10 Aug 2026
Who’s most at risk from air pollution?
Young people with developing lungs and those with respiratory problems are at greatest risk from air pollution.
Use our near you tool to find out:
- If bus services in your area have declined or increased and by how much over the last 15 years.
- How many people in your local authority don’t have a car.
- Read: Ward level data about air pollution in your area here Ward Environment Reports.
Fewer bus services make life more difficult for people without a car. People without a car are predominately those in low-income households and disabled people.
What can local authorities do about air pollution?
Councils and regional/combined authority Mayors have a significant role on transport. They can curb traffic levels near schools. They can prioritise investment into cycling and walking, which are the cleanest travel options. They can regulate bus services to improve services, although they need money from government to increase services significantly. And they can invest in public charging to help those without a driveway switch to electric vehicles.
What can the government do about air pollution?
The government needs to:
- Set air pollution reduction targets in line with World Health Organisation recommendations.
- Speed-up the switch to electric vehicles, which must include making public charging cheaper and ensuring it is accessible to disabled drivers.
- Invest much more in buses and infrastructure to making cycling safer.
The government has changed the distribution of funding, with rural areas winning out, and given local authorities flexibility on how to use it (e.g. more services, reduced fares). But without much more money change will be limited in most areas.
Who should pay for the damage air pollution causes?
Climate change is caused mostly by burning fossil fuels. The oil and gas companies have made massive profits from selling these. It’s time to make the polluters pay.
Watch out for air pollution disinformation
Bus services reduce carbon emissions compared to everybody driving even though on some occasions there may not be many people on the bus. Cheaper and better services will increase occupancy and make the difference even greater. Some say that any measures that restrict cars are a 'war on drivers' when actually they are introduced to try to cut dangerous levels of air pollution and to improve walking, cycling and bus reliability.
Read: more examples of disinformation and evidence to counter it.
Your community's voice matters
- Across England where groups carried out listening activities better public transport and cleaner air came out as one of the top issues communities voted for.
- Tell politicians you care about climate change. Ask your councillor to show their commitment to climate justice
- Tell them they need to take action to clean up the air and make it easier to walk, cycle and use public transport. Use evidence from your listening activities if this came up as a priority in your community.
- Ask them to sign-up to your Friends of the Earth’s Charter for Climate Hope if you have one.
- Look at the post election post-election guide for ideas on how to engage with your councillors.