Ealing Friends of the Earth's response to Ealing Council's draft ‘Air Quality Strategy’
Ealing Council published a draft ‘Air Quality Strategy’ for consultation. The consultation ended on the 30th January 2023. Ealing Friends of the Earth has made a robust response.
Download our full response here:
Health
Air pollution is a major cause of ill health and death. Researchers at Imperial College say: “In 2019, in Greater London, the equivalent of between 3,600 to 4,100 deaths (61,800 to 70,200 life years lost) were estimated to be attributable to human-made PM2.5 and NO2”.
PM2.5 are tiny particles less than 2.5 of a thousandth of millimetre across of any substance. NO2 is chemical combination of oxygen and nitrogen. While there are other dangerous substances in our air, PM2.5 and NO2 are by far the most the most important.
The researchers estimated that between 147 and 165 people from the borough of Ealing died each year due to air pollution.
These are shocking figures. If deaths from road accidents or crime were anything near this level, they would be regarded as totally unacceptable.
Not Enough
It’s good that Ealing council is producing an air pollution strategy. However, the draft strategy is very weak.
While there is a list of proposed actions, there are no targets for reduction of pollution and no assessment of what the proposed actions would achieve. This makes it very difficult to assess how effective the strategy will be. There is certainly no evidence that it will have a significant effect.
Traffic the main culprit
The Council can’t do it all
We recognise that Ealing council cannot solve the problem of air pollution by itself. But if the council believes it can achieve little itself, it should be honest enough to say so. And to say what needs to be done by others.
Ealing Council’s Air Quality Strategy is found here.