A Manifesto for Tackling Indoor Air Pollution

Policy Connect have submitted ‘A Manifesto for Tackling Indoor Air Pollution’ to the Air Quality Minister, Emma Hardy MP, outlining the importance of concerted, cross-sector action on indoor air pollution.  

Air pollution accounts for tens of thousands of premature deaths in the UK annually, and scores more cases of chronic ill health, life-lasting complications, and billions in annual avoidable health and social costs.  

This manifesto argues that to achieve a gear shift in public health outcomes, action to address air pollution should focus on where exposure is greatest. Around 90% of our time is spent indoors, the majority of which is spent in the home. Tackling air pollution in homes and other indoor spaces is a public health imperative.  

Indoor air pollution intersects multiple policy areas, including housing, environmental health, and energy. Government prioritisation, leadership, and support are essential to better coordinate, inform, and target action on indoor air pollution.  

Better planning, enforced regulation, increased public awareness and earlier intervention can help prevent strain on the NHS and public services, address health inequalities, and improve the health of the workforce.  

‘A Manifesto for Tackling Indoor Air Pollution’ recommends the following actions to the Air Quality Minister: 

1. Designated ministerial leadership on indoor air quality (IAQ). 
2. The designated minister to convene responsible ministers in complement with the Cross-Government Working Group on Indoor Air Quality. 
3. A new clean air strategy to feature a dedicated IAQ action plan. 
4. Government support for an indoor air quality research partnership, supporting a research framework and an observatory coordinating systematic indoor environmental monitoring in houses, schools, and healthcare facilities.  
5. Consolidated guidance on tackling household air pollution to be issued to Local Authorities, housing developers, and health and emergency services.  
6. Stronger Local Authority selective licencing schemes, with greater enforcement powers and greater penalties for non-compliance.  

Policy Connect looks forward to working with stakeholders throughout this Parliament as we continue to make the case for political action to tackle air pollution in homes and other indoor spaces.  

For more information on the Manifesto and Policy Connect’s work, please contact gaelan.komen@policyconnect.org.uk.