Air pollution can have severe consequences on human health and in the UK, it causes up to 36,000 deaths every year. The World Health Organisation and the UK Government recognise air pollution as the largest environmental risk we face these days. Exposure to air pollutants increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease and lung cancer, with children and the elderly being more susceptible to the harm it causes.
Clean Air Day is the largest pollution awareness campaign in the UK. This year, it’s taking place on Thursday, 16th June in 2022, with various events organised by Global Action Plan, the charity behind Clean Air Day. Participation from both the public and private organisations has been growing year on year, as this problem has been worsening and more and more people are being affected.
The Clean Air Day campaign encourages businesses to commit to assess and address their business impacts on air pollution, to demonstrate corporate responsibility by developing a plan to tackle it, and to make a public statement outlining both points.
On an individual level, the campaign urges people to rethink how they can mitigate their pollution footprint at least for the day, by making a pledge and following up by taking the corresponding action.
Everyone can and should participate!
VivaCity’s continuous commitment to a cleaner world
Our mission at VivaCity is to empower cities to put sustainable communities at the heart of their transport networks. We want to ensure that our tools are used by authorities for the right purposes, and for goals that we believe in. In every case, this means a purpose which helps the community, citizens & residents, focused on improving either the long-term liveability of neighbourhoods or environmental sustainability.
During lockdown data showed that we experienced a reduction in road traffic volumes, which translated into lower overall emissions and air pollution. As traffic levels return to, or exceed, pre-lockdown levels, it is critical that gains in air quality are not lost. Our work revolves around supporting organisations in the successful implementation of sustainable schemes, including active travel, congestion reduction and liveable neighbourhood projects, all of which can have a positive environmental impact.
As a company, we also strive to do more. We encourage our staff to choose sustainable commute options, and we pride ourselves in being cycle friendly by adapting spaces within our office to accommodate for bikes and making sure that everyone has access to the cycle to work scheme. Having a flexible working policy helps our staff organise their days so that commuting is not needed every day, and by having a flexible schedule that when commuting is needed, the rush hour can be avoided.
Clean Air Day Resources
Here is a list of resources that might be helpful to get you and your company onboard Clean Air Day.
- This is the official Clean Air Day website where you can learn more, sign up to receive news and take part in their events
- Learn more about last year’s campaign by reading the Clean Air Day 2020 Insights and Celebration report
- The resources page on their website is packed with collaterals ranging from social media cards, posters, email templates and much more
Make sure to visit our Air Quality Improvement page to learn more about VivaCity’s AI traffic sensor and how we can help support schemes aimed at improving air quality, active travel and other community focused projects.
Get in touch with our team if you have any questions or would like a demo.
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