London’s New Air‑Filter Plan: A Breath of Fresh Air for Kids
What The Mayor Just Announced
Mayor Sadiq Khan has unveiled a bold move to keep London’s schoolchildren breathing cleaner, fresher air. The plan? Fit every classroom in 200 schools with state‑of‑the‑art PM2.5 filters before the end of the year.
Why Step Up Now?
While grime‑laden streets have seen a 94% drop in schools exceeding illegal nitrogen‑dioxide (NO2) limits (from 793 in 2016 to just 50 in 2019), PM2.5—tiny particles that sneak right into lungs—remains a problem for most London schools.
Key Funding Breakdown
- £2.7 million – part of the 2024/25 budget set to be voted on Thursday.
- Money goes beyond filters: school engagement, teaching tools, monitoring, and filter upkeep.
Testing the Filters Before the Roll‑out
A City Hall study, slated to finish in May, is hunting for the best filter “type.” Potential candidates include fan‑driven models with replaceable cartridges that trap every nasty particle while the air circulates. The 200 pilot schools will be chosen by pollution levels and deprivation status, ensuring a city‑wide spread.
How The Mayor’s Budget Made This Possible
- Local authority business rates higher than forecasted by last month’s draft budget.
- Smart financial planning means the extra investment can be made without cutting other services.
Beyond Filters: A Comprehensive Clean‑Air System
This announcement builds on a package that already includes:
- Pollution audits and pollutants clean‑up at 50 schools and 20 nurseries.
- The London Schools Pollution Helpdesk—free advice, support, and action plans for over 100 schools across 26 boroughs.
- Transport for London’s boost of School Streets—over 500 in the capital—reducing NO2 levels by about 23% during closures.
- Mayor’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, cleaner buses, taxis, and lower construction emissions.
What the Mayor Says
“I’m doing everything I can to stop Londoners breathing filthy, poisonous air,” Khan states. “The impact on young folks is brutal—wasting out lung capacity, increasing asthma, heart disease, and so on. I want every single child to inhale clean air from day one.
Staff from the Education Union Speak up
Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, says:
“This is a forward‑thinking commitment that will massively benefit pupils and staff in London schools—and set an example for the rest of the country. Bad air doesn’t just irritate; it can scar, and those scars stick with people for a lifetime. With filters across schools, we’re finally giving kids an environment safe for learning and growth.”
With these ambitious measures, London is stepping up to clear the air and help children thrive long‑term. Stay tuned for more updates as the city takes its next big breath of fresh, cleaner sky.
