This queen’s speech must be used to set out life-saving clean air laws
Today, Tuesday 11 May, the UK Government will outline their priorities for the next parliament in the Queen’s speech. Our clean air policy officer Zak tells us why this is a golden opportunity for the prime minister to set out new life-saving clean air laws and prevent future deaths from toxic air.
Polluted air is costing lives
In 2013, Ella Kissi-Debrah died due to a severe asthma attack triggered by air pollution in south London. She was the first person in the UK, and as far as we know in the world, to have air pollution listed on her death certificate. In April the coroner published a prevention of future deaths report, with recommendations for decision makers to help ensure such a case won’t happen again. There are 1.1 million children, who like Ella, have asthma and are much more vulnerable to the effects of toxic air. No other family should be forced to go through the heartache that Ella’s have experienced, from this entirely preventable and invisible killer.
The prime minister must listen to the coroner
Crucially, the coroner said that ‘legally binding targets based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines would reduce the number of deaths’ from air pollution in the UK and that the WHO guidelines for air pollution should be seen as ‘minimum requirements’. This is a golden opportunity for the government to act decisively and be world leaders by setting our PM2.5 target at least in line with the WHO’s guideline, and that it is met by 2030 at the latest.
Government must show leadership before COP26
In the run up to the COP26 climate change conference which the UK is hosting this Autumn, this commitment would showcase the UK as world leaders in tackling this invisible killer. It would also help pave the way to reach the government’s welcome net zero climate targets and persuade other world leaders to commit to this life-saving ambition level.
The Environment Bill can’t be delayed any more
The Environment Bill, currently going through parliament, provides an excellent vehicle to achieve this. Whilst the government have said they’ll figure out the target by 2022, there is nothing to stop a Minister standing up and promising that the target will at least meet the WHO’s guideline. They could even use the opportunity of the Queen’s speech to make this commitment.
But they need to move fast to get the Bill passed by COP26. This Bill has been delayed multiple times and stretched across far more time than a normal Bill. To get it passed in time for COP26, it must return quickly after the Queen’s speech.
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