Clean Air Day launches resources for 15 June 2023 campaign

Environmental charity Global Action Plan, which co-ordinates Clean Air Day – the UK’s largest campaign on air pollution – has launched this year’s resources ahead of the 15 June campaign. The 2023 resources enable individuals, schools, businesses, health organisations, community groups and local authorities to demonstrate support for action on air pollution.

In its seventh year, Clean Air Day helps to drive a positive shift in public knowledge and action. The day is a chance to find out more about air pollution, share information, and make our air cleaner and healthier for everyone.

The resources include a social media pack, a template letter to ask for air quality measures, newsletter and website copy, an event pack, content to help health professionals have conversations with patients about air pollution, assembly packs, lesson plans and activities, and many more.

The resources are structured by sector to make it as easy as possible to access, with dedicated resource hubs for: Individuals, the Health Sector, Local Authorities, Schools, Campaign and Community Groups.

In line with this year’s Clean Air Day theme: ‘Clean up the air to look after your mind this Clean Air Day’, Global Action Plan is encouraging people to:

• Learn: find out more about how air pollution impacts our mental, physical and planet’s health.
• Act: walk, wheel or use public transport to reduce your exposure and contribution to air pollution. If you drive, try leaving the car behind on Clean Air Day and one day every week.
• Ask: get in touch with your local councillor to ask them to support clean air measures that make it easier for you to breathe clean air.

Larissa Lockwood, Director of Clean Air at Global Action Plan, says: ‘We want as many people and organisations as possible to use this year’s resources to highlight how air pollution can affect mental and brain health, not just the physical health impacts – such as asthma, heart disease and cancers – which have been recognised for decades. By taking clean air action on 15 June and every day, we are improving our air quality and reducing our risk of developing mental health and brain conditions.

‘air quality is solvable, and we can all do something to cut pollution. By using our free resources, individuals, communities, schools, the health sector, local authorities and businesses can all do something to cut pollution to benefit our health and planet.’

To stay up to date on Clean Air Day 2023, sign up to the newsletter, or for more information on how to protect your health from air pollution, head to the Clean Air Hub.