Despite major progress in reducing air pollution across England and Wales, new evidence shows that clean air remains a privilege for some.
Air pollution in England and Wales has dropped significantly over the past decade, yet the poorest neighbourhoods remain exposed to the highest levels of toxic air, a new analysis reveals.
According to new analysis by Friends of the Earth, people of colour, low-income households, and non-drivers are now disproportionately concentrated in the 5% of neighbourhoods still exposed to the worst air pollution, mainly in low-income urban areas such as London and Manchester.
A decade ago, 30% of residents in pollution hotspots were on low incomes, 20% were people of colour, and 22% didn’t own a car. Today, those figures have surged to 48%, 50%, and 60% respectively.
Experts warn air pollution remains a social justice crisis in the UK
Asian Voice spoke to experts and city officials who warned that air pollution remains a deep social and environmental justice issue, with the poorest and most diverse communities still breathing the dirtiest air.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor believes that access to clean air is a social justice issue. We know that more deprived communities and those from ethnic backgrounds are disproportionately affected by air pollution. We have made London a global leader in improving air quality, with the ULEZ helping to massively reduce harmful emissions across London, leading to all Londoners breathing cleaner air. For some of the most deprived communities living near London’s busiest roads, there has been an estimated 80 per cent reduction in people exposed to illegal levels of air pollution.
“But the Mayor is not complacent. He is committed to continuing to reduce air pollution and has rolled out indoor air quality filters across 200 schools in London, prioritising areas of higher deprivation and poorer air quality. In addition, he is working on electrifying all of London’s bus fleet, expanding London’s Electric Vehicle charging network and tackling emissions from the construction industry, as we work to build a fairer, healthier London for everyone,” spokesperson added.
Professor Prashant Kumar, Founding Director of the Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) at the University of Surrey, said the findings reveal “a profound environmental injustice,” where those least responsible for pollution suffer the most from its effects. He explained that disadvantaged communities often live near busy roads, lack green spaces, face poor housing conditions, and have longer commutes, all of which heighten their exposure.
“Do we all breathe the same air? The evidence resoundingly says no,” he said, adding that limited ventilation and more time spent indoors further increase risks, especially for children and the elderly. He emphasised that “one-size-fits-all policies won’t work” and urged policymakers to prioritise targeted measures that protect vulnerable groups and make clean air “a universal right.”
Jabeer Butt OBE, Chief Executive of the Race Equality Foundation, said the findings reflect “systemic environmental injustice and policy failure,” with low-income and ethnic minority communities facing the highest exposure to air pollution. He noted that current government strategies place too much emphasis on individual behaviour change, urging households to buy greener cars or switch heating systems, without providing the structural support needed to make these shifts possible.
“The fact that low-income areas and communities of colour face the worst air pollution is no anomaly,” he said, adding that incentives like electric vehicle subsidies often benefit the better-off, excluding lower-income and ethnic minority workers. Butt warned that policies ignoring racial and social disparities “risk deepening inequality,” and stressed that a just transition to net zero must embed race equity into all major areas of policy to ensure marginalised communities are not left behind.
Professor Anil Namdeo, Professor of Air Quality and Net Zero at Northumbria University, said, “These findings clearly show that pollution exposure is an issue of environmental justice. Low-income communities are disproportionately affected because they often live near major roads and high-traffic areas, with limited ability to move to cleaner neighbourhoods. My research across UK cities shows a clear pattern: vulnerable groups, including low-income and ethnic minority communities, face higher exposure, rely on public transport or walk along polluted routes, often live in older, poorly ventilated housing, and have limited access to green spaces.”
“This exposure is worsened by limited healthcare access, higher underlying health conditions and fewer resources to adapt, creating a cycle where environmental and social inequalities reinforce each other. Tackling this requires more than technical fixes, we must prioritise these communities through better traffic management, affordable public transport and community-led air-quality monitoring. The transition to net zero must put equity at the centre so those most affected benefit first,” he added.
