National Clean Air Day – June
National Clean Air Day falls on Thursday 18th June 2026 and brings together local authorities, schools, healthcare providers and employers to raise awareness of the health impacts of air pollution and create an agenda for improved air quality. Initiated in 2017 with Global Action Plan and supported by DEFRA, the campaign is now a firm fixture for environmental days in the UK.
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Why do have a Clean Air Day?
National Clean Air Day began in 2017 to focus on informing people about air pollution, and how to reduce exposure. Clean Air Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the impacts on air quality from burning fossil fuels and how that directly impacts people’s health. Many climate change initiatives rightly focus on the planet overall, but it is important to understand the detrimental effects on health is also a direct consequence.
Air pollution has long been understood to be detrimental to health. Many people understand it’s associations with asthma and lung disease, but it is also linked to a variety of other health issues, including dementia, heart disease, stroke and stunted lung development in children. Public Health England has estimated that poor air quality is associated with up to 43,000 premature deaths in the UK per year.
Although progress has been made to improve air quality by reducing specific pollutants, air quality in the UK still regularly exceeds the World Health Organisation 2021 guidelines.
The effects can be so detrimental that Defra have created the below recommended health advice based on the pollution levels in an individuals area. This is available for the entire population and is particularly important for at risk individuals, for instance people with respiratory conditions, children, pregnant women and the elderly.
| Banding | Index | General Population | At-risk Individuals* |
| Low | 1-3 | Enjoy your usual outdoor activities | Enjoy your usual outdoor activities |
| Moderate | 4-6 | Enjoy your usual outdoor activities | Adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems who experience symptoms should consider reducing strenuous physical activity, particularly outdoors. |
| High | 7-9 | Anyone experiencing discomfort such as sore eyes, cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors. |
Adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems should reduce strenuous physical exertion, particularly outdoors, and particularly if they experience symptoms. People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often. Older people should also reduce physical exertion. |
| Very High | 10 | Reduce physical exertion, particularly outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms such as cough or sore throat. | Adults and children with lung problems and older people, should avoid strenuous physical activity. People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever more often. |
What is being done to improve air quality?
In 2019 the UK government launched a Clean Air Strategy, setting out plans for the sources of air pollution. This was developed upon in July 2025 with the governments 10 Year Health Plan. The 10 Year Health Plan includes the prevention strategy ‘Cleaning Up Our Air’, this policy paper includes commitments to raising awareness of the importance of reducing exposure to pollution whilst also improving things such as access to public transport, reducing indoor pollution by consulting on wood burning stoves and introducing clean air neighbourhoods using pedestrianisation and LTNs.
How can we help?
Take action to raise awareness about Clean Air Day and make a plan to improve the air quality within your business and supply chain.
Clean Air Day | Business resources
For more information see Take Action for Clean Air Day