Yasmine El-Gabry, Senior Parliamentary Campaigns Manager

Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to our health, no matter who you are or where you live. It affects us from before our first breath to our last, and can harm every organ in our bodies, causing heart and lung disease, dementia, and strokes. Nearly every part of the UK exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline limits on air pollution, putting everyone’s health at risk.

The health harms of air pollution are not felt equally. People may be exposed to higher levels of air pollution because of where they live – for example, in a town or city, or near a busy road. Global majority communities and those with the highest levels of deprivation often live in the most polluted areas, and children, older people and people with health conditions are more at risk.

But air pollution is a solvable problem. We need our next government to adopt policies that drive systematic change so we can all breathe cleaner air, which will improve health outcomes, reduce health inequalities, and benefit the environment. 

Three weeks ahead of the 2024 general election, political parties have released their manifestos.  

Before the election was called, we set out a number of asks for manifesto commitments on clean air, including:

• To bring in a Clean Air Act within the first 100 days of government, establishing a cross-government approach to addressing the challenge of cleaning up our air that commits to WHO guideline limits on air pollution as soon as possible 
• To lead a public engagement campaign on air quality 
• To meet the target that half of journeys in towns and cities in England should be walked or cycled by 2030 
• To ensure the health sector leads on tackling air pollution starting at the Integrated Care System level 

So what are the four main political parties promising around air pollution and health inequalities, and what should we look out for as the campaign for the next government continues? 

Liberal Democrats 

The Liberal Democrats were the first of the main parties to release their manifesto, with many promises around air pollution directly. We see air pollution addressed in relation to health, transport and the natural environment, helpfully recognising toxic air as the cross-cutting challenge it is. 

The overarching commitment is to pass a Clean Air Act that is based on WHO guidelines and enforced by a new Air Quality Agency. Knowing that cutting transport emissions will reduce air pollution, they have committed to a suite of measures that could make public transport more accessible and attractive and improve levels of active travel, such as boosting local bus services and new cycling and walking networks. 

Conservatives 

The Conservative manifesto had no direct mention of the harms of air pollution or of clean air. 

However, it did outline transport plans and budget for the North and Midlands to cut congestion, including investment in rail and bus routes, and upgrading railways in other parts of the country. Their manifesto also focuses heavily on drivers, outlining a reduction in petrol prices, a ban on road pricing, reversing the Ultra Low Emission Zone in London, and putting low traffic neighbourhoods and 20-mile-per-hour zones to local referenda. 

Greens 

Next, the Green Party released their manifesto with commitments around cleaner air. 

They have also committed to a Clean Air Act, that would enshrine the right to breathe clean air in national law. They have also outlined many plans to invest in public transport and active travel, including more cycleways and footpaths, increased subsidies for public transport, and giving local authorities decision-making powers over bus services. The Green Party has also committed to introducing road pricing and ending the sale of fossil fuel vehicles by 2027. 

Labour 

The final of the main party manifestos launched was Labour’s, which also had no direct mention of air pollution or clean air. 

However, they have committed to renationalising the railways and devolving powers to mayors for local bus services. Labour has also highlighted concerns over health inequalities and has stated they will tackle the social determinants of health (which includes air pollution and environment alongside issues such as housing and employment). 

At Global Action Plan, we welcome all parties adopting policies that will decrease air pollution and make our lives and our planet happier and healthier. We will continue to urge all political parties, candidates, and the next government to adopt policies that offer cleaner air for all communities. 

This Clean Air Day, we are asking everyone to use their voice to call on our next government to make walking, cycling, and wheeling safer and ensure everyone can access public transport that is reliable, affordable, and efficient. You can get involved by signing our Clean Air Day petition, writing to your local candidates, and speaking to candidates who knock on your door. 

Sign our call for clean air