York leads the way as air quality targets met for second year running
As Clean Air Day (Thursday 18 June) approaches, City of York Council has confirmed that the city has met national air pollution targets for the second consecutive year.
New monitoring data for 2025, presented at the Combined Executive Member Decision Session on 2 June 2026, shows that the significantly lower nitrogen dioxide levels recorded in 2024 have been sustained, with further improvements in some areas. In many locations, maximum annual concentrations are now the lowest recorded in over 15 years of monitoring.
Following the adoption of its ambitious fourth Air Quality Action Plan in 2024, the council is continuing to go beyond national targets and is working towards stricter World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines.
Progress in 2025 includes:
- Cleaner council fleet: By the end of 2025, 77% of the council’s operational car and van fleet were electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles
- Lower emission taxis: 45% of licensed taxis were petrol-hybrid or fully electric by the end of 2025
- City-wide smoke control: Approval to extend the Smoke Control Area across the entire city from 1 November 2026, targeting harmful fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and promoting cleaner heating options
- Real-time health support: Over 18,000 visits to York Air Alert, a free service providing pollution forecasts and health advice
- Indoor air quality funding: New funding secured through the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Carbon Negative Challenge Fund to monitor air quality in homes across the city
Clean Air Day, the UK’s largest campaign on air pollution, brings together communities, businesses, schools and the health sector to raise awareness and drive action. This year’s campaign encourages councillors to champion clean air locally.
Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said: “Well done York! We really have something to celebrate this Clean Air Day. Not just meeting but improving on our air quality targets for the second year running reflects a huge collective effort across the city. Having walked past the Holgate Road monitor for nearly 30 years alongside generations of neighbours and children on their way to school and work, I am especially pleased to see that it’s showing the largest improvement of 9.6% NO2 reduction between 2024 and 2025, on top of the reductions the previous year. From electrifying vehicles and subsidising bus fares to expanding the smoke control area to cover the whole city, we are making York a cleaner and healthier place to live and work.
“Every act each of us takes; choosing walking, cycling and catching the bus rather than using the car, switching to electric cars, heat pumps and solar and away from gas cookers and fossil fuels will ultimately cost less, make us healthier, and our air cleaner for everyone. Onwards and upwards towards meeting the World Health Organisation targets and protecting everyone.”
Peter Roderick, Director of Public Health at City of York Council, said:
“Air pollution may be invisible, but its impacts are very real – affecting respiratory health in children and increasing the risk of heart and brain conditions in older people. Meeting national air quality targets across the city is a significant milestone in reducing these risks.
“We are now working towards even more ambitious standards to give every resident the best possible chance of a long and healthy life. Every step we take – from cleaner transport to improved heating – is an investment in the city’s future wellbeing.”
Looking ahead, the council’s Air Quality Action Plan includes delivering the Movement and Place Plan, improving sustainable transport options, and expanding EV charging infrastructure to ensure equitable access across York.
You are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport where possible, and to consider switching to electric vehicles where feasible, to help reduce emissions and improve air quality.
Find how to protect your health and cut emissions at the Clean Air Hub.
Free Clean Air Day resources for use by individuals, schools, businesses, health organisations and community groups are available on the Clean Air Day website.
The council’s iTravel York website provides a host of sustainable travel resources, including walking resources and cycling resources.