In a tragic turn of events, a nine-year-old girl died in London, England, in 2013 from a fatal asthma attack. Now, her mother is suing the government.
Rosamond Adoo-Kissi-Debrah claims that her daughter Ella wouldn’t have died if her government had done its job and protected its citizens from air pollution. She says it’s not about the money; Rosamond wants to ignite real change and save thousands of others from the same fate.
The Story of Ella Adoo-Kissi Debrah
Ella lived her short life just yards from one of the busiest streets in southeast London, South Circular Road. From the age of six years old to nine years old, Ella experienced multiple seizures and made almost 30 visits to the nearby hospital due to her debilitating asthma.
In 2013, at only nine years old, Ella died from an asthma attack. Her mother, Rosamond, told the press, “It’s very sad how much she has genuinely missed out on, it was a life truly cut short. That will never go away.”
Justice for Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah
In 2020, just seven years after losing her daughter, Rosamond decided it was time to take action and get the justice she believed her daughter deserved.
Rosamond filed a lawsuit against the UK government, arguing that air pollution directly led to her daughter’s death. This landmark case is the first of its kind. No plaintiff in history has used air pollution as a cause of death in a case against their government.
It’s Not About the Money
Rosamond says that this lawsuit isn’t about the money. Even if she wins, the maximum she could receive is only $379,188 (£293,156).
Instead, Ella’s mother has said that what she really wants is an admission of guilt from her government and cleaner air for future generations. Rosamond told the press she wants “an apology, first and foremost, for what Ella went through, and that this case is about the “legal right to clean air.”
Lawyers for the United Kingdom Claim the Lawsuit is a “Breach of Human Rights”
The lawsuit, filed in 2020, finally reached the High Court of Justice in London in July 2024. The trial, which is set to last ten days, is ongoing, and lawyers for the UK government are fighting hard against Rosamond’s claim.
Although her lawyers are adamant that the government admits its guilt and part in the death of young Ella, the government is arguing its actions do not “amount to a breach of human rights” and that its decisions were not “causative of Ella’s injuries or death.”
Air Pollution in London Is a Real Problem
To understand Rosamond’s case, it’s crucial to grasp just how harrowing the London air pollution problem really was and is. The UK Air Quality Standard Regulations were not passed until 2010, so when Ella passed away in 2013, the air pollution in the city was absolutely deplorable.
Now, ten years later, several reports state that London’s air is far cleaner now than it was then. However, as Rosamond and many others argue, the air is not nearly clean enough to ensure citizen safety.
It’s Time for Change
Rosamond’s case sheds important light on the negligence of governments in the UK and around the world in caring for their citizens and their planet.
For decades, they have chosen profits over people, allowing extensive fossil fuel use and dangerous manufacturing processes, both of which have led to extreme air and water pollution and directly caused climate change.
UK’s New Prime Minister Has Already Proved a Disappointment
On July 5, 2024, the United Kingdom voted for its new prime minister, Keir Starmer. As a member of the Labour Party, Starmer promised drastic change to his constituents.
However, while Starmer and his party swore a clean air act would be included in the manifesto, no such act exists. As Rosamond said, his first month in office has already been quite the “disappointment” to many UK citizens.
2040 Is Too Far Away
Before Starmer took over, the ruling Tory Party under Rishi Sunak had promised to cut air pollution by 2040. But now, it seems that the Labour Party has pledged that the UK will reach net zero by 2050.
But Rosamond argues that both 2040 and 2050 are too far away. She said, “A child born today would not get clean air until they are 16, which is a long way off.”
More Than 7 Million People Die From Air Pollution Every Year
It’s important to understand that Ella’s case certainly isn’t unique. It’s making headlines because this is the first time a family member of the deceased has sued the government for wrongful death due to air pollution, but many others die from air pollution every day.
The World Health Organization reports that air pollution kills approximately seven million people annually.
How Many People Need to Die Before We Change Our Ways?
Rosamond Adoo-Kissi-Debrah hopes that her daughter’s death will not be in vain and that, by suing the government, she will be able to enact real and immediate change.
As she explained, “It’s high time we had a public health campaign about the impact of air pollution on health.” Rosamond and many others believe that it’s time to stand up for the right to clean air; if they don’t, their children will suffer the consequences.
This Lawsuit Could Change Everything
If the High Court of Justice in London rules in Rosamond’s favor, agreeing that the UK government is to blame for the death of her daughter, Ella, it could change everything.
It would set a precedent that anyone else in the United Kingdom could sue the government for poor air quality, which could inundate the government with lawsuits but also ignite real and immediate change in policy.
