Tough air pollution targets needed to cut health inequalities, say MPs
February 11, 2021, 12:06 pm

Tough air pollution targets needed to cut health inequalities, say MPs

In London almost half of disadvantaged communities suffer pollution levels above EU limits, the BMA says.

Cross-party committee says deprived groups contribute least but suffer most from dirty air

The government must set tough new air pollution targets to reduce the stark health inequalities suffered by disadvantaged communities, a cross-party committee of MPs has said.

Dirty air causes up to 64,000 early deaths a year in the UK, according to their report, and disproportionately harms those living in deprived areas and those from minority ethnic communities. The fact that these groups contribute the least to air pollution “increases the moral case for action”, said the MPs.

Air pollution and associated health problems have been linked to worse outcomes from Covid-19 but the MPs said there was already an overwhelming case for action. One in six of all deaths in Europe are linked to the burning of fossil fuels, according to research published on Monday.

The MPs’ report said ministers must put the World Health Organization (WHO) limit for particle pollution into law. The UK limit is two-and-a-half times higher. The delayed environment bill now being considered in parliament does not commit to a specific target.

The government’s own evidence shows that by far the most effective way to cut pollution is with clean-air zones (CAZs), where charges are levied to deter polluting vehicles from urban centres. But the MPs said ministers had put too much responsibility for these on local authorities and provided too little funding. Three-quarters of the UK’s 43 air-quality zones have illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide, mostly emitted by diesels, but to date only London has a CAZ.

The MPs also said people would need to be encouraged to use public transport again after the coronavirus pandemic subsideed and that “the government should match its rhetoric on active travel with sufficient funding”.

“Deaths linked to air pollution disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities,” said Neil Parish MP, chair of the environment food and rural affairs select committee. “In rebuilding after the pandemic, we have a moral duty to put improving air quality at its core.” In 2016, the committee described air pollution as “a national health emergency”.

The MPs’ report said the deaths caused by dirty air “were starkly highlighted” by a landmark coroner’s verdict in December that air pollution had been a cause of the death of nine-year-old Ella Kissi-Debrah in 2013. Her mother, Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, subsequently called for her legacy to be a new clean air act to force the government to clean up dirty air. The MPs said ministers should set a legal target of reaching the WHO limit for small particle pollution by 2030.

The MPs took evidence from a wide range of experts, and Prof Dame Parveen Kumar of the British Medical Association (BMA) said action should “focus on deprived communities because we would probably see the greatest changes there” while adding that “this is happening to everybody everywhere”.

The chief medical officer for England said in 2017 that deprived communities lived with higher air pollution and were more susceptible to its impact. The BMA said that in London almost half of disadvantaged communities suffered pollution levels above EU limits, compared with just 2% in the wealthiest communities. People in inner-city areas are least likely to own a car, Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity said.

Delays in the implementation of some CAZs have come from local authorities and the government. Paul Swinney, from the Centre for Cities, told the MPs: “Literally, the people they are serving are dying because we are not dealing with those air quality issues.”

On walking and cycling, the BMA said current spending on active travel was just 2% of transport spending and estimated that delivering the government’s plans would require £1.2bn a year, not the £2bn over five years it had committed.

A government spokesperson said improving air quality was a top priority: “We have committed to setting at least two ambitious new air quality targets, with a primary focus on reducing public health impacts. As part of this we will be considering WHO guidelines for .”

Harriet Edwards, policy manager at Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation (AUK-BLF), said: “Air pollution impacts everyone, but can have a devastating impact on the most vulnerable people in our society – children, older people and the millions of people with a lung condition.”

A new AUK-BLF report shows more than half of people in England aged over-65 live in areas with small particle pollution above WHO levels, and that more than a quarter of care homes and hospitals are in such areas.

source: Damian Carrington

Levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.