Conference to shine spotlight on urgent challenges in air quality

Wood burning, clean air zones and wider air pollution challenges will be in sharp focus at a major conference for environmental health professionals next week.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Air Quality Conference 2026 brings together leading experts from Defra, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Welsh Government, alongside academic and sector specialists, for a packed half‑day programme.

The conference will open with a keynote from Sarah Haley, Senior Social Researcher - Air Quality and Industrial Emissions at Defra. Her session will explore the Air Quality Information System Review and the development of new communication resources designed to support Local Authority officers.

This will be followed by John Griffiths from the Welsh Government, who will provide an update on the consultation for draft regulations to implement new fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air quality targets.

Dr Karen Exley, Air Quality and Public Health Programme Lead at UKHSA, will then guide delegates through how the UKHSA air quality data dashboard can be used as a practical tool for managing local air quality issues.

There will then be a special focus on the latest on wood burning with Larissa Lockwood, Director of Policy and Campaigns at Clean Air Night organisers Global Action Plan and Dr Laura Horsfall, Principal Research Fellow – Clinical Epidemiology at University College London.

The conference will also see case studies, firstly on the health impact of Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council’s Clean Air Zone from the authority’s Pollution Control Officer Sally Jones, and then on the Inhabit Hub and how retrofitting homes can benefit air quality and health delivered by Dr Suzanne Bartington, Clinical Associate Professor in Environmental Health, University of Birmingham.

The programme is rounded off by a roundup with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on critical health and impacts, which will see Hanbin Zhang, Lecturer in Environment and Health, European Centre for Environment and Human Health leading the session and also speaking on behalf of the Clean Air Programme, who are supporting the conference.

Nikki Pearson, Head of Conferences and Membership Engagement at CIEH, said:

“We’re delighted to bring together such an exceptional range of experts for this year’s CIEH Air Quality Conference. With air pollution continuing to pose one of the most significant public health challenges in the UK, it’s vital that environmental health professionals have access to the latest evidence, tools and best practice.

“We encourage colleagues from across the sector and anyone with an interest in this area to join us for what promises to be an insightful and hugely valuable event.”

The half-day conference is open to CIEH members and non-members and takes place on Friday, 30 January – for the full programme and to book a place visit: https://www.cieh.org/events/2026/january/cieh-air-quality-conference/