Skip to content

MENU

Quick guide to air pollution
MENUMENU
  • Public
    • Understanding
      • Annual Pollution Maps
      • Breathe London Blueprint
      • Clean Air in Cities App
      • Defra modelling 2015
      • Defra annual reports
      • How polluted is my road?
      • LAEI 2013
      • London Air
      • 187 focus areas
      • Mayor's useful links
      • 50 polluted roads
      • NO2 diffusion tubes
      • Oxford Street NO2
      • Schools near roads
      • Roadside modelling
      • South East schools
      • What kills Londoners?
    • Action
      • 10 steps
      • Airgonomics podcast
      • Chief Airgonomics Officer
      • Cycle Streets routes
      • EN 13779 hospitals
      • EN 13779 London 2014
      • Face masks
      • Get our mobile app
      • LAQM
      • Legal guide
      • London Plan
      • Mayoral questions
      • Mode choice
      • Putney Society
      • Sunday Times Clean Air Campaign
      • TfL cycling routes
      • Under the Dome (Part 7 from 9.36 mins)
      • Using FOIA/EIR
      • Using social media
    • Smog
      • airTEXT
      • Breathe London - Sloane Street
      • Copernicus
      • Defra hourly bulletins
      • Defra UK-Air
      • EEA Air Quality Index
      • Episodes
      • Health advice
      • Hourly bulletins
      • Jetstream
      • London Air
      • Mayor's school report 2016
      • MetClim
      • Met Office guide
      • Modelling
      • Plume London
      • RBKC monitors
      • SAS selection deaths 2013
      • Smog list on Twitter
      • 24 hour forecast
      • 84 hour pressure
      • 5 day weather
      • 10 day weather
      • 2 week weather
      • World cities AQI
  • Media
    • Media
      • News alerts
      • News
      • Statements
    • Links
      • Davey Cartoons
      • Flickr
      • Facebook
      • LinkedIn
      • Twitter
      • Vimeo
      • You Tube
  • Policy
    • Policy
      • Our Manifesto 2016
      • Clean Air Act
      • Health
      • Indoor
      • Legal
      • Olympics
      • Solutions
      • Sources
  • Resources
    • Guides
      • Guides
      • Guide to the 'Clean Air in Cities' app
      • Pollution Check
      • Pollution Suppressor
      • Smog
    • Resources
      • Davey Cartoons
      • App
      • Ella's Law
      • Indoor air
      • One Atmosphere (Vimeo)
      • One Atmosphere (YouTube)
      • Photos
      • Presentations
      • Videos
    • Links - Ella's Law
      • Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill
      • Ella’s Law
      • ellaslaw.uk
      • Ella Roberta Family Foundation
      • Inquest
      • EU lessons
      • Library briefing
      • New WHO AQGs
      • Petition
      • Supporters
      • The CCC's advice
    • Links - Health
      • Aphekom
      • Cognitive effects on children
      • COMEAP
      • IARC: Diesel
      • IARC: Outdoor/PM
      • JAMA
      • NO2 health study
      • NO2 meta-analysis
      • Public Health Indicators
      • PHI COMEAP advice
      • PHI Defra data
      • PHI PHE advice
      • RCP report 2016
      • Wellcome Witness - Air Pollution Research in Britain 1955 - 2000
      • WHO guidelines 2005
      • WHO AQG 2008
      • WHO AQG update 2017
      • WHO air pollution
      • WHO indoor guidelines
      • WHO HRAPIE
      • WHO outcomes
      • WHO publications
      • WHO REVIHAAP
    • Links - Legal
      • Air Quality Directive
      • AQSR 2010
      • CJEU judgment 2021
      • ClientEarth case
      • DG Environment
      • EU infringement cases
      • ECJ Judgement
      • EU Clean Air
      • EU Clean Air | Twitter
      • EU DGR findings
      • EU Environment Impact Assessments
      • EU financial sanctions
      • EU Fitness Check
      • EU infraction
      • EU infringement UK
      • EU legal processes
      • EU lessons
      • EU media releases
      • EU NECD emissions
      • EU NECD 2016/2284/EU
      • EU NECD revision
      • EU new AQ Directive 2022
      • EU reporting
      • EU TTIP
      • M4 bus lane
      • Planning resources
      • UK National Emissions Ceilings Regulations 2018
    • Links - Policy
      • Breathe Life 2030
      • Chief Airgonomics Officer website
      • CityAir
      • Defra media releases
      • DPF removal
      • Diesel emission standards
      • Diesel exhaust 2007
      • Diesel exhaust 2011
      • Diesel - history
      • Emissions Analytics EQUA Index
      • Engineering Cleaner Air
      • European Environment Agency
      • Fumifugium
      • GEO6
      • GEO7
      • Gothenburg 2020
      • Healthy Air Campaign 'asks'
      • Late lessons 1
      • Late lessons 2
      • LEZs in Europe
      • PX 2015
      • PX 2016
      • SDG scorecards
      • Shipping
      • 10 climate measures
      • What will climate change look like in your area?
      • WHO SLCP measures
  • About
  • Contact
  • Register

‘Clean Air in London’ calls for “Ella’s Law” after landmark verdict

Posted by Simon Birkett on 16 December 2020
Clean Air Act, Health, Hot topics, News

Landmark verdict confirms that air pollution significantly caused and significantly contributed to the death of Ella Roberta Adoo Kissi-Debrah on 15 February 2013.

