Air pollution continues to pose a significant public health threat worldwide, including in the UK, where it was linked to over 10,000 deaths in 2019, marking it as the biggest environmental risk to public health, according to the UK government. With urban populations growing, the air quality in many UK cities remains a concern, especially with emissions from daily transportation activities, including cars and shipping.  In 2023, the UK ranked among the top in Europe for improving air quality in its cities, a result  of concerted efforts and policy implementations aimed at combating air pollution. Despite these strides, the UK still fell short of meeting the World Health Organization’s annual air quality guidelines, a target achieved by only seven countries globally that year. 

SEI researchers based at the University of York are engaged in a range of initiatives designed to promote cleaner air locally and worldwide. Leveraging their expertise in community engagement, transformation governance, innovation and citizen science, these researchers draw valuable lessons from both their successes and obstacles. On UK Clean Air Day, SEI researchers emphasize the importance of shared experiences in the clean air space. Recognizing that clean air is vital for overall health, they stress the importance of everyone’s participation in achieving this goal.

Collaborative air quality solutions  

The school environment is a significant factor in children’s exposure to air quality due to the substantial amount of time they spend indoors. However, children often remain unaware of the air they breathe and its potential health impacts. Designing and regulating school buildings to maintain acceptable environmental conditions is challenging, particularly as they must accommodate high occupancy densities. School classrooms often have four times the number of occupants per unit floor area compared to modern office buildings, which compromises indoor air quality. Considering children’s high activity levels and developing respiratory systems, they are particularly vulnerable to air pollution during their school years. 

Projects like SAMHE (Schools Air Quality Monitoring for Health and Education) involve stakeholders in co-designing air quality initiatives, using digital tools to collect indoor air quality data from classrooms across the UK. This approach is a low-cost method of collecting representative air quality and contextual data. Key to these projects is utilizing existing resources in classrooms and collaborating with teachers to integrate air quality activities effectively. Teachers play a vital role in the process, collecting data to facilitate informed decisions, such as when to open windows to reduce CO2 levels and improve air quality. This approach also focuses on making air quality activities user-friendly, accommodating varying levels of technological and academic literacy, ultimately raising knowledge and awareness among teachers, students and their communities. 

Taking the local global 

Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), higher-income countries have committed to mobilize at least USD 100 billion annually since 2015 in climate finance to support developing countries in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and adapt to the changing climate. This goal was surpassed for the first time in 2022, with a total of USD 115.9 billion mobilized according to the OECD’s May 2024 assessment. The UK has been a major contributor to this fund and a pioneering partner in the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) facility, focusing on developing and implementing climate mitigation projects globally.  

Locally, the UK government has implemented measures to improve air quality, particularly in cities with higher emissions sources. Initiatives like the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), Low Emission Zones (LEZ) and Clean Air Zones (CAZ) in major UK cities set emissions standards for vehicles entering designated areas. These initiatives enable both citizens and policymakers to achieve the desired benefits of reducing vehicle emissions in urban areas. 

Leveraging its role in mobilizing climate finance, implementing air quality initiatives and harnessing technical expertise, the UK is well-positioned to enhance global air quality. It can strengthen capacity, particularly for policymakers in countries where air quality measures are not yet part of climate change mitigation strategies. This support can yield both local health improvements and short-term global emission reductions. A prime example is London’s ULEZ, which sees both citizens and policymakers benefit from reduced vehicle emissions. 

Amplifying progress on clean air? Include the private sector 

The private sector is crucial in managing air quality, as its activities are major sources of air pollutant emissions. Quantifying these emissions across various operations is a key step towards effective mitigation. 

The Practical Guide for Business Air Pollutant Emission Assessment, developed by SEI, is instrumental for companies participating in the World Economic Forum’s Alliance for Clean Air, which includes UK firms like GSK and Haleon. This alliance is the first coalition of private sector companies committed to quantifying and reducing their air pollutant emissions. Out of the current 17 members of the Alliance, seven have now quantified and publicly reported on their air pollutant emissions, including companies like IKEA, Maersk, Bloomberg, Oracle, GoTo and the GEA group.  

As the Alliance expands and more companies begin reporting their air pollutant emissions, continued engagement with the private sector is essential. This collaboration will help develop effective emission reduction strategies and support broader global decarbonization efforts.