New campaign to encourage parents to rethink car journeys

Mums for Lungs have launched a new campaign to encourage parents to rethink car journeys.

Clean air campaign group Mums for Lungs have organised a new campaign as part of Car Free Day to encourage parents to adopt active travel. 

More than 100 parents have taken part in the guerilla poster campaign, with over 2,000 posters appearing outside schools and nurseries in 30 local authorities across England and Wales. 

Mums for Lungs have been campaigning for three years for action from both local and national government and they have recently created a range of resources to help support parents, residents and councils to reduce air pollution outside the school gate.

Jane Dutton, campaigner at Mums for Lungs, said: ‘During this respiratory pandemic traffic levels, the main source of air pollution, are higher than ever.

‘We must urgently reduce traffic around schools, and across all of the UK.

‘Many people are unaware of the toxic state of the air that we breathe – metal particles were recently found in three-year-olds’ heart from vehicle emissions.

‘Many drivers are also not aware that the air inside a car can be three to 15 times higher than outside. With this campaign, we are hoping to raise some awareness and call on the Government to address this public health crisis effectively and immediately.’

In related news, earlier this year Air Quality News got in touch with Jemima Hartshorn, founder of Mums for Lungs to find out more about the campaign group. 

In the interview, Jemima made clear that although action on air pollution has certainly improved since Mums for Lungs started, it is by no means enough.

‘The government have promised £2bn for cycling and £27bn for roads. That is the beginning and the end of what I have to say.’

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