What do you think?
Rate this book
Breathe: How to win a greener world
A seven-step guide to winning support for tough action on climate change - the first book from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan
For many years, Sadiq wasn't fully aware of the dangers posed by air pollution, nor its connection with climate change. Then, at the age of 43, he was unexpectedly diagnosed with adult-onset asthma - brought on by the polluted London air he had been breathing for decades.
Scandalised, Sadiq underwent a political transformation that would see him become one of the most prominent global politicians fighting (and winning) elections on green issues. Since becoming Mayor of London in 2016, he has declared a climate emergency, introduced the world's first Ultra-Low Emission Zone, built hundreds of kilometres of new cycle lanes, led a drive for affordable insulation in council homes, and turned London into the first ever 'National Park City'.
But with every year bringing more wildfires, extreme temperatures and flooding - and with around 4,000 people still dying prematurely from London's polluted air every year, with older, working class and ethnic minority Londoners most affected - there is so much more to do.
Now, Sadiq draws on his experiences to identify the seven ways environmental action gets blown off course. And he reveals how to get it back on track,
- Proving to sceptics that the climate crisis is a health crisis too;
- Overcoming voters' cynicism by building coalitions across the political spectrum;
- Shaking hands with everyone from your fiercest opponents to the most steadfast climate activists (even if you're a bit worried they might superglue you).
Breathe is a call to action demonstrating how anyone - whether voter, activist or politician - can win the argument on climate. It will help create a world where we can all breathe again.
For many years, Sadiq wasn't fully aware of the dangers posed by air pollution, nor its connection with climate change. Then, at the age of 43, he was unexpectedly diagnosed with adult-onset asthma - brought on by the polluted London air he had been breathing for decades.
Scandalised, Sadiq underwent a political transformation that would see him become one of the most prominent global politicians fighting (and winning) elections on green issues. Since becoming Mayor of London in 2016, he has declared a climate emergency, introduced the world's first Ultra-Low Emission Zone, built hundreds of kilometres of new cycle lanes, led a drive for affordable insulation in council homes, and turned London into the first ever 'National Park City'.
But with every year bringing more wildfires, extreme temperatures and flooding - and with around 4,000 people still dying prematurely from London's polluted air every year, with older, working class and ethnic minority Londoners most affected - there is so much more to do.
Now, Sadiq draws on his experiences to identify the seven ways environmental action gets blown off course. And he reveals how to get it back on track,
- Proving to sceptics that the climate crisis is a health crisis too;
- Overcoming voters' cynicism by building coalitions across the political spectrum;
- Shaking hands with everyone from your fiercest opponents to the most steadfast climate activists (even if you're a bit worried they might superglue you).
Breathe is a call to action demonstrating how anyone - whether voter, activist or politician - can win the argument on climate. It will help create a world where we can all breathe again.
232 pages, Paperback
First published May 25, 2023
10 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 26, 2023
An important read for anyone living in London or interested in green politics. The silent majority will find the statistics and background data useful. I also enjoyed a behind the scenes glimpse into mayoral life.
Today in my part of London, the pm2.5 reading is 4.4 times the WHO annual air quality guideline, so a timely reminder of why low emissions and fighting climate change are so important.
Today in my part of London, the pm2.5 reading is 4.4 times the WHO annual air quality guideline, so a timely reminder of why low emissions and fighting climate change are so important.
tbr-non-fic-essays-or-memoirs
July 3, 2023An elected official writing about the importance of addressing climate change? What other wonders will this year bring...
May 25, 2023
I read this book expecting it to be a serious work on air quality, however what I found was a complete work of fiction. Admittedly there were some statistics in it, but these had been selectively chosen and therefore did not provide a balanced view. The author obviously has not done his research and comes across as a far-left, anti-vaxxer, covid-denier. A word of advice to the author – if you want people to trust you, then you have to present both sides of the argument and not just the one that you want to believe. As it is, this book is a one-sided load of drivel.
March 30, 2025
The Prodigy, Blu Cantrell and now Sadiq Khan. More of a memoir than a how to guide, with a good dose of Tory bashing but a decent read nonetheless.
You will have one of two songs stuck through your head while reading.
You will have one of two songs stuck through your head while reading.
July 21, 2023
Genuinely one of the best books I have read. Funny, honest, realistic, ambitious. Everything.
Read
November 7, 2024I will give myself a few days to decide if I am able to rate this book.
He is obviously not a writer and I’m pretty sure someone else wrote the book. The events and thoughts are his as is a story of his elections and the climate change projects he is involved.
