Air pollution - Why care? (United Kingdom)

The quality of air in the United Kingdom is currently better than at any point since before the industrial revolution. However, atmospheric pollution is currently estimated to reduce the life expectancy of every person in the UK by an average of 6 months with estimated equivalent health costs of up to £19 billion a year. This is in addition to wider environmental damage including change in species composition, change in ecosystem function and decreased agricultural yields.

We need to undertake further research into how air pollution impacts health and the environment to inform future policy decisions. In the long term, understanding the interplay between air pollution and climate change could provide large mutual benefits.

Details of UK policy can be found in the UK Air Quality Strategy, and the UK Air Quality Archive.