Ella Roberta Adoo Kissi Debrah died on 15 February 2013 at the age of nine as a result of asthma contributed to by exposure to excessive air pollution in London. She was a bright, talented girl who loved sports, music and reading.

Ella was the first person in England to have air pollution named as a cause of death by a coroner. In his report, the coroner urged the government to take action to bring air quality up to minimum World Health Organization (WHO) standards.

Every year, tens of thousands of people around the UK are killed by air pollution. It’s time to clean up the air in our towns and cities.

It’s time for Ella’s Law.

Ella’s Law is what people are calling the Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill, introduced to Parliament by Baroness Jenny Jones in May 2022. It would force the government to act to bring air quality in every community up to minimum WHO standards. This would mean people no longer have to breathe air that seriously damages their health. It would also mean a better quality of life in many other ways, too. Find out how.

Ella’s Law gained cross-party support in the House of Lords and passed its third reading there with flying colours before moving on to the Commons in December. Can you help to make it a reality? Do sign and share the petition here!

“Ella used to worry they might forget her and move on. She would love to have known that people will remember her for something good.” 
– Rosamund Adoo Kissi Debrah, Ella’s mum

Find out more about Ella and about her mother’s fight for stronger action on air pollution here.