Air pollution in England and Wales is falling, but the poorest neighborhoods are still exposed to the worst levels of toxins, new analysis has found.
Experts call it a “gross environmental injustice” as the environmental inequality revealed by air pollution has grown over the past decade.
Over the past decade, air pollution has fallen by a third, and the number of neighborhoods with the worst air quality or fine levels of the World Health Organization (PM2.5) with 93%.
However, a new analysis by Friends of the Earth found people of color, those on low incomes and non-drivers today still suffer from the worst air pollution. These neighborhoods are mainly in high-income areas of urban centers such as London or Manchester.
Long-term exposure to toxic air pollution can cause a number of health conditions including asthma, lung disease, lung disease, heart disease, cancer and stroke.
At the start of the decade, 30% of air pollution hotpots were low-income, 20% were people of color and 22% did not own a car. Today, half of the population are people of color, 48% are in the lowest income bracket, and 60% do not drive. They are also home to nearly 600,000 children, of which two-thirds are under the age of 12. There are 1,234 schools in these neighborhoods.
Those areas with air quality better than the guidelines have a population where only 3% are people of color and 16% are deprived.
The Kampiaten Pollution Campaign of Beau Boka-Batesa, from London, was established wet with a group of his peers during the covid salmemic. He said: “Unfortunately, the story that the data tells is not news to me, nor to my peers and loved ones: this is our experience.
“Growing up, a lot of friends or family either had chronic illnesses or asthma. Air pollution is a complex issue and while it’s important to acknowledge that we are moving forward in terms of reducing dirty air, we need to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our communities are actively at the forefront of policy if we are to achieve any sort of justice in the future.”
Friends of the world are calling on the government to do more to address these inequalities, especially with more air pollution coming from driverless transport.
Mike Childs, Head of Science, Policy and Research at Friends of the Earth, said: “It is unacceptable that we are left in the air with such high levels of harmful air pollution.
“While the development of the last 10 years has been peaceful, we now need a concerted effort to protect the remaining air quality and the communities that live there. Bringing AIK’s legal limits for air practices is a good place to start.”
He said the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, should use the upcoming budget later this month to increase public funding and infrastructure for walking and cycling, and accelerate the phase-out of electric vehicles.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said:
“We have provided local authorities with £575m since 2018 to improve air quality and we continue to work with harmful emissions of air pollution.”