Health effects of air pollution

How we’ll achieve our vision

Over the course of ten years, we will find solutions to reduce the impact of air pollution by working with a diverse range of partners across Lambeth and Southwark and we will work with decision makers to advocate for clean air.

We are dedicated to reducing air pollution in a way that has the deepest impact on improving health equity in urban areas. That means:

• focusing on the sources of air pollution that disproportionately affect minoritised and economically disadvantaged people (for example, mould and damp in people’s houses) and that haven’t been adequately addressed (for example, construction, freight, and wood burning).
• ensuring that the people most affected by air pollution have a say in how to improve air quality so that the solutions benefit them.

We believe efforts to reduce air pollution must be targeted to benefit those people who are most affected by it. We’re focused on closing the gap in health equity caused by air pollution, and we use what we learn to influence others to take a similar, equitable approach.

Our insights and recommendations

We take what we learn in Lambeth and Southwark and share with other boroughs in London, across urban areas across the UK, and even in other cities around the world.

We focus on four sources of air pollution:

Construction: We’re working with businesses and communities to improve air quality in and around construction sites, which are a major source of air pollution in urban areas.

Freight: Defined as the movement of goods and services, freight is a major contributor to air pollution and greenhouse gasses. We’ve been working with residents, businesses, and councils, and have recommendations for how the Government can reduce air pollution from freight.