Funding for air pollution cut 99%, campaigners raise alarm

Mums for Lungs warned the cuts will significantly delay efforts to reduce emissions to levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

New research from the parent campaign group shows funding for councils to tackle air pollution has plummeted under the current government. 

Data obtained via Freedom of Information (FOI) requests shows councils received an average of £71.8m a year from 2016/17 to 2023/24. However, funding fell to £1.5m in 2024/25 – a 99% drop from the £225m peak in 2020/21. 

‘The human cost of air pollution is immeasurable, the financial cost to our NHS and economy is billions and our government is investing barely anything,’ Jemima Hartshorn, founder and director of Mums for Lungs, said. ‘We urge the government to urgently restore funding, clean up our air and protect little lungs from the devastating effects of toxic air.’ 

‘Cutting air pollution budgets by 99% at a time when children are still breathing illegal and toxic levels of dirty air is indefensible,’ Jemima continued.

‘Parents across the country expected Labour to deliver on its promise of a Clean Air Act and a legal right to breathe safe air, but instead, commitments have been dropped and funding slashed. Failing to address air pollution and invest in solutions to clean up our air is a short-term financial fallacy and a moral failure. It is setting up another generation of children for a lifetime of ill health.’

On the subject of ill health, the Royal College of Physicians estimates air pollution costs the UK economy more than £27bn annually and kills up to 36,000 people each year. 

The research highlights stark regional disparities in funding and pollution. Greater Manchester has received £211m since 2016 but still struggles with high pollution levels. What’s more, Mayor Andy Burnham scrapped a planned Clean Air Zone in December 2023 despite government instructions for compliance by 2024.

‘I cannot overstate the importance of everyone in our community being able to breathe clean air. In Manchester, we see over 1,200 people per year die prematurely from this toxic air and we have some of the highest rates of childhood asthma,’ Afzal Khan, Labour MP for Manchester Rusholme, explained. ‘ This is why I have always used my voice in parliament to rally against pollution and make clean air a human right. I will continue to do all I can to fight for this and ensure the health of our community is a priority.’ 

Dr Katie Knight, a paediatric emergency medicine consultant, described the situation as a ‘public health emergency’. She remarked: ‘Every year we see thousands of children coming to London A&E departments with severe breathing difficulties. Many of these children have symptoms which are exacerbated by toxic air pollution. Cutting the budget for essential air quality work is extremely shortsighted and a false economy, which will end up costing us all more in the long term.’

In response to these findings, campaigners are calling on the government to meet WHO targets, phase out diesel vehicles, restrict polluting SUVs, and introduce School Streets to protect children.

Photo: Ron Fassbender/Mums for Lungs

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