Air Pollution in England: Submission by MCF to the Environmental Audit Committee

In July 2026, the Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) submitted this formal evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee. Drawing on the 2024 “Climate Action within British Muslim-led Charities and Organisations” report, this submission outlines how environmental harms, poor air quality, and climate injustice disproportionately impact ethnic minority and low-income communities across England. This document serves as a vital resource for understanding the intersection of environmental policy and socio-economic inequality, advocating for a community-centred approach to national air quality strategies.

Key Highlights:

• Minoritised ethnic groups in England face disproportionately high exposure to harmful emissions (NOx and PM2.5), which compounds respiratory vulnerabilities linked to poor housing and deprivation.
• Despite being trusted spaces for education and behaviour change, 83% of surveyed Muslim-led charities cite a lack of resources as a barrier to climate action.
• Grassroots groups are frequently excluded from mainstream environmental policy discussions, which are often dominated by white, middle-class narratives.
• The submission advocates for devolved funding for community-led air quality monitoring and highlights successful grassroots initiatives, such as the Sustainably Muslim CIC biodiversity workshops.

Download the full document to read MCF’s complete evidence and policy recommendations.