Charities demand new Clean Air Act to ban wood burning and clear diesel vehicles
Campaigners cite severe lack of enforcement on wood smoke and economic cost of pollution as key drivers for the call to action
A coalition of more than 60 charities has formally urged the UK government to introduce a new Clean Air Act that would ban wood burning and clear diesel vehicles from roads. The letter to ministers arrives ahead of the King's Speech, highlighting a significant policy gap as the Labour Party, while in opposition, had signalled support for such legislation before omitting it from the final election manifesto.
Jemima Hartshorn, founder of Mums for Lungs, described dirty air as the biggest environmental health risk in the country, noting that air pollution costs the economy approximately £27bn annually. She linked the issue to rising cases of asthma, wheezing, cancer and dementia, arguing that the current regulatory framework is insufficient to protect public health.
Stephen Holgate, special adviser to the Royal College of Physicians, characterised the lack of enforcement regarding wood burning as a disgrace. He pointed to data from the year between August 2024 and August 2025, during which at least 15,195 complaints were lodged against wood burning in England, yet only 24 fines were issued. Holgate noted that current regulations, originally designed for coal, are now being applied to wood smoke, which can be at least as toxic if not more so than coal emissions.
The lobbying landscape surrounding the issue remains complex, with the Stove Industry Association maintaining active engagement with both the UK and Scottish governments. Records indicate eight meetings between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the association between October 2021 and June 2024, with three further meetings occurring since Labour took office. Despite this, the government's recent consultation on wood burning was described by campaigners as toothless, effectively ruling out a ban in favour of potential health warnings.
Compounding the concerns, recent guidance from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government allows wood-burning stoves in new housing under the Future Homes Standard, despite earlier indications that low-carbon heat pumps would be required. The Scottish government has also amended regulations to retain bioenergy and peat usage, citing concerns regarding rural resilience and power outages in bad weather.
A government spokesperson confirmed that new rules aim to reduce harms from domestic burning and that they will continue to monitor pollution to inform any future action. However, campaigners argue that the failure to reinstate the promised Clean Air Act represents a missed opportunity to address the economic and health costs of air pollution.
