Air Quality Group
The Air Quality Group raises awareness of the health harms associated with poor air quality and advocates for evidence-based action to reduce air pollution. The Group provides clinical and scientific expertise on issues including domestic wood burning, air quality monitoring around schools, transport emissions and the development of national air quality and climate policies.
Members of the Group contribute to national advisory bodies and work with organisations including Global Action Plan, NASUWT, Asthma + Lung UK Scotland and the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland. Through these relationships, the Group brings medical expertise to public and political discussions about air quality and its effects on health.
The Group also supports research, education and public engagement. Its work has included lectures for UK and international audiences, engagement with schools, citizen science activity and projects exploring air quality around schools and inside school transport. The evidence gathered through this work is intended to support practical interventions and inform government policy.
Current Priorities
Public and professional awareness
Improving understanding of the effects of air pollution on health through education, collaboration, public engagement and media activity.
Professor Jill Belch OBE, Co-chair of the Air Pollution Working Group, speaks to STV News about the Group’s position on domestic wood burning.
Air quality monitoring around schools
Advocating for improved monitoring to provide better evidence about children’s exposure to air pollution around schools.
Research and coverage
- Proximity of city schools in Scotland to air quality monitors: an exploratory geomapping study in five Scottish cities, BMJ Public Health, 4 May 2026
- Scotland’s MSPs urged to back pilot programme for air pollution monitoring around schools, North Edinburgh News, 30 May 2026
- Children are especially vulnerable to air pollution: we need data on transport emissions near schools, The BMJ, 21 November 2023
- Expert calls for air quality monitors outside every primary school, The Sunday Post, 21 May 2023
- Calls for air monitors in schools to examine pollution risk, Tes Magazine, 14 April 2023
- Medics call for air monitors in Scottish schools, The Scotsman, 13 April 2023
The health effects of domestic wood burning
Raising awareness of the health risks associated with domestic wood burning and supporting stronger measures to reduce harmful emissions.
Media coverage
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh stands against the wood burning lobby, The BMJ, 26 May 2026
Stronger air quality standards and regulation
Providing clinical and scientific evidence to support effective air quality standards, regulation and enforcement across the UK.
Parliamentary and media coverage
- Professor Jill Belch gives evidence on Scotland’s Climate Change Plan, Scottish Parliament Official Report, 13 January 2026
- Doctors call for action on air pollution, HealthandCare.scot, 20 June 2024
Consultation Responses
The Air Pollution Working Group provides clinical and scientific evidence in response to government and parliamentary consultations across the UK. Explore the Group’s latest consultation responses and submissions.