I presume Sadiq Khan could be a bit like marmite, it’s either you like it or not…. And I never even tried marmite 🤦♀️ but by reading this book and because of one specific sentence “decent size house and decent size garden” I tend not to want to get to know more.
When it comes to the green policies and climate change projects… I would have liked to see more acknowledgment on the issue that some of us can’t afford to live our lives in a green way. My commute is 1h+ most of it motorway drive … His example of a plumber who changed his diesel van for an electric one.. is another example of entitlement and ignorance.
Otherwise… ✌️
He is obviously not a writer and I’m pretty sure someone else wrote the book. The events and thoughts are his as is a story of his elections and the climate change projects he is involved.
I presume Sadiq Khan could be a bit like marmite, it’s either you like it or not…. And I never even tried marmite 🤦♀️ but by reading this book and because of one specific sentence “decent size house and decent size garden” I tend not to want to get to know more.
When it comes to the green policies and climate change projects… I would have liked to see more acknowledgment on the issue that some of us can’t afford to live our lives in a green way. My commute is 1h+ most of it motorway drive … His example of a plumber who changed his diesel van for an electric one.. is another example of entitlement and ignorance.
Otherwise… ✌️
June 10, 2023
I like the policies, I agree with much of the book, I just thought it could have gone into more detail with the solutions and spent less time recounting campaigning etc.
February 25, 2024
Interesting account of a politician who is serious about the threats of climate change and the challenges that he has faced.
May 31, 2023
‘Breathe, said the wind
How can I breathe at a time like this,
when the air is full of the smoke
of burning tires, burning lives?’
-Lynn Ungar
Despite the frankly ridiculous tearing up of Sadiq Khan’s book ‘Breathe’ by Talk TV presenters on live television a few days ago, no stunt by them can get away from the central point in the book.
Air pollution is killing people in London, and around the world, and it doesn’t have to be like this.
Khan cleverly organises the book into the attitudes-or obstacles- to issues like air pollution that are viewed and displayed- from Fatalism and Apathy, through Deprioritisation and Hostility and Cost and bookends the text with the story of Ella Kissi-Debrah, who is the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed as a cause of death. Khan’s book argues how we can avoid any more deaths like this.
Make air cleaner to save lives
Khan makes the early point that the impact of air pollution is linked to social disparities. ‘But while we breathe, we don’t all breathe the same air.’ Although this book is obviously London based, the same impact is felt in other cities. ‘If you’re living in a more deprived area, you’re much more likely to experience the negative effects of air pollution.’ Owing to an accident of geography then, your life span may not be equal to someone else in another area of the same city, simply owing to air pollution levels alone- and the impact of this is worse for the young with their developing lungs. ‘It revealed that hundreds of the capital’s primary schools were in areas where pollution breached the EU’s legal limits. Of these, 83 per cent were considered ‘deprived’ schools where more than 40 per cent of the pupils were entitled to free school meals.’
The World Health Organisation recently described air pollution as being ‘one of the greatest environmental risks to health.’ Khan picks up this point in his book and notes that, ‘The nine million early deaths it causes each year makes air pollution a bigger killer than tobacco smoking. These deaths are disproportionately concentrated among the most disadvantaged people in society.’
Making the invisible visible
Khan openly admits that at times he had viewed climate change, as not the priority issue that he now views it. ‘Climate change had always seemed very far way- both geographically and temporally. It was a ‘tomorrow’ issue rather than a ‘today’ issue.’ He states that through education, as well as personal asthma concerns, he realised the extent of the problem. In essence, this is the crux of the book- identify an issue and then work with interested parties to eradicate that problem in order to help as many people as possible. ‘The climate crisis was an issue right here in London.’ Khan outlines the measures and campaigns that were issued to grow the understanding of Londoners to this issue of air pollution- from graphic campaigns depicting soot, stating, ‘If you could see London’s air, you’d want to clean it too.’ Interactive air-quality maps showing the levels of air pollution in London were also used in attempts to alter the perception issue that climate change is only a problem for ‘them’, ‘over there’, but rather it is a problem for us, here.
The world today is not the world of ten years ago.
Khan takes the time to outline that the climate crisis is not the divisive issue that populist figures would have us believe. Nor is it a ‘political issue.’ Those who have the power to act, to mitigate and to plan, may be the mayors, politicians and councils, but that in itself does not ‘politicise’ the scientific evidence, despite attempts by the current US Republican nominee, Ron DeSantis to ‘politicise the weather.’ As a public, we have to be grown up to spot and ignore these attempts to delay action that can save lives and Khan suggests that the evidence suggest that we are growing up as a society. ‘Voters care about climate more than they ever have before.’ ‘In 2021, 82 per cent of Londoners were concerned about climate change, with more than two-thirds saying their level of concern had risen in the last year. Yet when you read the news or turned on the TV, you could be forgiven for thinking that climate change was a divisive issue.’
