Our environment
We don’t often think about the environment when we think about our health. But the truth is, the world around us has one of the greatest influences on how we feel and how healthy we are.
The air we breathe and the spaces around us all play a powerful role in our physical and mental wellbeing. Whether it’s a leafy park or woodland to walk through, sitting by the edge of a stream, lake or at the seaside, or simply clean, fresh air outside your door – being able to get out in nature improves our lives in ways we often don’t realise.
Healthier environment, better health
When our neighbourhoods are safe, well maintained, and inviting, it’s easier to live well.
We’re more likely to head outside – to exercise, play with our kids, or connect with others. We experience lower stress, better sleep, and improved mental health. Being in nature has even been linked to lower rates of depression, anxiety, and heart disease.
Neighbourhoods like this give us safe, calming spaces to connect with others, or take a break from busy lives.
Unequal exposure, unequal impact
For many, especially those facing issues like poverty, chronic illness, or insecure housing, access to clean air and nature isn’t guaranteed. People in more disadvantaged communities are often the ones living in areas with:
– The worst air quality
– The least tree cover
– Little or no access to parks or open space
– Higher exposure to noise, pollution, and extreme heat
Air pollution is a silent health threat
Although you can’t always see it, air pollution is all around us – affecting our health from before our first breath until our last. It affects millions of people, especially in built-up or industrial areas, near major roads, and in cities with limited nature.
Breathing toxic air has serious health consequences, from worsening asthma and other lung conditions to increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke, and being linked to dementia, diabetes, and certain cancers.
The impacts of air pollution are felt by everyone, but not equally. You may be exposed to higher levels of air pollution because of where you live – for example, if you live in a more deprived area – and people from ethnic minorities are significantly more likely to be exposed to high levels of air pollution. Children, older people and those with existing health conditions are also disproportionately affected by the health harms of air pollution.
This isn’t just unfair – it’s unhealthy. And it’s avoidable.
Angela, London Motivated by her own exposure to air pollution, Angela is the coordinator for Clean Air for Southall and Hayes – a campaigning group speaking out against the environmental damage caused by local gasworks.
When you go to a petrol station and you fill up your car with petrol, there’s a certain odour. Imagine that being multiplied many times, within your own home and surrounding environment.
Working as a GP in Levenshulme, South Manchester, Dr Sinead Millwood has frontline experience treating people for the health-related impacts of poor air quality.
Air pollution is easy to ignore because it is invisible. But it is there, and there is so much evidence showing how serious the health effects of air pollution are. Air pollution is a social justice issue because most people who are struggling with its health effects are living in the worst places for it. And the reason for that is because the cheaper housing and the social housing is on main roads.
Angela, London Motivated by her own exposure to air pollution, Angela is the coordinator for Clean Air for Southall and Hayes – a campaigning group speaking out against the environmental damage caused by local gasworks.
When you go to a petrol station and you fill up your car with petrol, there’s a certain odour. Imagine that being multiplied many times, within your own home and surrounding environment.
Working as a GP in Levenshulme, South Manchester, Dr Sinead Millwood has frontline experience treating people for the health-related impacts of poor air quality.
Air pollution is easy to ignore because it is invisible. But it is there, and there is so much evidence showing how serious the health effects of air pollution are. Air pollution is a social justice issue because most people who are struggling with its health effects are living in the worst places for it. And the reason for that is because the cheaper housing and the social housing is on main roads.
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MEMBERS & SUPPORTERS
Meet our members and supporters who are working to protect and improve the environment we live in.
Read the latest insights on how the environment around us shapes our health.
