Our action plan

Our air quality policy

If local authorities don’t meet legal objectives for seven of the main air pollutants, then they must declare an air quality management area (AQMA).

Islington declared an AQMA for two of the main pollutants:

• nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
• particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5)

Most places in the borough now meet the legal rules for clean air. But the World Health Organisation says the air should be even cleaner — and we believe that any pollution can still be harmful.

We are taking action to improve air quality in Islington. We are currently consulting on the draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) 2025–2030, which sets out the action we will take to improve air quality, protect vulnerable residents, and create a greener and healthier borough. We welcome feedback from anyone who lives, works or visits Islington.

Read about our draft action plan and have your say on Let's Talk Islington by 30 November 2025.

Other policies

Our draft Air Quality Action Plan 2025 – 2030 fits in with a range of other policies, including:

• other council policies - such as transport, planning, housing, energy, climate and public health
• other local authority policies - boroughs across London have their own air quality strategies which will impact air quality in Islington as pollution does not respect borough boundaries
• London policies - the Mayor of London has additional powers to tackle a range of issues. Some of the main policies of concern for air quality are the London Environment Strategy and London Plan. Local authorities are also guided by the London Local Air Quality Management Framework
• national policies - the UK must meet certain legal limits and as such the government has produced a national air quality plan, which outlines actions required at a national, regional and local level

You can find our response to recent consultations on policies across London and the UK on air strategy and consultation documents.