‘Clean Air in London’ calls for new Clean Air Act before COP26 to be called ‘Ella’s Law’

Philip Barlow, Deputy Coroner, delivered his verdict touching on the death of Ella Roberta Adoo Kissi-Debrah on Wednesday 16 December 2020. 

https://www.innersouthlondoncoroner.org.uk/news/2020/nov/inquest-touching-the-death-of-ella-roberta-adoo-kissi-debrah

Quotes

Simon Birkett, Founder and Director of Clean Air in London, said:

“I wish to express my heartfelt sympathy to Rosamund Adoo Kissi-Debrah and her family on the tragic death of Ella Roberta, a talented and beautiful little girl.

“Due to Rosamund’s inspiring and determined efforts that led to this landmark judgment, we now know that air pollution exposure significantly caused and significantly contributed to Ella Roberta’s death.  Well done and thank you Rosamund.

“It is the duty of the Government to protect life and the environment for current and future generations and to do this they need a new Clean Air Act which will deal with present pollution and clean up the environment for future generations.  

“Clean Air in London is calling therefore for the Clean Air Act 1993 to be updated for modern fuels, technologies and circumstances before COP26.

“We need new duties and powers for the Government, Metro Mayors and local authorities to work together to reduce air pollution from traffic and buildings and take action when air pollution exceeds World Health Organisation guidelines.  This action must include warnings and steps to protect children and others during air pollution episodes.

“Clean Air in London and Harrison Grant Solicitors have drafted such a law which could become “Ella’s Law” if Rosamund Adoo Kissi-Debrah and her advisers agree.  They are welcome to amend, decline or support it once the result of today’s momentous result has had time to sink in.

“For today, all our thoughts are with Rosamund and her family and we pay tribute to the exceptional legal team that has brought about today’s ground-breaking outcome.”

https://vimeo.com/cleanairlondon/ellaslaw

CAA_New Clean Air Act_First draft 011220

https://cleanair.london/health/ellaslaw/

CAL 398 Ella Roberta_Warning the public about air pollution episodes_210421

CAL 398 Daily Express 220411 re Smog alert_Easter 2011

CAL 441 Letter response to HRA consultation 070322_As sent

CAL 441 Letter response to HRA Reform consultation 070322_V2

CAL 454_4_UNHRC resolution 081021_G2128950

Resources

1. Inquest

https://www.innersouthlondoncoroner.org.uk/news/2020/nov/inquest-touching-the-death-of-ella-roberta-adoo-kissi-debrah

mnizari_16-12-2020_10-28-00

Philip Barlow, Deputy Coroner, requested legal submissions relating to his forthcoming Prevention of Future Deaths report by 4pm on Friday 15 January 2021.

2. Report to Prevent Future Deaths (20 April 2021)

https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Ella-Kissi-Debrah-2021-0113-1.pdf

3. Selected posts by Clean Air in London

What’s been wrong with death certificates?

https://cleanair.london/health/mayoral-candidates-must-address-air-pollution-killing-londoners/

https://cleanair.london/hot-topics/first-ever-rankings-of-top-10-death-rates-for-every-london-borough/

4. Selected media coverage

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-55330945

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/17/ella-kissi-debrahs-mother-calls-for-clean-air-act-in-wake-of-landmark-ruling

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/rosamund-kissi-debrahs-fight-for-the-truth-will-save-many-lives-from-pollution-6bw668xnh

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2263428-rosamund-kissi-debrah-clean-air-ellas-law-would-honour-her-memory/

https://blackchristiannews.com/2020/12/mother-of-nine-year-old-girl-who-died-after-asthma-attack-praises-coroners-seismic-verdict-that-london-air-pollution-did-cause-her-death/

5. Medical or health

Tweet by Dr Jonathan Grigg, medical expert during the Inquest (16 December 2020)

“Air pollution not only caused Ella’s asthma but also significantly contributed to triggering her attack – coroner’s conclusion – air pollution exposure added to death certificate”

https://twitter.com/DrJonathanGrigg/status/1339176592975802368?s=20

6. The new Clean Air Act needs to be led by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) not Defra

BEIS needs to decarbonise energy and buildings, is President of COP26 and the money!

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-green-homes-grant-scheme

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-outlines-his-ten-point-plan-for-a-green-industrial-revolution-for-250000-jobs

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-ten-point-plan-for-a-green-industrial-revolution

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/summit-shows-new-surge-in-action-and-ambition-on-road-to-glasgow-climate-conference

7. Other links and resources

CAL 400 Response to Independent Human Rights Act Review 010321

https://twitter.com/SREnvironment/status/1369299645856317440?s=20

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/statements/joint-statement-united-nations-entities-right-healthy-environment

Updated 4 May 2021

All news articles

Share this post

Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on LinkedIn
Tweets by CleanAirLondon

Calendar

  1. Anniversary (1956): Oral questions | Atmospheric Pollution (Fog Warnings)

    April 5, 2023

  2. Anniversary (1956): Third reading of the Clean Air Bill

    April 10, 2023

  3. Anniversary (1956): Royal Assent Clean Air Act

    July 5, 2023

View all events

Categories

  • Apps5
  • Clean Air Act8
  • COP261
  • Great Smog1
  • Guides17
  • Health96
  • Hot topics18
  • Indoor20
  • Legal125
  • News264
  • Olympics23
  • Presentations17
  • Solutions91
  • Sources49
Clean Air in London is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, with company number 7413769 and registered office Thames House, Mere Park, Dedmere Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1PB
Privacy policy Terms of use

Favourites

  • ClientEarth
  • Healthy Air Campaign
  • Keep the city out
  • London Air Quality Network
  • Take a Breath
© 2023 Clean Air in London Registered company number 7413769
Allow us to send you notifications about news posts?
× No Thanks
This site uses cookies: Find out more.