A coalition of 150 scientists, MPs and activists has called on the government to launch a national inquiry into how air pollution disproportionately harms lower-income and minority-ethnic communities.
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01Summary
- 01Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows lower-income areas in England have persistently higher air pollution than wealthier ones.
- 02Minority-ethnic populations are exposed to air pollution levels about 6% higher than white populations, the same study found.
- 03The letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham was signed by 150 signatories including climate activist Greta Thunberg.
- 04New data reveals more than 200,000 children in 11 English cities were hospitalised with breathing difficulties in 2025.
- 05In Manchester, admissions of babies and toddlers rose from 653 in 2023 to 1,072 in 2025.
02Why it matters
This matters because prolonged exposure to toxic air increases risks of heart disease, cancer and asthma, and children's lung development is particularly vulnerable, yet no UK mechanism currently exists to address these health inequalities.
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