Air pollution targets must be ‘more ambitious’ to cut health inequalities exacerbated by Covid-19, MPs say

The government must put in place “more ambitious” air pollution targets in order to reduce the health inequalities exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, MPs have warned.

There is a “moral case” to put major improvements to air quality “at the core” of the UK’s post-pandemic rebuild, according to the the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, citing evidence showing air pollution is disproportionately affecting those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

The committee’s new Air Quality report is based on evidence from health experts, local councils and campaign groups and highlights what it describes as “alarming levels of poor air quality in England”.

It urges the government to strengthen existing commitments to eradicate air pollution through the delayed Environmental Bill, which will return to parliament in Autumn, and set specific reduction targets in line with World Health Organisation guidelines.

Conservative MP, Neil Parish, the chair of the Efra Select Committee, said: “While the Clean Air Strategy is a step in the right direction, the government needs to be more ambitious. 

“Before the Environment Bill comes back, commitments to reduce the levels of toxic particulates that cause the most harm must be strengthened - and targets on reducing the health impacts of air pollution included too.”

The report sets out a “moral case” for setting more stringent targets, highlighting that the most disadvantaged communities, who contribute the least to air pollution, suffer the most from its effects. 

Rosamund Kissi-Debra, whose nine-year-old daughter Ella died after exposure to dangerous levels of air pollution in London, said: “It's been eight years since air pollution from the diesel and petrol traffic around our home killed my daughter Ella. But despite the clear science on the tragic health impacts of breathing toxic air, thousands of children across the UK are still at risk.” 

She added: “Local and national governments must clamp down on this silent killer, and health professionals must learn to recognise the symptoms of air pollution exposure so that people are warned about what could be causing their illness - before it's too late." 

The report raises concerns the current Clean Air Strategy “lacks the ambition to fully address” the challenges posed by poor air quality, and suggests targets carried over from EU law could be “easily amended”.

The government should also put in place a new long-term funding structure enabling local councils to improve local air quality, the report recommends. The committee said existing strategies currently delegate too much responsibility to local authorities without providing sufficient resources to deliver.

Mr Parish said: “Every year, an estimated 64,000 deaths are linked to air pollution disproportionately affecting disadvantaged communities. In rebuilding after the pandemic, we have a moral duty to put improving air quality at its core.”

He added: “We were quick to return to our old ways following the spring lockdown, with pollution levels bouncing back by the summer. The government has rightly banned the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, but we need more work to help accelerate towards a greener, cleaner future, so that commuting less and using electric vehicles more will be a real option for the majority.”

The committee’s report has also been welcomed by the All Party Group on Air Quality.

The group’s chair, Labour MP Geraint Davies said it would put extra pressure on Conservatives “to put local children’s lives before the Tory whip”. 

He said: “The report adds welcome pressure on the government to amend the Environment Bill to adopt legally enforceable WHO air pollution limits with a duty on all government departments to work together to deliver them.

"It underlines the Coroner’s conclusion that air pollution was a cause of death for Ella Kissi-Debrah when WHO air quality limits were breached. This will add weight to the Coroner’s forthcoming Prevention of Future Death Report expected before Lord's amendments in favour of immediately enforceable WHO air quality limits. 

"Newly elected Tory MPs will be under growing pressure to put local children’s lives before the Tory whip. 

“As we approach Cop26 this is a government opportunity to show global leadership at a time when air pollution kills 7 million people every year.”

He added: “The Efra report highlights that the poorest and most diverse communities are also those suffering the highest health problems from air pollution which helps to explain why Coronavirus death and infection rates are higher in these communities. 

"This underlines the urgent need to bring in universal and enforced WHO air quality limits which will bring the biggest benefit in lives saved and lengthened by reducing exposure to toxic air.”