy Air.
The European Commission are consulting on policy options for the 2013 Year of Air policy review and it’s really important that as many people as possible send a strong message … Read more →
New links between air pollution and deaths from heart disease
While air pollutants have already been implicated in the triggering of heart attacks, this new research makes important new links between air quality and recovery from heart attacks.… Read more →
Boris’s ultra air plan is all fluff and no substance
The Mayor of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone sounds positive but masks an ongoing failure to meet air pollution obligations now.… Read more →
Pre-eclampsia linked to air pollution exposure
A new study published in BMJ Open suggests that exposure to ozone in the first three months of pregnancy could be the cause of as many as five per cent of cases of pre-eclampsia. … Read more →
Air pollution linked with low birth weight
New research reported on today suggests that air pollution can have a significant health impacts for unborn babies. The Daily Telegraph, Guardian and many others have reported on a study from Newcastle University… Read more →
Air pollution and asthma
The link between air pollution and asthma exacerbations is well established. Here we highlight some of the studies that evaluate the extent to which air pollution causes the onset of asthma.… Read more →
Clare Nasir asks: ‘How clean is your air?’
Our campaign ambassador, meteorologist and weather forecaster Clare Nasir writes in the Independent about the impact air quality has on her family… Read more →
We are Mumsnet campaign of the week
This week we are very proud to be Mumsnet Campaign of the Week. Parents put so much energy into protecting their children’s health. There are so many immediate things to consider that it can be… Read more →
Three mums tell their story
Three parents have kindly shared their thoughts and experiences of air pollution, from very different standpoints.… Read more →
Cleaner Air 4 Schools Toolkit
In partnership with the Greater London Authority, London Sustainability Exchange have published the Cleaner Air 4 Schools Toolkit for primary schools in London.… Read more →
London Age highlights the campaign
We are delighted that London Age, the magazine of Age UK London, includes a feature on our campaign. Age UK is a wonderful partner in our community engagement work.… Read more →
60th Anniversary of the Great Smog of 1952
Those who remember the dramatic Great London Smog of 1952 could be forgiven for looking around and thinking that the problem must have gone away. Unfortunately nothing could be further from the truth… Read more →
Year of Air 2013 must not go up in smoke
The EU has declared that 2013 will be the ‘Year of Air’ – paving the way for a much needed overhaul of EU air pollution laws. However, the UK Government has publicly stated that it will use this to … Read more →
Save the Arctic – curb air pollution
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has today published its report Protecting the Arctic. It is no coincidence that after hearing evidence on the subject for six months, the EAC chose this week to publish its findings: last week it was confirmed that this summer the Arctic sea ice shrank… Read more →
Diesel exhaust causes lung cancer
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, a part of the World Health Organisation, has for the first time labelled diesel exhausts as a definite cause of cancer. The findings are based on research in high-risk workers… Read more →
Black carbon in the House of Commons
Reducing air pollution can save lives and save the Arctic. That was the message I gave to a parliamentary committee yesterday. The Environmental Audit Committee is a house of commons select committee tasked with scrutinising the government’s performance on environment matters.… Read more →
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