Topical Talk

Air pollution: who is responsible?

Exploring the link between winter, air pollution and human health.

Collage of pages from the “Air pollution: who is responsible?” teaching resource showing the cover and lesson plan

Published 09 October 2025

About this lesson

Each winter, air pollution in many countries gets worse. Today, 99% of the global population live in areas where pollution exceeds safe limits set by the World Health Organisation.

What causes this? How does it affect human health? And who should take responsibility – governments, businesses or individuals?

Use this lesson to help students:

  • Understand the impact of air pollution on health and the environment
  • Consider cultural and country-specific challenges
  • Discuss who is responsible and what actions students can take

Skills and knowledge

  • Problem solving

    Step 5: Creating options
    I create different possible solutions to a problem
    Did you consider possible solutions to improve air pollution in your school?

    Step 6: Analysing options
    I identify the advantages and disadvantages of potential solutions
    Did you consider both advantages and disadvantages for the amount of responsibility given to each group?

    Step 9: Exploring causation
    I analyse causes and effects
    Did you discuss the cause of the pollution and the effect of the possible change?

  • Knowledge

    I know that air pollution is a global problem and that everyone is responsible for reducing it.
    What are three examples of things that are causing air pollution?

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