Will Prescott, Thomas Nurcombe and Sarah Kuszynski

December 2023

This report focuses on the impact of and policies for two sectors that are especially responsible for air pollution in deprived areas: transport and domestic burning, which are the biggest contributors to NOx and PM2.5 air pollutants. 

The report is based on findings of focus groups with people living in different deprived areas of three English cities: Birmingham, Liverpool and London.

Action on air pollution has become increasingly politicised in recent years, which risks stalling necessary progress on reducing air pollution. This report proposes seven new policy recommendations to reduce air pollution, but ones that support rather than penalise those living in deprived areas and ones that command public support.