Pledge to make a change this Clean Air Day
Published: 16th Jun 2021
Birmingham City Council will celebrate Clean Air Day on 17 June with a week-long engagement event in the city centre, designed to encourage people to consider how they can help reduce air pollution.
From Thursday, a display will be unveiled on the outside concourse of Grand Central and New Street Station, depicting the importance of removing unnecessary vehicle journeys from Birmingham’s roads.
Following the launch of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone, which will help to tackle harmful Nitrous Oxide emissions from vehicle exhaust, the engagement event will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of other forms of air pollution, including the sources and steps that can be taken to reduce the creation of these pollutants.
Staff from the council’s Clean Air Zone and Travel Demand teams will be on hand providing information, advice and guidance on the wider causes, effects and solutions to air pollution, aside from vehicular emissions.
Councillor Waseem Zaffar MBE, Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, said:
“Hot on the heels of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone launch is Clean Air Day and we are keen to build on the momentum and awareness of air pollution with this display. Whilst vehicle emissions are responsible for 80% of Nitrous Oxide emissions, there are other causes and pollutants which we want to help people to understand.
“Industrial emissions, woodburners in the home – even some household cleaning products, can all contribute to poor air quality. This Clean Air Day we want to build on the steps we have taken with the introduction of the Clean Air Zone and encourage everyone to make a pledge to do one thing different to help reduce air pollution. Lots of people making a small change will make a huge difference to our air, our health and our future.”
The council's Clean Air Day activities will be supported by various partner organisations including representatives from organisations promoting alternative travel options to the private car and charities such as Sustrans which has been raising awareness of air quality.
Council staff will be on hand to answer questions about the Clean Air Zone and discuss the wider initiatives being introduced to tackle air quality including the Birmingham Transport Plan, Air Quality Action Plan and planning conditions.
People are being encouraged to come and find out more about the steps they can take to improve air quality and pledge to make a change. Birmingham's Clean Air Zone was launched on 1 June 2021, with charging starting from 14 June 2021.