Learning the lessons
Khan details in his book the impact of the global pandemic and the impact of coronavirus especially for people in London. He also looks at what lessons could be learned from a global mobilisation to a problem and how to lead people during this time. He makes the point that when faced with a global emergency, working out the priority is key. ‘Rightly, the focus becomes saving lives first, and saving the economy second.’ This does not sound like the worst motto for action to mitigate the climate emergency. Khan notes the actions that have been put in place in London to reduce air pollution- such as ULEZ, building the infrastructure for 15-minute cities and focusing on sustainable transport. He always assesses the impact of his climate policies and records that, ‘The proportion of bicycle and walking journeys had increased from 29 per cent pre-pandemic to an estimated 46 per cent post lockdown.’
Changing the language?
Khan acknowledges that a change of language could be a useful approach- he notes that ‘the solutions to air pollution and climate change are often the same.’ The impression that this creates, is that he does not appear to be too invested in what we call the problem, as long as we enact solutions to the issue. This echoes the recent words of actor and ex-Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who, in an interview said, ‘So my thing is, let’s go and rephrase this and communicate differently about is and really tell people we’re talking about pollution. Pollution creates climate change and pollution kills.’
Khan rightly concludes that ‘There is so much more that we have to do.’ It’s beyond time to question why what has been successful in London cannot be rolled out across other major cities, so that we can be the generation who ensures that no more children die from air pollution in our country, because we have been too apathetic to solve the problem.
How can I breathe at a time like this,
when the air is full of the smoke
of burning tires, burning lives?’
-Lynn Ungar
Despite the frankly ridiculous tearing up of Sadiq Khan’s book ‘Breathe’ by Talk TV presenters on live television a few days ago, no stunt by them can get away from the central point in the book.
Air pollution is killing people in London, and around the world, and it doesn’t have to be like this.
Khan cleverly organises the book into the attitudes-or obstacles- to issues like air pollution that are viewed and displayed- from Fatalism and Apathy, through Deprioritisation and Hostility and Cost and bookends the text with the story of Ella Kissi-Debrah, who is the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed as a cause of death. Khan’s book argues how we can avoid any more deaths like this.
Make air cleaner to save lives
Khan makes the early point that the impact of air pollution is linked to social disparities. ‘But while we breathe, we don’t all breathe the same air.’ Although this book is obviously London based, the same impact is felt in other cities. ‘If you’re living in a more deprived area, you’re much more likely to experience the negative effects of air pollution.’ Owing to an accident of geography then, your life span may not be equal to someone else in another area of the same city, simply owing to air pollution levels alone- and the impact of this is worse for the young with their developing lungs. ‘It revealed that hundreds of the capital’s primary schools were in areas where pollution breached the EU’s legal limits. Of these, 83 per cent were considered ‘deprived’ schools where more than 40 per cent of the pupils were entitled to free school meals.’
The World Health Organisation recently described air pollution as being ‘one of the greatest environmental risks to health.’ Khan picks up this point in his book and notes that, ‘The nine million early deaths it causes each year makes air pollution a bigger killer than tobacco smoking. These deaths are disproportionately concentrated among the most disadvantaged people in society.’
Making the invisible visible
Khan openly admits that at times he had viewed climate change, as not the priority issue that he now views it. ‘Climate change had always seemed very far way- both geographically and temporally. It was a ‘tomorrow’ issue rather than a ‘today’ issue.’ He states that through education, as well as personal asthma concerns, he realised the extent of the problem. In essence, this is the crux of the book- identify an issue and then work with interested parties to eradicate that problem in order to help as many people as possible. ‘The climate crisis was an issue right here in London.’ Khan outlines the measures and campaigns that were issued to grow the understanding of Londoners to this issue of air pollution- from graphic campaigns depicting soot, stating, ‘If you could see London’s air, you’d want to clean it too.’ Interactive air-quality maps showing the levels of air pollution in London were also used in attempts to alter the perception issue that climate change is only a problem for ‘them’, ‘over there’, but rather it is a problem for us, here.
The world today is not the world of ten years ago.
Khan takes the time to outline that the climate crisis is not the divisive issue that populist figures would have us believe. Nor is it a ‘political issue.’ Those who have the power to act, to mitigate and to plan, may be the mayors, politicians and councils, but that in itself does not ‘politicise’ the scientific evidence, despite attempts by the current US Republican nominee, Ron DeSantis to ‘politicise the weather.’ As a public, we have to be grown up to spot and ignore these attempts to delay action that can save lives and Khan suggests that the evidence suggest that we are growing up as a society. ‘Voters care about climate more than they ever have before.’ ‘In 2021, 82 per cent of Londoners were concerned about climate change, with more than two-thirds saying their level of concern had risen in the last year. Yet when you read the news or turned on the TV, you could be forgiven for thinking that climate change was a divisive issue.’
