The Great Smog of London in December 1952 was a catastrophic weather event that lasted for five days, resulting from a combination of coal smoke and temperature inversion. This dense fog enveloped the city, leading to visibility issues and respiratory problems for many residents. The smog was responsible for an estimated 12,000 deaths and highlighted the severe impact of urban pollution on public health. In response to this disaster, the British government enacted the Clean Air Act of 1956, which aimed to reduce air pollution and improve environmental conditions in cities.

It amplified fog motifs from Dickens, spurring mid-20th-century poetry on industrial modernity and ecology. Poets in the Movement group reflected urban decay and nature's backlash, advancing environmental awareness in post-war British verse. (128 characters)