Air quality
About 3 mins
The assessments of the policy area on this page were based on a snapshot of progress on 20 July 2026 and do not reflect more recent announcements.
Lead departments
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Department for Transport
Why it matters to health
Air pollution is the UK’s largest environmental risk to health, increasing and exacerbating respiratory, cardiovascular and other diseases. It contributes to around 30,000 deaths and up to £50bn in economic costs annually.
Transport emissions are a significant contributor to poor air quality, particularly in urban areas, where exposure to pollutants is often highest.
Air pollution disproportionately affects disadvantaged and ethnically diverse neighbourhoods, which face higher exposure to pollutants and greater vulnerability to adverse health effects.
Labour’s commitments
Making Britain a clean energy superpower was one of Labour’s five missions, with a promise to provide clean power by 2030. Its 2024 manifesto also included transport measures to help reduce air pollution, notably by accelerating the transition to electric vehicles and improving public transport.
However, while Labour had committed to a Clean Air Act to incorporate World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines into UK law and recognise clean air as a human right, this did not feature in its 2024 manifesto.
Status of this policy area
Air quality has improved substantially over recent decades, with reductions in nitrogen dioxide and particulate pollution. Despite this long-term trend, particulate pollution (PM2.5 and PM10) increased between 2024 and 2025. The 2019 Clean Air Strategy aims to halve the health impacts of air pollution by 2030 through action across transport, industry, power generation and agriculture. However, pollutant limits remain less stringent than WHO recommendations (except for carbon monoxide).
- Targets: The Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 moved interim targets for PM2.5 forward from 2040 to 2030, although they are not legally binding.
- Transport: Road transport remains a significant source of air pollution. The government has reaffirmed the phase-out of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030. And electric vehicle charging infrastructure continues to expand, supported by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025. The government has also committed to increasing active travel.
- 10-Year Health Plan: The 10-Year Health Plan for England references reducing air pollution through decarbonising transport and cleaner energy systems. However, commitments are poorly anchored.
- Future developments: There has been a Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs consultation on stricter emission limits, mandatory labelling and increased enforcement penalties for solid fuel burning. Feedback is currently being analysed.