The following charts illustrate trends in emissions of the two air pollutants having greatest current concern, nitrogen dioxide ("NO2") and particulate matter - specifically  PM10 and PM2.5.

London Air is the source from which the following three derive.

 The measurement of PM2.5 concentrations at Barnes Wetlands started in July 2025.  Measurement of NO2, PM10 and PM2.5 at Richmond started in March 2024.  Concentrations of PM2.5 (at the measurement site) are amongst the worst in London.

 

The following charts illustrates government estimates of trends in greehouse gas emissions across the borough.  The borough declared a Climate Emergency in June 2019, but little progress to eliminating borough wide emissions (net, by 2043) has been made since then.  The Council itself is far from unique in seeming unconcerned, despite the global imperative.  The target excludes emissions from net imports (blaming others for our own consumption),shipping and aviation. The social, environmental and financial costs of this inaction are rising faster than expected.  Between declaring the emergency and the end of 2024 progress was roughly 3% per annum, but should have been several times greater.  Acheiving zero before the global carbon budget is exhausted is non-negotiable.  Page 28 of the borough's Climate and Nature Strategy notes that, bourough-wide, Richmond's share of its ("1.5C") carbon budget will be exhausted by 2027.