30 DAYS CHALLENGE: improve the air we breathe!

Updated: May 5

Our 30 DAYS, 30 WAYS Challenge is part of Climate Action Newcastle's campaign for Cleaner Air - catch up on pictures, updates and future plans here.

Join our 30 DAYS Challenge!

Choose the ways you can make a difference to the air we all breathe!

Download our info pack, or use the FAQs & Links below.

WHY THIS MATTERS TO ALL OF US

Air pollution puts us all at risk – one breath at a time. It’s the biggest environmental risk each of us faces every day. If we could SEE it, we’d probably have tackled it far sooner. But there’s growing awareness – and much more information so we can make a difference.

This Cleaner Air Challenge info pack lists 30 ways we can improve the air around us.

Try out the options that best suit you, where you live and your lifestyle.
Select just one action to do over 30 days OR 30 different actions OR mix and match!

When can you start? Why not now? The info pack provided here to download is the first phase, launched for Jesmond Community Festival - but everyone is welcome to use it! Or kick off your actions on UK Clean Air Day – 15 June is the diary date!

Here’s how to use the list

Build your own list of the actions that work for you - tick them as a reminder
Add a note, if extra support or changes made by other people would help you to carry out additional actions and tick more boxes
Spread the word about successes! – including to Climate Action Newcastle 😊
Let us know if you’ve queries or suggestions: see us at a festival stall, email climatenewcastle@gmail.com or get in touch via our social media

The Info Pack is available to download as a Word doc or a PDF. It includes:

30 ACTIONS!
SUGGESTIONS
RESOURCES
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS

WE LOVE CLEANER AIR_30-Day Challenge Info Pack

.docx

Download DOCX • 119KB

WE LOVE CLEANER AIR_30-Day Challenge Info Pack_

.pdf

Download PDF • 515KB

Topics in the info pack include:

Guide to tackle ENGINE IDLING – for drivers, passers-by, commercial vehicles
MAKE AIR POLLUTION VISIBLE – find the facts about local air quality
ACTIVE TRAVEL, PUBLIC TRANSPORT – walk or wheel, use bus or train. Reduce the air pollution you generate, get exercise, lose weight, save money
DELIVERIES – to homes and workplaces (we often overlook online shopping, takeaways)
REDUCE VEHICLE EMISSIONS – carshare, drive in eco-friendly way, support electric taxis
GARDENERS – open fires, use compost as a “carbon sink”
HOMES AND AIR QUALITY
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES
CONSIDER CLEAN AIR WHEN SHOPPING
How to support “ELLA’S LAW” – lobby for this new bill to make our lives healthier and safer
DEMAND YOUR RIGHT FOR CLEAN AIR – take action!
BREAK DOWN BARRIERS THAT MAKE IT HARDER FOR US TO TAKE ACTION! – turn them into opportunities to help us all breathe cleaner air!

FAQs & LINKS

Have you found useful information not included below? – let us know, so we can share with people who, like you, want to improve the air we breathe! Get in touch via our social media or email climatenewcastle@gmail.com.

Why does air quality matter to me?

· air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths in UK

· World Health Organisation and UK Government recognise that air pollution is the largest environmental health risk we face today

How polluted is Jesmond?

Here’s how to check air quality for every postcode around Jesmond: https://www.addresspollution.org/

What is Ella’s Law?

The Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill is up for debate later this year. It could be the most positive piece of environmental legislation in decades - for health, climate & quality of life.

PETITION: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/support-the-clean-air-human-rights-bill

READ ABOUT ELLA’S CHARITY: https://ellaroberta.org/

MORE INFO: http://ellaslaw.uk

EARLY DAY MOTION - PLEASE ASK YOUR MP TO SIGN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE: https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/60394/the-clean-air-human-rights-bill

Idling: use our myth-busting guide!

Drivers often keep engines turning over based on out-of-date past guidance. And they often aren’t aware how the pollution harms the driver’s health even more than that of passing pedestrians! As well as contributing to climate change. Here are Word and pdf versions of our Climate Action Newcastle guide to tackling idling.

Idling Guide_Cleaner Air campaign

.docx

Download DOCX • 119KB

Idling Guide_Cleaner Air campaign

.pdf

Download PDF • 284KB

SPECIAL DATES TO CLEAN UP OUR AIR!

· 15 June – Clean Air Day: https://www.cleanairday.org.uk/

OTHER USEFUL LINKS

ACTIVE TRAVEL, PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Sustrans: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/

Traveline: https://travelinenortheast.info/