Remembering Ella ten years on
On the anniversary of Ella Adoo-Kissi Debrah’s death, Global Action Plan’s Désirée Abrahams looks at what we must learn from Ella’s life and where we go from here.
Wednesday 15 February will mark ten years since 9-year-old Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah died of a fatal asthma attack and became the first person to have “air pollution exposure” listed as her cause of death. This week, with so many others, Global Action Plan will be honouring Ella’s life and highlighting the case of clean air legislation that will enshrine a right to breathe clean air, to ensure no person dies as a result of air pollution again.
Ella’s life
Born in 2004 in Lewisham, southeast London, Ella spent the first seven years of her life as a healthy, vibrant and happy child. When she turned seven, Ella was diagnosed with asthma and her health rapidly deteriorated. Unbeknown to her and her mother Rosamund, the air Ella was breathing was toxic which was exacerbating her condition.
In 2021, Philip Barlow, the coroner summarised Ella’s case as:
“Air pollution was a significant contributory factor to both the induction and exacerbations of her asthma. During the course of her illness between 2010 and 2013 she was exposed to levels of nitrogen dioxide (N02) and particulate matter in excess of World Health Organisation guidelines. The principal source of her exposure was traffic emissions. During this period there was a recognised failure to reduce the level of NO2 to within the limits set by EU and domestic law which possibly contributed to her death.”
Where we go from here
Improving air quality will require the adoption of new daily and systemic habits as well as working practices by individuals, businesses and other organisations.
Individually, this looks like each of us committing to walking more or taking public transport instead of driving. Schools introducing “School Streets” or “Walking Buses” for pupils to join. Retailers could restrict delivery options to fewer per week or month and the food sector could work with farmers to find ways to reduce overall ammonia emissions.
There are many pathways to a clean air future, and it will take the collective action of many adopting different ways of living and working, to make it a reality.
But for all the actions listed above, it is critical that we have strong political leadership and the political will to want cleaner air for all.
If you do one thing, support Ella’s Law
The Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill, aka Ella’s Law, was presented to the House of Commons on 6th December 2022, following quick, unanimous endorsement from the House of Lords.
Among the many attributes, the Bill enshrines a right to breathe clean air for all UK citizens. If supported by enough MPs and made into an Act, this will imply that realising clean air is accorded the same status as equalities within the UK. As a result, significant roles and responsibilities would be placed on local and national government authorities to take preventative actions to ensure air pollution is reduced.
As we mark the ten-year anniversary of the passing of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, the Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill offers an important reminder that clean air is vital to our survival.
I hope you will join me in calling on your MP to support Ella’s Law when it is available to be voted on, later this year. In the meantime, MPs can signal their support for the Bill by signing on to EDM 679 with the same title: Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill. In memory of Ella, please ask your MP to sign on to EDM 679 - Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill - #EllasLaw