Friends of the Earth have launched an online portal which provides environmental data for each constituency in England, highlighting threats such as air pollution, flood risk and extreme heat.
The portal has been launched ahead of the government’s legally-binding climate plan which is due on 29th October.
The analysis reveals that in over 90% of constituencies, everyone is exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution.
The scale of the air quality crisis is particularly acute in urban areas, with 47 of the 50 worst-affected constituencies held by Labour MPs. This means many government backbenchers represent some of the most polluted areas in the country. The exceptions are Islington North, Leicester South, and Spelthorne.
Most alarming is that 59 constituencies contain neighbourhoods with air pollution levels more than double World Health Organization guidelines. Eleven of these severely affected areas are in London.
The data allow residents to check a range of environmental records for their area, enabling people living in Birmingham Ladywood, for example, to find out that they face a toxic combination of poor air quality, extreme heat risk and energy poverty.
The data also reveal over 90% of homes in Boston and Skegness face flood risk, while Devon constituencies recorded over 70,000 hours of raw sewage overflows in 2024. All of London’s neighbourhoods are classified as high risk for extreme heat.
Friends of the Earth is calling for stronger clean air laws to meet WHO safety standards, backed by public transport investment and faster transition to electric vehicles. The organisation argues the upcoming climate plan must deliver lower bills, better home insulation and green jobs while taking “zero-tolerance approach to polluters.”
Mike Childs, head of policy at Friends of the Earth, said: ‘This data shows the true scale of environmental threats across England and reinforces why a strong climate plan is so important to protect communities. Flooded homes, dangerous heatwaves and filthy air are not abstract risks but realities for millions.
‘Politicians who push false environmental narratives or call for weaker climate action are putting the people that elected them at risk. By producing an ambitious programme to reduce emissions, the government can simultaneously cut bills, boost renewable energy, create green jobs and improve public transport. Outside the climate plan, it must also do far more to protect nature by taking a zero-tolerance approach to polluters to end the poisoning of our rivers and coasts.
‘Climate action is not just about the environment – it’s primarily about people and creating healthier, happier places for us all to live. Our tool gives people the power to hold their MPs accountable for the environmental challenges in their constituency.’
Photo: Jean Willemssens
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