Learning the lessons
Khan details in his book the impact of the global pandemic and the impact of coronavirus especially for people in London. He also looks at what lessons could be learned from a global mobilisation to a problem and how to lead people during this time. He makes the point that when faced with a global emergency, working out the priority is key. ‘Rightly, the focus becomes saving lives first, and saving the economy second.’ This does not sound like the worst motto for action to mitigate the climate emergency. Khan notes the actions that have been put in place in London to reduce air pollution- such as ULEZ, building the infrastructure for 15-minute cities and focusing on sustainable transport. He always assesses the impact of his climate policies and records that, ‘The proportion of bicycle and walking journeys had increased from 29 per cent pre-pandemic to an estimated 46 per cent post lockdown.’
Changing the language?
Khan acknowledges that a change of language could be a useful approach- he notes that ‘the solutions to air pollution and climate change are often the same.’ The impression that this creates, is that he does not appear to be too invested in what we call the problem, as long as we enact solutions to the issue. This echoes the recent words of actor and ex-Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who, in an interview said, ‘So my thing is, let’s go and rephrase this and communicate differently about is and really tell people we’re talking about pollution. Pollution creates climate change and pollution kills.’
Khan rightly concludes that ‘There is so much more that we have to do.’ It’s beyond time to question why what has been successful in London cannot be rolled out across other major cities, so that we can be the generation who ensures that no more children die from air pollution in our country, because we have been too apathetic to solve the problem.
May 28, 2025
I wish he had dealt more in the details of the establishment of the ULEZ zones - the feasibility studies, the pushback from within his own office, the immediate reaction of press, academics, civil society, the vocal minority; the legislation behind it; the scientific rationale in more details, etc. Instead, there's too little public policy on air quality and many digressions about his role in public life. And I came to admire that, he wouldn't be onhis third term if he were not competent. I only took a star because I expected more details about the planning and assessing of the air quality policies he implemented than actually provided.
May 25, 2023
What a shambles. A book filled with false reporting. A waste of money. Khan should focus on “lawless London” and using public funds to make the public safer. Instead of he is robbing the poor for us to breathe properly. The highest emissions are from planes and the underground, both things that Khan would prefer not to change. It’s a shame that he prioritises robbing citizens over putting good protection around the city to prevent stabbing and robbing. Someone in power should NOT be able to publish fake facts. A lot of people are having severe anxiety over ULEZ, Khan only cares about his.
May 26, 2023
I bought this book in the belief that it would contain insightful information. Unfortunately, it turns out that this is actually an extreme science fiction book. I'm actually astounded at the imagination of the author and the stories he puts out would be laughable were it not for the dark intentions behind them. At least no one in their right mind would take such nonsense seriously. Not sure whether to return for a refund or simply do the world a favour and burn it to stop it going anywhere else.
May 26, 2023
Wish i never wasted my money on this book, full of lies and propaganda so he can rob poor londoners and those visiting london, Sadiq Khan works for the WEF (headed by the son of high ranking Nazis Klaus Schwab) and his head of c40 cities, his aim is to stop people from using personal transport and keep them within 15 minutes of their homes, all while he is chauffeured around in 200k v8 range rovers and mercs using tax payers money.
In the future i think this book will be seen similar to Hitlers Mein Kampf
Dont waste your time buying this rubbish
In the future i think this book will be seen similar to Hitlers Mein Kampf
Dont waste your time buying this rubbish
May 19, 2024
Compulsively readable and with a very warm narrative voice, but unfortunately most of the talk about the climate gets lost in between all the campaigning about why you should vote for Khan as the Best Mayor of the Best City in the Whole Wide World. I did take some notes that I considered useful and I liked the book structure, some of the anecdotes were great, but overall this was a bit of a disappointment in terms of actual climate policies or actual steps to take if one is not a politician or a London citizen and just wants to get informed.
3/5.
3/5.
May 25, 2023
Absolute drivel from start to finish. The author is only in print because of being the Mayor of London and is only the Mayor because the lemmings voted labour. People didn't vote for this nomark and his outpourings of utter nonsense. Hopefully people save their money and use it more prudently than wasting it buying this dirge. There is more enjoyment to be garnered from sticking a wet finger in a plug socket than perusing this verbiage.
June 19, 2024
The quickest read I have ever done because I couldn't put it down.
