Support Ella’s Law - The Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill

Everyone should have the right to breathe clean air.  In December 2022, the UK government announced a target for particle pollution in England in 2040 that aims to meet the 2005 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in 17 years’ time, 35 years after the guidelines were set. 

However, the Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill, or Ella's Law, would establish the human right to breathe clean air and would require the Secretary of State to achieve clean air throughout England and Wales within five years of the passing of the act and maintain it thereafter. 

Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah has been campaigning for nearly 10 years for cleaner air, after her daughter Ella died in hospital from a fatal asthma attack, caused by air pollution. Ella’s law – The Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill has passed through the House of Lords and will have its second reading in the Commons in February. It’s important that this bill is passed as around 40,000 people die due to air pollution in the UK every year. 

In fact, a new study, the largest of its kind, has found that people living in polluted areas are more likely to have more than one long-term illness. Researchers looked at more than 360,000 people aged between 40 and 69 and found greater chances of multiple neurological, respiratory, cardiovascular, and common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, even having allowed for differences in income. These long-term problems affect people’s lives and place big burdens on our economy and health services. 

Watch Rosamund’s interview at the BBC and write to your MP asking them to support the Bill, you will be helping save lives. You can find your local MP here.