The Royal College of Physicians has urged the government to take a bold, cross government approach to tackling air pollution in its evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee, highlighting the tens of thousands of deaths and widening health inequalities linked to air pollution.
The Royal College of Physicians has urged the government to take a bold, cross government approach to tackling air pollution in its evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee, highlighting the tens of thousands of deaths and widening health inequalities linked to air pollution.
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has submitted evidence to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry into air pollution in England, highlighting the urgent need for stronger action to protect public health.
Air pollution remains one of the UK’s most serious yet preventable health threats. Our response draws on the findings of A Breath of Fresh Air, which explores the links between poor air quality and a wide range of diseases, including respiratory and cardiovascular illness, cancer, dementia and mental health conditions. We estimate that air pollution contributed to around 30,000 deaths in 2025, with an economic cost of more than £27 billion each year.
People living in deprived areas and minoritised ethnic communities are more likely to be exposed to higher levels of harmful pollutants and are often more vulnerable to the health impacts. Children, pregnant women, older people and those with longterm conditions face particular risks.
The RCP response makes a range of calls, including for national air quality targets to be brought into line with the World Health Organization’s 2021 air quality guidelines, alongside clear pathways to achieve them. We also highlight the need for a cross-government approach, involving the Departments for health, transport, housing, environment and energy, in recognition of the interconnected and dynamic systems that impact air quality. The RCP has also highlighted that local authorities need greater resources to enforce existing regulations, particularly around domestic burning and housing conditions.
The RCP is campaigning for government to invest in a UK wide public health campaign to raise awareness, counter misinformation and support communities to reduce exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution.
We welcome the committee’s focus on this issue, and look forward to the commitee’s full response in due course.