CIEH calls for urgent action on air pollution

The Chartered Institute for Environmental Health (CIEH) calls for urgent action to prevent premature deaths from air pollution. 

The CIEH has welcomed a new report published last week by the British Lung Foundation and Asthma UK which revealed that 6 million people aged 65 and older in England are at high risk of lung damage and asthma attacks because of toxic air. 

The report also found that over a quarter (26%) of care homes in England and nearly 3,000 medical centres are in areas where PM2.5 exceeds the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

CIEH has been campaigning for a new Clean Air Act and they are working with partner organisations in the Healthy Air Campaign to improve the Environment Bill, which has been pushed back again. 

Ross Matthewman, CIEH Head of Policy and Campaigns, said: ‘The report calls attention to the dangers of toxic air for the more vulnerable.

‘We have been campaigning vigorously for the UK Government, and the devolved institutions, to commit to introducing air quality targets, which are legally binding, and commit to reaching World Health Organisation guidelines in the shortest time possible, in order to protect public health.

‘The Environment Bill is essential to achieving this aim and must not be delayed any further.

With COP26 just around the corner, this Bill was an outstanding chance for the UK Government to showcase its ambition of being a world-leader in environmental protection. Delaying it further only raises questions about the UK’s commitment to improving our environment.’

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