They must clean up our dirty, polluted air
They must clean up our dirty, polluted air


There is mounting scientific evidence from around the world that links dirty, polluted air with both the occurrence and severity of Covid-19. Put more starkly, air pollution means not only are you more likely to contract the virus, you are more likely to die if you do.
When the risk to human life is this great, we simply cannot afford to wait for this link to be proven beyond all doubt. The Government must act now to urgently review its air pollution strategy. We believe they have a legal obligation to do so, and we intend to hold them to it.
The case:
Our legal challenge rests first on the precautionary principle. The law dictates that when scientific evidence about an environmental or human health hazard is uncertain and the stakes are high, precautionary measures must be taken. The potential risk to life posed by air pollution during the pandemic means the Government must act even if the scientific evidence is not yet conclusive.
If the Government refuses to review its Clean Air strategy, they will be in breach of this precautionary principle, as well as Articles 2 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The claimants in this case are Good Law Project, Mums for Lungs, Students for Global Health and the UK Youth Climate Coalition.
Litigation of this scale and importance is undeniably difficult and expensive, and the outcomes are never certain. But with your support we are determined to hold the Government to their legal duty. The Pre Action Protocol letter that has been sent to the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs can be found here.
The details:
The Good Law Project has instructed James Maurici QC and Yaaser Vanderman from Landmark Chambers, and the international law firm Hausfield, who are acting pro bono.
10% of the sums raised will go to the Good Law Project to help it develop and support further environmental litigation. It is our policy only to raise sums that we reasonably anticipate could be spent on this litigation. However, if there is a surplus it will go to support and enable other litigation we bring. Our founder, Jolyon Maugham QC, continues to work unpaid.
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Someone pledged £100Match their pledge of £100Good luck!!!
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Someone pledged £10Match their pledge of £10Too important not to support.
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Marie pledged £10Match Marie's pledge of £10Good luck with this project - it's in everyone's interest
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Aimee pledged £10Match Aimee's pledge of £10Come on!!! The Government cannot let anyone, but especially our children, breathe and live in toxic air. GOOD LUCK. With you every breath of the way.
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Patricia pledged £10Match Patricia's pledge of £10Good luck with this, it is definitely needed.
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Someone pledged £50Match their pledge of £50Thank you for doing this.
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Will pledged £25Match Will's pledge of £25Good luck
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Jacqueline pledged £10Match Jacqueline's pledge of £10Thank you for your passion and determination.
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Daniel pledged £50Match Daniel's pledge of £50Well done - excellent cause
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David pledged £10Match David's pledge of £10Thank you
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Someone pledged £20Match their pledge of £20Evidence is mounting to show exposure to high levels of pollution, as suffered by 1000’s of main road schoolchildren in Hackney, are also more exposed to severe illness and death through COVID. These same children now have open classroom windows due COVID, letting in even more pollution.
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Edward pledged £35Match Edward's pledge of £35Excellent cause
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David pledged £50Match David's pledge of £50Go for it!
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Someone pledged £10Match their pledge of £10There is little point in trying to save citizens from Covid-19, if we continue to aid and abet their demise by air pollution.
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Charlotte pledged £25Match Charlotte's pledge of £25Keep up the amazing work!
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Paul pledged £10Match Paul's pledge of £10Sure needs doing
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Lauren pledged £10Match Lauren's pledge of £10Good luck and thank-you for taking this on!
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Caroline pledged £35Match Caroline's pledge of £35Thank you for fighting on our behalf
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Simon pledged £10Match Simon's pledge of £10go for it!
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Jim pledged £25Match Jim's pledge of £25Pledged on behalf of a Birmingham based community group called Better Streets for B14.
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