Progress in delivering clean air for Birmingham - January 2026

Improving air quality in Birmingham is a priority for the council. Poor air quality is the biggest environmental risk to the public’s health and affects the most vulnerable people in the city, including those living in deprivation, very young children and older residents. Air quality is both a public health issue and a matter of social justice.

Traffic and wood burning remain the largest contributors to pollution in Birmingham.

The council published the Clean Air Strategy in 2022 to go beyond legal duties and reduce pollution in every neighbourhood, not only in areas with known exceedances. It is now being refreshed to reflect the latest evidence on the impact of air quality on health.

Priorities for action

The 2022 Clean Air Strategy made pledges in line with the council’s priorities for action around:

• improving the fleet
• improving the flow
• reducing the volume of traffic
• reducing sources and exposure of air pollution
• empowering behaviour change

These priorities shaped 8 actions designed to raise awareness, reduce pollution and support changes across the city.

Page last updated 30 January 2026