1 April 2025, London, UK: The Camden Breathing Better Charter has launched today with founding signatories to the mission including major Camden employers: AstraZeneca, ARUP, BCG, Bupa, Caversham GP Practice, Clarion Housing Group, Freuds, GSK, Havas, HS2, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Paramount, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Wellcome Trust. The project also has the support of expert partners including Asthma & Lung UK and the Clean Air Fund.

The Charter sets out a series of twelve commitments for organisations to reduce harmful emissions and support employee health and wellbeing. Commitments cover energy use, sustainable travel, operations and supply chain, and workforce health. Specific measures include increasing energy efficiency in buildings, switching to 100% renewable electricity, transitioning to zero-emission vehicles, enabling sustainable commuting, and offering employees respiratory health support and education - all within pre-agreed timescales.

This Charter was originated by members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI), the world’s leading private sector organisation for sustainable transition, established by His Majesty King Charles III in 2020, when he was the Prince of Wales. Categorised as an SMI Lighthouse Project - a proof point along the transition journey - the Charter forms part of a wider, two-year programme of work, developed with a community of global cities, to create practical tools and resources to promote city-led health and wellbeing interventions that support climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience.

Air pollution is a major cause of respiratory health issues in the UK, which currently impact one in five people in the country during their lifetimes. Overall, air pollution contributes up to 43,000 premature deaths in the UK every year and is estimated to cost the NHS and social care systems as much as £20 billion each year.

Camden Council was the first local authority to commit to meeting the World Health Organization's (WHO) air quality guidelines, and the borough has set a vision to become a place where no one’s health is affected by the air they breathe. This leadership sets the stage for organisations across the borough to do their part in driving change.

In Camden, particulate air pollution is responsible for 7% of all deaths and degrades quality of life for many more. Asthma-related hospital admissions in the borough are four times the UK average and respiratory conditions are linked to three of Camden’s top drivers of ill health. Camden’s air contains 24% higher levels of pollutants than the UK average.

Cities are a critical platform to drive action on health and climate challenges, as a key driver of emissions, covering 3% of the earth’s land surface, yet creating >70% of emissions. This number will only grow, with 50% of the world projected to live in cities by 2030.

Anna Wright, Health Lead at Camden Council, commented: “Poor air quality in Camden is contributing to a respiratory health crisis which is being experienced most acutely and in greatest numbers by those who are poorest. Camden Council has set out to address this with an ambitious Clean Air Action Plan. But making a difference needs everyone to play a part. As with every huge challenge, the answer must lie in shared endeavour. Today, the commitment of so many of Camden’s major employers and institutions to the Camden Breathing Better Charter, means that our ambition to tackle poor air quality and improve respiratory health among the people who live and work here just took a big step forward.”

Lord Pitkeathley, Chief Executive of Camden Town Unlimited and Euston Town BIDs, said: “It is great to see so many businesses and public sector leaders are committed to making Camden’s air cleaner. Air pollution is one of Camden’s biggest challenges—bad for health, bad for business, and bad for the economy. Real change happens when the public and private sectors work together, so it’s fantastic to see this Charter bringing the two together to tackle this important issue. Let’s get to work and make Camden a cleaner, healthier place to live and do business."

Patty O’Hayer, Global Head of External Affairs at Reckitt, commented; “As Camden illustrates, people’s health can be truly shaped by where they live or work. Small steps collectively add up to scalable action that can improve air quality and respiratory wellbeing. In addition to protecting public health, these improvements will reduce pressure on healthcare systems and help them to decarbonise - protecting people and the planet at large.”

Carlos Jaureguizar, CEO of Bupa UK, India, and Bupa Global, commented: “At Bupa, we’re all about helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. We are committed to supporting people to take care of their health in a way that helps prevent problems and which also supports the better health of the planet.

"Nowhere is the interplay between people and planetary health more apparent than in cities, as that’s where over half of the world’s population lives. With a clinic in Euston, we are part of the Camden community, and support climate action in a number of schools in Camden through the Bupa Foundation’s partnerships with Asthma & Lung UK and Eco-Schools. We’re delighted to join this initiative and continue to support the Camden community to find innovative ways to support people’s health in a changing climate.

"We look forward to seeing what we can achieve together through Camden Breathing Better, and we welcome other employers to join us in taking action on air quality and improving their employees’ respiratory health.”

Neale Belson, Senior Vice-President and General Manager for the UK, GSK, commented: “The health of people and the environment are closely intertwined. As a healthcare company with a long history of innovating to prevent and change the course of respiratory disease, we’re committed to reducing our environmental impact and joining forces with other organisations to make local impact at-scale. Having recently returned to Camden with our new Global HQ, we look forward to positively impacting the health and wellbeing of those who live and work in the Borough.”

Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, commented: “Camden's Breathing Better Charter shows the power of collaboration between the private sector and local government. At the Sustainable Markets Initiative, we believe that local projects like this are crucial in our effort to put Nature, people, and planet at the heart of global value creation. By tackling air quality and sustainable transport, Camden sets an inspiring example for the rest of London and cities worldwide.”

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