Mother of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah states settlement over air pollution death is not a victory

The mother of a nine-year-old girl, who was the first individual in the UK to have air pollution officially acknowledged as a contributing factor in her demise, stated that she was “never going to win” even after reaching a legal settlement with the government. Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah passed away in 2013 after an asthma attack, and a subsequent inquest determined that air pollution “made a material contribution” to her death. Rosamund, Ella’s mother, commented that resolving the legal case for an unspecified amount did not constitute a victory “because your child is already dead,” but it did offer “an acknowledgement” of the events that led to her daughter’s death. The government expressed that it was “truly sorry” for Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah’s loss and affirmed its dedication to implementing an “ambitious clean air strategy.” Coroner Philip Barlow concluded that Ella, who resided 25 metres (82ft) from the South Circular Road in Lewisham, south-east London, experienced an asthma attack subsequent to exposure to excessive air pollution. His narrative verdict indicated that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in the vicinity of Ella’s residence surpassed guidelines set by the World Health Organization and the European Union. Evidence presented at the inquest revealed that Ella experienced numerous seizures and was hospitalized 27 times during the three years preceding her death. Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, acting as administrator for her deceased daughter’s estate, initiated legal proceedings against the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department for Transport, and the Department for Health and Social Care, seeking compensation for Ella’s “illness and premature death.” Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah commented that the settlement would require time to fully process “because I’ve been fighting for so long,” further stating that the apology was “not going to bring Ella back.” She described the situation as “a David and Goliath situation. I was never going to win. You can’t win because your child is already dead.” However, she emphasized, “But it was about the recognition, the justice, and I wanted them to do something.” She informed BBC London that “the moment I decided to push for an apology was when our KC at the inquest, who is now the attorney general, equated Ella’s injuries to torture.” Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah also mentioned that the legal process had “affected my health, all the stress,” but expressed that she was “glad I did it and it answers a lot of questions for us about our health.” She reiterated, “It’s the acknowledgement of what happened to her. The fact that someone can become so ill so suddenly, and something horrific happen to them.” She continued, stating, “I’m going to say it again and again. Ella isn’t the only one.” She asserted, “The fact that in 2024 children continue to die from asthma is not acceptable.” On Thursday morning, Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, accompanied by Ella’s siblings, met with Emma Hardy, a minister within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). She conveyed, “I have told Ms Hardy today that so much more needs to be urgently done to improve our air quality and that I stand ready to assist her and the government to tackle what has become a public health crisis.” Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah has pressed the government to enact “Ella’s Law,” which she advocates should incorporate the “right to breathe clean air as a basic human right,” alongside other provisions. A joint statement released by Defra, the Department for Transport, and the Department for Health and Social Care declared: “Young children like Ella should not have to suffer because of our air.” The statement continued, “Your words, both in this litigation and in your public campaigning, have made a considerable impact.” It conveyed that the government was “truly sorry for your loss” and extended “our thoughts and deepest condolences” to Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, Ella’s siblings, and all who knew her. The statement further added: “We are committed to delivering a comprehensive and ambitious Clean Air Strategy including a series of interventions to reduce emissions so that everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced.” It also mentioned the government’s commitment to a review of how air quality information is conveyed to the public. When the High Court proceedings were initially announced in January, during the tenure of the previous Conservative government, the involved departments had indicated their intention to contest the claim. Ruth Waters-Falk, a solicitor representing Hodge Jones & Allen, the firm that filed the civil claim on behalf of Ella’s estate, informed BBC London that while the settlement “doesn’t set a court precedent,” it “demonstrates that with the right evidence, governments can be held to account for their failures in relation to air pollution.” She added, “I can definitely imagine similar claims being made should the government fail to take action to protect our environment if that then impacts upon human health and life.” She concluded, “We know that air pollution has a significant impact on our life… and the government has a clear responsibility for improving air quality in the UK.” Air Quality Minister Emma Hardy expressed that it