Government to review the current air pollution alert system

Government and health leaders will review the current messaging and distribution of existing pollution alert systems in the capital. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan is convening leaders from national and local government, health experts, and campaigners including Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah. 

The summit will focus on improved ways of ensuring the public is aware of the health impacts of air pollution, including through the provision of more targeted ‘air quality alerts’ on the most polluted days. 

The Mayor has highlighted that the scale of the challenge requires collaboration across national, regional, and local government, the NHS, and non-governmental groups such as academia, campaigner, and international bodies. 

Attendees are expected to discuss:

• a complete review of the messaging and distribution of existing alerts systems
• developing guidance for medical professionals to help them raise air pollution with their patients
• steps the NHS and wider health system can take to raise awareness of pollution with Londoners

City Hall has also today published updated Air Quality Guides for Public Health Professionals to be shared with local officials in every London borough. These will contain borough-specific information on air pollution levels, including around priority sites such as schools, hospitals, and care homes, as well as data on the health impacts of air pollution both generally and in each borough.

These resources will help boroughs target action to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community and reduce the health inequalities caused by exposure to air pollution.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “We are facing a pivotal moment in our efforts to tackle the triple dangers of toxic air pollution, climate change and congestion and make London a green, fairer and safer city. Tackling air pollution has been a priority for me since I was first elected in 2016 and I’m more determined than ever to do everything I can to consign toxic air to the history books.

“However, the inquest into Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah’s death has underlined the need for us all to do much more to warn Londoners about the effects of air pollution. I’m delighted to be convening national and regional leaders and medical professionals to agree how we can best do this and ensure further action is taken to make sure no other child dies from London’s toxic air.

“We simply don’t have time to waste – deadly air pollution is permanently damaging the lungs of young Londoners and affecting older people who are more vulnerable to the impacts of poor air quality. This is also about social justice – we know pollution hits the poorest Londoners, who are least likely to own a car, the hardest, which is why I’m doing everything I can to improve air quality and protect the health of all Londoners.”