Boardman: Pollution deaths should be treated as a national emergency

British Cycling policy advisor says that the figures on deaths linked to nitrogen dioxide in the UK are "staggering"

Chris Boardman

Chris Boardman has called on the government to properly commit to the forthcoming Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy in order to reduce the number of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) related deaths, after figures estimated it causes 23,500 deaths in the UK every year.

The figures were released within a consultation paper by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to investigate levels of NO2 in the air, which says it wants ‘to make the UK a country with some of the very best air quality in the world.’

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Richard Windsor

Follow on Twitter: @richwindy


Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.


An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).