Air Quality Action Plan 2027 - 2032

In 2019, the council declared a Climate Emergency, and remains committed to creating a greener, healthier borough. While climate change requires us to help tackle global carbon emissions, the local air we breathe directly shapes the health, wellbeing, and daily quality of life of our residents. 

Our Air Quality Action Plan aligns directly with our Climate Action Strategy, ensuring a unified approach to decarbonise our borough while actively cleaning our air. It outlines the actions we will take to improve air quality in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames between 2027-2032. 

Air pollution is associated with a number of adverse health conditions such as  asthma, heart disease and cancer. Additionally, air pollution particularly affects the most vulnerable in society: children and older people, and those with heart and lung conditions.

This action plan builds upon work from Air Quality Action Plan 2021 - 2026 which included successful projects such as: 

• the delivery of over 100 Play Streets and Street Parties across the borough, 
• the implementation and expansion of a public e-bike (Forest) hire scheme, 
• the implementation and continued proliferation of School Streets across the borough and
• the roll-out of 20 mph roads across 98% of roads in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. 

While we have seen significant improvement in air quality across the borough over the past 5 years, there is still work to be done to improve the air we breathe,especially where it comes to particulate matter (tiny particles of pollution such as soot, dust and oil in the air). 

If you have any questions, or need any of the information in a different format please get in touch with us via phone: 020 8547 5000, or email engagement@kingston.gov.uk.