Clean Air Community

Community-led air quality research improving air quality, health and policy 

Air pollution is one of the most serious environmental risks to health in cities like London. It affects respiratory and cardiovascular health, child development, and disproportionately impacts lower-income communities.

The Challenge 

Urban air pollution is complex. It intersects with: 

• Public health
• Planning and transport
• Environmental law
• Social inequality
• Behaviour change 

Communities often experience the impacts of poor air quality without having access to clear local data or influence over decisions that affect them. 

The Clean Air Community responds by combining research expertise with community knowledge to co-produce evidence and insight. 

What we do 

The initiative brings together interdisciplinary expertise across planning, law, health and environmental research to: 

• Work with communities to explore local air quality issues
• Interpret environmental data in ways that are meaningful and accessible
• Connect research evidence to public health and policy debates
• Share learning across academic, civic and healthcare partners 

Rather than a single project, Clean Air Community is an ongoing collaboration that strengthens relationships between UCL and surrounding communities. 

Impact and influence 

Research connected to the Clean Air Community has contributed to public debate, policy discussion and community engagement in several areas: 

Policy and legislation 

• First global assessment of air pollution legislation – analysing how countries regulate air quality and identifying where stronger legal protections are needed.
• Smoking around hospitals: is it time to call time? – examining whether stronger controls are needed to protect vulnerable patients and staff. 

Air quality during COVID-19 

• Taking a breath during lockdown – analysing how air pollution levels changed during national restrictions.
• What are we learning from the COVID crisis? – exploring the relationship between environmental exposure, inequality and public health. 

Community engagement and communication 

• Learning from residents – sharing insights from working directly with local communities affected by air pollution.  
  Learn more from The Air We Share blog.
• Promoting clean air advice to young people – exploring how environmental health messaging can better reach younger audiences. 
  Read Arundhati Roy: The Pandemic is a portal in the FT
• Podcast with the CEO of Great Ormond Street Hospital – discussing leadership perspectives on air quality and children’s health. 
  Listen to our podcast

Together, these case studies demonstrate how sustainability research at UCL moves beyond analysis to inform public understanding, institutional leadership and policy conversation.

Research team 

The Clean Air Community is led by an interdisciplinary group of UCL researchers and partners. Their combined expertise spans planning, public health, environmental law, sustainability and civic engagement. 

Core project leads: 

• Dr Lucy Natarajan — Bartlett School of Planning (Project Lead)
• Prof Helen Roberts — UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
• Dr Lorenzo Lotti — Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, Institute for Sustainable Resources
• Prof Eloise Scotford — Faculty of Laws (Environmental Law & Policy)
• Dr Liora Malki-Epshtein - Dept of Civil, Environ & Geomatic Eng
• Professor Ben Croxford - Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources 
   

Wider supporters 

• Helen Craig, Public Engagement Manager
• Roz Shafran, Professor of Translational Psychology
• Vinay Saini – St George’s University of London Medical Student 

Why this matters for sustainability 

The Clean Air Community illustrates how sustainability at UCL: 

• Connects environmental research with public health
• Brings together multiple disciplines to address complex urban challenges
• Engages communities as partners, not just research subjects
• Contributes evidence to policy and institutional debate 

It demonstrates sustainability not just as operational practice, but as research-led impact that supports healthier, fairer cities.