Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 35
Many of the areas with the highest levels of social deprivation are also the most...
Recommendation
Many of the areas with the highest levels of social deprivation are also the most exposed to air pollution and this link is also more pronounced for people from ethnic minority backgrounds. Further research is urgently needed to fully understand the link between poor air quality and covid-19, which the Government has now accepted. However, notwithstanding the causal link between air quality and covid-19 mortality and morbidity, there was already a strong, established, case for taking action to reduce health inequalities caused and exacerbated by air pollution. That the communities most affected are often those that make the smallest contribution to the problem increases the moral case for action. Reducing long-term health inequalities will require both ‘across the board’ and targeted measures. Defra, working with the Department of Health and Social Care and local health partners, should amend the Clean Air Strategy to include measures to reduce the long-term health inequalities associated with air pollution.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government commits to addressing health inequalities through new PM2.5 targets in the Environment Bill, aiming to improve air quality for everyone and deliver public health benefits across the country, involving multiple government departments and local authorities.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
35
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted in Part
Our Clean Air Strategy outlines a comprehensive and ambitious programme of actions across all sectors of the economy, including proposals for new goals, legislation, investment and policies which will help us to improve air quality and maximise public health benefits. Actions are focused on many different sources of pollution and include Government Response: Air Quality and coronavirus: a glimpse of a different future or business as usual 3 national regulations to reduce emissions from domestic burning, industry and agriculture, alongside stronger powers and an improved framework for local government to tackle local issues. Taking the action set out in the Clean Air Strategy will improve air quality and reduce the incidence of serious illness, improving quality of life for tens of thousands of people. Defra works closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Public Health England (PHE) and a number of other stakeholders on the relationship between air quality and health. Examples of this close working include: • Defra, PHE and DHSC and clinical experts are currently collaborating to improve the Daily Air Quality Index, with the aim of improving the messaging to children with asthma. • PHE and Defra are also supporting the coordination of the Joint Air Quality Inequalities Project, led by the Environment Agency. The project aims to understand the relationship between air quality and inequalities, how these impact on people, the barriers that exist and what could help to address these. Defra and DHSC ministers have agreed that our departments will work together on understanding how exposure to air pollution could be considered as part of wider consideration of health inequalities. In addition, we are currently reviewing the National Air Quality Strategy (including the Local Air Quality Management Framework). A key objective of this review will be to promote and support greater local action to identify and address air pollution inequalities, targeting action at vulnerable groups and communities. Local Authority action will also be supported by additional funding through the Government’s Air Quality Grant which has been increased to £8m per year.
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