Promoting Awareness of Air Pollution Delivery Plan - consultation

This consultation aims to gather public feedback on a draft Promoting Awareness Delivery Plan, which outlines the steps to be taken to raise awareness in Wales about the risk to human health and the natural environment caused by air pollution, as well as ways to reduce or limit air pollution. Your input will help ensure that the plan is comprehensive and effective in addressing these issues, and will contribute to the creation of strategies that reflect the needs and concerns of the community.

The closing date for responses is 28 October 2025. Please either respond using the online form or complete the enclosed consultation response form and send it to any of the following:

Email: airqualitypolicy@gov.wales 

(please include Raising Awareness of Air Pollution in the subject line)

Post:

Further information and related documents

Large print, Braille and alternative language versions of this document are available on request.

Contact details

For further information:

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In order to show that the consultation was carried out properly, the Welsh Government intends to publish a summary of the responses to this document. We may also publish responses in full. Normally, the name and address (or part of the address) of the person or organisation who sent the response are published with the response. If you do not want your name or address published, please tell us this in writing when you send your response. We will then redact them before publishing.

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Air pollution poses significant risks to human health, nature and the wider environment, affecting both individuals and communities across Wales. Raising awareness of these impacts is crucial to empowering people to make informed choices that contribute to cleaner air and healthier surroundings.

The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024 places a duty on Welsh Ministers to actively promote awareness of air pollution risks and to encourage actions to reduce emissions. This includes ensuring people understand how air pollution affects health — particularly those in more vulnerable groups such as children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions. Our draft Promoting Awareness of Air Pollution Delivery Plan describes the actions we will take to meet this duty.

The Delivery Plan has been developed with the support of a dedicated Promoting Awareness of Air Pollution Delivery Group (see annex A for further details). Professor Paul Lewis, Chair of the group, has brought extensive expertise in environmental impacts on respiratory health. Professor Lewis has contributed to a number of important advisory panels, including the Welsh Government Clean Air Advisory Panel, helping to set fine-particulate targets for the upcoming Clean Air Act in Wales. He is also involved in the Wales Air Quality Direction Independent Review Panel and the Domestic Solid Fuel Burning in Wales Task and Finish Group.

In the draft Delivery Plan we propose a range of actions aimed at increasing public awareness and engagement. This includes national communication campaigns, the provision of educational resources, and guidance for local authorities to support their own behaviour-change strategies tailored to local needs.

Our approach focuses on supporting and encouraging positive change, ensuring individuals and businesses have the necessary information to take voluntary actions to limit air pollution. While enforcement measures remain important, the emphasis is on education and empowerment, making cleaner air an accessible goal for all.

Through this consultation, we welcome views on our commitments in the Delivery Plan to raise awareness, which include supporting local initiatives, and ensuring that individuals and organisations have the tools they need to contribute to air quality improvements across Wales.

The Welsh Government is committed to improving air quality and reducing the impacts of air pollution on human health, biodiversity, the natural environment and our economy. Our national strategy, Clean Air Plan for Wales: Healthy Air, Healthy Wales (“the Clean Air Plan”), sets out a 10-year pathway to achieving cleaner air. The actions will tackle well-known sources of air pollution such as transport, industry (including agriculture), and emissions from homes and businesses.

The Programme for Government for 2021 to 2026 reiterated the Welsh Government’s commitment to introduce a Clean Air Act for Wales, consistent with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance. This commitment was fulfilled by the passing of the Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024, which brings forward a range of measures that will contribute to improvements in the quality of the air environment in Wales. The Act is a crucial part of the package of measures set out in the Clean Air Plan and builds on existing legislation in this area.

In the UK, transport emissions are responsible for 32% of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions and 14% particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions which have an adverse impact on human health. Llwybr Newydd: the Wales Transport Strategy 2021 recognises the importance of our transport infrastructure in connecting people and enabling economic growth. Improving air quality and reducing environmental noise associated with transport are an important focus of action.

Although this consultation focuses primarily on air pollution, the Welsh Government is mindful of the potential impacts that noise pollution can have on the well-being of the people and wildlife in Wales. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 3 individuals is annoyed during the daytime, and 1 in 5 has disturbed sleep at night because of traffic noise. Noise pollution isn’t just a nuisance, it also has implications for health, increasing the risk factors for ischemic heart disease and hypertension, hearing and cognitive impairment, and other health burdens. The Noise and soundscape plan for Wales 2023 to 2028 describes the Welsh Government’s approach to supporting a healthy sound environment. The document states our ambition for appropriate soundscapes, which means the right sound environment in the right time and place. Planning Policy Wales (PPW), which sets out Welsh Government’s land use planning policies, acknowledges the role of the planning system in helping reduce population exposure to air and noise pollution. PPW is supplemented by a series of Technical Advice Notes (TANs).

Air pollution is a significant environmental and public health concern, affecting communities across Wales. Raising awareness and promoting behaviour change are equally critical for achieving meaningful improvements.

This document sets out proposals aimed at supporting and encouraging voluntary actions to improve air quality. By raising awareness and providing clear guidance, we aim to support individuals, businesses, and communities in taking voluntary actions that improve air quality

Our focus is on national communication campaigns, educational resources and guidance for local authorities to develop their own air quality awareness initiatives. By providing clear, accessible information, we hope to encourage positive action and reduce behaviours that contribute to pollution.

We are seeking input from a wide range of voices to ensure these initiatives are effective and impactful. Whether you have direct experience with air pollution or simply wish to share your perspective, your insights will play a vital role in shaping future approaches. Everyone is encouraged to contribute.

We are seeking views on the extent to which the Raising Awareness of Air Pollution Delivery Plan will support increased awareness and contribute to positive change. The Delivery Plan contains sixteen specific actions which will be delivered by Welsh Government and its partners. The actions are listed under four theme headings according to the intended target area for each action.

Responses may be submitted through our online form by downloading a Word version of the response form for completion. Completed response forms may be emailed to airqualitypolicy@gov.wales

Question 1

To what extent do you agree or disagree that the Delivery Plan actions will help raise awareness of the risks air pollution poses to human health?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

Question 2 

To what extent do you agree or disagree that the actions will help raise awareness of the risks air pollution poses to the natural environment?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

Question 3 

To what extent do you agree or disagree that the actions will help people identify ways to reduce their contribution to air pollution?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

Question 4

To what extent do you agree or disagree that the actions will help people identify ways to reduce their exposure to air pollution?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

Question 5

To what extent do you agree or disagree that the Delivery Plan will positively impact opportunities for people to use Welsh and will ensure Welsh is treated equally to English?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

Question 6 

If you have any other relevant thoughts or comments on the Delivery Plan that you haven’t been able to share above, please provide them.

The Welsh Government would like to acknowledge the valued contribution of the following individuals and organisations who have supported development of the Delivery Plan.

• Professor Paul Lewis
• Phil Webb, Health and Wellbeing 360
• Dr James Heydon, Nottingham University
• Dr Menna Price, Swansea University
• Dr Gareth Morgan, Hywel Dda University Health Board
• Hugh Russell, Healthy Air Cymru/Children in Wales
• Haf Elgar, Healthy Air Cymru/Friends of the Earth
• Joseph Carter, Healthy Air Cymru/Asthma + Lung UK
• Dr Sarah Williams, GP/Greener Practice Wales
• John Hughes, Community Group Representatives
• Gemma Roberts, British Heart Foundation
• Steve Manning, Newport City Council
• Sarah Jones, Public Health Wales
• Paul Callow, Public Health Wales
• Amber Horton, Public Health Wales