Leicestershire County Council is again supporting national Clean Air Day 2022, which this year takes place tomorrow (Thursday 16 June).
Clean Air Day is the UK’s largest campaign on air pollution and this year’s theme is ‘Air Pollution Dirties Every Organ in the Body’.
Clean Air Day’s messages are simple – everyone can do their bit to reduce pollution and making small changes like leaving their cars and walking instead can make a big difference.
Air pollution can affect everyone, although is particularly harmful to the most vulnerable people in our community. This includes pregnant women, children, older people and those with underlying health conditions.
This Clean Air Day, Leicestershire County Council is encouraging people to think about their environmental impact and the simple steps they can take to help reduce air pollution. The World Health Organisation and the Government recognise that air pollution is the largest environmental health risk we face today.
A new Park & Stride scheme is being launched by the council in partnership with Fleckney Primary School to mark Clean Air Day. The scheme is aimed at getting children walking safely to school, as well as reducing harmful emissions from car journeys.
Park & Stride schemes involve the use of nearby car parks for children to then walk the rest of the way- normally five to ten minutes- to school. This is either accompanied by their parents, carers, or guardians.
Air pollution can have serious negative effects on people’s health.
Our continuing support of Clean Air Day and continued commitment to the environment show that we at the council are taking these health impacts seriously.
We will continue to demonstrate our support for action on air pollution and cut down on the pollution we cause, taking the impact on our health very seriously in line with this year’s theme.
Person:Councillor Louise Richardson, cabinet member for public healthThe council is supporting Clean Air Day as part of its drive to address climate change through becoming a net zero council by 2030 and working with Leicestershire people and organisations to become a net zero county by 2045 or before.
It is great to be supporting Clean Air Day for another year, as it gives us all an opportunity to think about our own impact on the environment and air pollution.
We have great plans to improve the environment here in Leicestershire, and I encourage all of our residents to do their bit to help to support us and get involved.
Person:Councillor Blake Pain, cabinet member for the environment and the green agendaAs part of its commitment to net zero, Leicestershire County Council is inviting people to get involved in a major consultation, running until 26 July. People can take part in the consultation on the net zero webpage.
To find out more about sustainable travel and other ways you can get involved with Clean Air Day, visit Choose How You Move.