Coventry City Council supports National Clean Air Day

Coventry City Council are supporting the first ever National Clean Air Day on Thursday June 15th.

The Council is planning to launch an Active Travel campaign over the summer period, aiming to encourage people to walk, cycle or use the bus or train instead of the car.

National Clean Air Day is designed to help to raise awareness of the steps we can all take to reduce air pollution and its effects. Everyone can be affected by air pollution. But it has the most impact on young children and people with existing heart and lung conditions. It can also affect how babies organs develop in the womb, and is linked with low birth weight and being born prematurely. The Council will be showing it’s support over social media.

Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, Cllr Kamran Caan says: “We want to raise more awareness of the impact of air pollution and what people can do to be more environmentally friendly and better impact on their health. Our upcoming work with partners will aim to encourage people to make better choices when it comes to travel with reminders of how pollution and air quality can affect people’s health. “ Liz Gaulton, Acting Director of Public Health at Coventry City Council, says: “We need to continue the work to remind people of the importance of being energy efficient. This partnership working will also give us the opportunity to remind people of the impacts the environment also has on people’s health. “I encourage people to join the National Clean Air Day campaign tomorrow by showing your support on social media and helping to spread the word about how we can be greener.”

Liz Gaulton, Acting Director of Public Health at Coventry City Council, says: “We need to continue the work to remind people of the importance of being energy efficient. This partnership working will also give us the opportunity to remind people of the impacts the environment also has on people’s health. “I encourage people to join the National Clean Air Day campaign tomorrow by showing your support on social media and helping to spread the word about how we can be greener.”

Top tips to improve air quality:

1. Think about leaving the car at home - even for just one day per week.
2. Cycle or walk to work/school 
3. Have you thought about car share?
4. Be sure to switch off your engine when you're in stationary traffic or parked (and it's safe to do so)
5. Choose your next vehicle wisely - have you thought about an electric vehicle or LPG?

You can find more information and useful tips on the Clear Air Day website, and pledge to make a small change.