Something in the Air: The forgotten crisis of Britain's poor air quality

Thursday, 19 July 2012

Something in the Air: The forgotten crisis of Britain's poor air quality

Synopsis

Air pollution is Britain’s invisible environmental problem. It is comparable to obesity and alcohol and second only to smoking as a public health problem, but gets far less attention. Yet some government policies, such as encouraging diesel vehicles in cities, are making the problem even worse.

It also hits the poorest hardest. Children living in the worst places in London for air quality are nearly 50% more likely to be eligible for free school meals than the London average. Residents of the most polluted areas are also around 25% more likely to be on income support than the London average. Yet poor air quality is rarely considered to be a 'fairness' issue.

This report makes recommendations for actions that government and civil society can take to help improve air quality and raise awareness of the dangers of air pollution.

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  • London tightens up Congestion Charge in attempt to drive out diesel

    24 April 2013

    BusinessGreen reports that the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has announced plans to remove the congestion charge exemption for small diesel vehicles, a leading recommendation Policy Exchange made in our report Something in the Air.

  • Europe's toxic air: clearer but not clean

    16 April 2013

    Simon Moore, Environment & Energy Research Fellow at Policy Exchange, is quoted in Australian publication Business Spectator discussing the dangers of air pollution in the UK. Simon cites findings from Policy Exchange report Something in the Air, which found that air pollution is causing serious health problems in Britain, but said unlike the London smogs of the 1950s it is an invisible problem that is not being dealt with.

  • Europe's toxic air: clearer but not clean

    10 April 2013

    Simon Moore, Environment & Energy Research Fellow at Policy Exchange, is quoted in an article by Reuters on the dangers of air pollution in the UK. Simon sets out findings from Policy Exchange report Something in the Air, which found that air pollution is causing serious health problems in Britain, but said unlike the London smogs of the 1950s it is an invisible problem that is going unaddressed.

  • UK air pollution: why are we only now waking up to this public health crisis?

    19 March 2013

    The Guardian cites findings from Policy Exchange report Something in the Air in an extensive piece on air pollution in the UK. The report highlighted the fact that air pollution is one of the most under-addressed public health problems and called for the removal of policies that incentivise pollution, such as encouraging diesel vehicles in cities.

  • Government urged to tackle London’s “invisible” air pollution crisis

    20 July 2012

    Business Green covers Policy Exchange's new report on air pollution Something in the Air. They interview report author Simon Moore, who points out that part of the reason so little has been done to tackle air pollution is because there isn't the same level of public interest that other issues like climate change have.

  • London's poorest most at risk from air pollution

    19 July 2012

    The lives of some of the most deprived and vulnerable people in London are most at risk from air pollution caused by two of London’s most iconic symbols – black cabs and red buses. Over 4,000 deaths in London, and around 29,000 deaths across the UK each year are attributable to fine particulate air pollution caused in large part by diesel engined vehicles, at a cost to the economy of £15bn.

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If you would like a hard copy of this report priced at £10 + £3 p&p then please email: janet.batterbee@policyexchange.org.uk