Make a difference to the air we breathe in Newcastle by trying out the options that suit your lifestyle, values, and where you live.
1)
Travel Sustainably – active and public transport are great ways to reduce air pollution and save money!
Walking
Use phone apps to find new and exciting walking routes to reach your destination.
Scoot or Cycle
Consider buying a used bike or trial an e-bike or e-scooter. These are quick ways to explore your area while getting from A to B.
Car Share
You don't need to own a car to drive one. Co-wheels has pay-as-you go cars for you to use as and when you need.
Public Transport
No jams and no pressure of finding parking! Read a book or reply to texts while you take the bus, metro, train or ferry.
Eco-Driving
Check your tyres regularly, reduce time spent idling, and reduce mileage by working or studying from home.
2)
Support Campaigns to Protect Our Health – air pollution poses a significant threat to both human health and our environment.
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Stay well-informed by learning about the devastating impacts of air pollution on child health by reading the story of Ella, a nine year old who has air pollution named as a cause of death.
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Ask your MP to champion clean air - use the Global Action Plan’s template to make this easy and effective.
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Join forces with others - with friends, colleagues, employers, and family members to find out more about air quality and take action together.
3)
Be a Conscious Consumer – Consider the ethical , environmental, and health impacts of your hard earned money, and ensure they align with your values.
Local & less packaging
Reduce your carbon footprint by shopping in your area. Try to find local markets and shops that use less packaging than big retailers.
Plants on our plates
Choose organic, local, and seasonal produce. Adopt a plant based diet to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Greener Orders
Do large shops to reduce amount of deliveries, book green delivery slots, and consider the impact of returning items.
Second-Hand Styles
Reuse, repurpose, swap or buy second hand where possible. See our Second Hand September campaign to find out more.
4)
Eco-Friendly Experiences - we can add exciting activities into our lives while protecting our environment.​
Get involved in low carbon activities – Connect with nature while learning new skills and making friends. Newcastle and the surrounding area boast incredible biodiversity, scenery, and activities.
Sustainable holidays – We don’t need to go far to enjoy our holidays! Travelling the UK gives us a fresh perspective of our country, reduces costs, and reduces our carbon footprint.
5)
It starts at home - small changes to be more sustainable at home can improve both indoor and outdoor air quality.
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Avoid wood burners – Wood stoves emit more harmful particles than gas or heat pumps and are the UK’s biggest source of fine pollution. The smoke harms our health and releases a carbon spike that takes decades to offset.
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Service your boiler regularly – Good maintenance maximises efficiently, saving you money and reducing pollution.
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Check your energy supplier – Consider switching to a green energy supplier.
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Be energy efficient - Keep lids on pans, only boil as much water is necessary, ensure washing machine loads are full, and dry washing naturally.
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Compost – You can compost even without a garden by using organic waste schemes. Food waste emits pollution in landfill but absorbs emission when composted. Read our blog about Bokashi composting here.
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Avoid open fires - Instead of burning garden waste, try composting green organic matter in open composting or use as mulches. Consider buying compost compost converters and bins with the help of Newcastle City Council.