Challenge to keep air pollution low for Clean Air Day

Charity and NGO Global Action Plan has launched a new challenge urging businesses and local authorities to keep air pollution down on what would have been Clean Air Day. 

The annual Clean Air Day event was scheduled for today (June 18), however due to the coronavirus the events have been postponed until October 8. 

However, in celebration of what would have been Clean Air Day, Global Action Plan has challenged companies, local authorities and individuals to keep air pollution low by keeping cars off the road today, and where possible over the summer months. 

Data analysed by the charity has revealed that nitrogen dioxide levels for the week leading up Clean Air Day 2020 are 18% lower than the same week in 2019. 

Lockdown restrictions imposed by the government has meant that many people have been able to experience what life would be like with less traffic and lower pollution. Global Action Plan is urging for action to be taken to keep pollution levels down permanently. 

Global Action Plan is encouraging local authorities are encouraged to trial ‘School Streets,’ where roads are closed to vehicles during school pick-up and drop-off times, they are encouraging businesses to continue supporting remote working and encouraging individuals to put pressure on decision-makers and businesses to take steps to keep pollution levels low. 

Larissa Lockwood, head of Air Quality at Global Action Plan said: ‘During this coronavirus crisis, we have seen that breathing polluted air need not be a fact of life, and many have enjoyed the benefits of lower traffic neighbourhoods.

‘Air pollution over the previous days has been significantly lower than it was this time last year.  We now have an unprecedented opportunity to make clean air part of the new normal, and today we put the challenge out there for all of us to play our part to maintain these lower levels of air pollution, make Clean Air Day 2020 the cleanest Clean Air Day yet and enable us all to breathe healthier air.’

Photo Credit – Pixabay