A brilliant book by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Despite the criticisms of green policies he has enacted, there would be even more criticisms of the consequences by not taking action - as seen with the poor death of Ella from air pollution.
It is really motivating and inspiring to see this level of dedication and care for our environment.
I hope more councillors, mayors, MPs and Prime Ministers follow suit
A brilliant book by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Despite the criticisms of green policies he has enacted, there would be even more criticisms of the consequences by not taking action - as seen with the poor death of Ella from air pollution.
It is really motivating and inspiring to see this level of dedication and care for our environment.
I hope more councillors, mayors, MPs and Prime Ministers follow suit
June 11, 2025
This book was a real eye-opener for me. Sadiq Khan's focus on using his London mayoralty to tackle climate change and pollution is inspiring, and the concrete results fantastic. He also makes a convincing case for using city government to step into the vacuum left by vacillating national governments in advancing climate policies. The book is an enjoyable, personable, passionate and intelligent read. A rare cause for hope.
November 11, 2025
It was an easy read in the sense that it flowed well and allowed pages to turn rather easily.
However, I felt it lacked a depth of detail, and most of its findings for how to win a greener world were rather surface level, and almost self-explanatory for those who are somewhat exposed to or involved in climate politics. I will nonetheless take away a few things, most notably the points on the role of cities seeking to break gridlock at the national level.
However, I felt it lacked a depth of detail, and most of its findings for how to win a greener world were rather surface level, and almost self-explanatory for those who are somewhat exposed to or involved in climate politics. I will nonetheless take away a few things, most notably the points on the role of cities seeking to break gridlock at the national level.
May 28, 2023
A book written by someone who ignores facts which don't fit his agenda. He claims air in London is so toxic, drivers must pay £12.50 a day to continue to pollute. Yet the air in the London Underground is nearly 100x more polluted than the air on the streets. An embarrassing book by an embarrassment of a London Mayor. Avoid like the plague.
September 25, 2023
Excellent insight into the challenges of tackling the climate emergency at a local level against a backdrop of national government apathy. I was hoping it would talk more about future possible solutions, but as someone not from London this made me think about what can be achieved with local initiatives.
January 8, 2024
While central govt has turned its back on climate change, the mayor of London fills the gap, showing that it is the mayors of large cities around the world who are taking this issue seriously. Khan has the support of London in his clean air policies. A worthwhile read. There was much I hadn't realised he was doing that fills me with optimism for this city.
June 15, 2025
Unfortunatly picked this book without doing my research, and I'm clearly not the targeted audience (not british and not from London). I hoped it would offer some sort of solutions or substantial insights of how to win a greener world (more than what you read in a mainstream newspaper), but this was lacking in my opinion. I'm sure the right audience can enjoy this book more than me.
May 25, 2023
No surprises with this read, khan continues with his misinformation and manipulation of facts with an insight to his deluded mind!
Should be really be sold in the comical section….
Wouldnt waste your money…
Should be really be sold in the comical section….
Wouldnt waste your money…
May 26, 2023
Khan has already been proven to quote false facts and figures and this book simply rrftects that. In the msin a virtual work of fiction
Bit of a joke when the author drives sround in a huge motor.
A work of hypocrisy rather than literature.
Bit of a joke when the author drives sround in a huge motor.
A work of hypocrisy rather than literature.
May 26, 2023
I had high hopes for this book but it’s a work of fiction, outright lies and unchecked facts. The cynic in me thinks this is a cash grab that takes full advantage of the ULEZ expansion plans. I should’ve know better than to bother reading it. Don’t let him put his hand in your pocket.
May 24, 2025
really absorbing! a very interesting insight to life as a mayor. i’ve recently started listening to a lot of ‘the rest is politics’ podcast, and i’ve realised i really enjoy hearing the insider’s perspective on politics. might be a new genre for me to look into!
June 29, 2025
Reading this book gave me a better insight into the "Green" policies that Sadiq Khan has put in place. That insight is that he hasn't a clue what he is doing and will continue to ruin London. He is obviously unable to reasonably think these processes through or understand actual science.
November 5, 2025
A well-needed optimistic take on the climate crisis. Has helped me to believe in the power of my own actions as well, despite it not being the point. Khan's belief in his work, especially as a Labour mayor, reminds us leftists that it is essential to keep the climate at the heart of our work.
May 25, 2023
Like the author full of hot air and self opinionated rubbish. He should concentrate on his full time job, running London & cutting crime.
May 25, 2023
This book isn't even worth putting in the reduced section in poundland. Poorly written and full of lies and misinformation about pollution and climate change. Don't waste your money.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews