Professor Chris Griffiths tells change makers attending COP26: ‘If you have asthma, air quality matters now - not mid-century’

UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) – delegates must also consider health

This week, the UN Climate Change Conference, otherwise known as COP26 is taking place in Glasgow. Delegates from across the world will be discussing how to tackle climate change. Their focus is on how to achieve net-zero for greenhouse gases by 2050. But why are air quality and health not prominently on the table for discussion too?

Globally, traffic-related pollution causes 4 million cases of childhood asthma a year, and 7 million people die related to air pollution. For people with asthma, air quality matters now, not mid-century.

Professor Chris Griffiths, Co-Director of the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research based at Queen Mary University of London, spoke to Hebe Campbell from London Live to discuss why he thinks action needs to be taken now to improve air quality and health.