'Lives of children in Greater Manchester put at risk by pollution'

Mums for Lungs tell us the city has some of the highest paediatric admission rates for Asthma in the country.

Boy with inhaler
Author: Shaunna BurnsPublished 21st Sep 2023

A Greater Manchester campaign group say that polution is putting children lives at risk, stunting their lung growth and is causing young people to be diagnosed with Asthma.

It comes after Rishi Sunak's announcement to delay the 2030 ban on banning diesel and petrol cars among watering down a number of the Governments net zero pledges.

The Prime Minster says that the Government remains committed to the net-zero target in 2050, but will achieve it "in a better, more proportionate way"

Mums for Lungs in Manchester have been calling for the phase out of diesel cars, and say the back track from the Prime Minster has left them 'extremely disappointed'.

Liz Godfrey from the group said children's lungs can't wait : " We are absolutely appalled at this news. We are going to have yet another generation of children breathing in illegal air."

"It stunts lung growth and that can set you up for a life time of health issues, that includes things like lung conditions but also heart conditions, strokes and diabetes."

"The Government needs to be prioritising children's health, we need to be putting them at the forefront of any policy decisions. We need to be targeting air quality in the UK and making sure that children's health becomes our priority."

Boris Johnson has also warned Rishi Sunak not to "falter" on key climate crisis initiatives, arguing that heaping uncertainty on businesses could drive up prices for British families.

The former prime minister told the Conservative leader that he cannot afford to "lose our ambition for this country" as he argued policies were generating jobs and driving growth.

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