We Love Cleaner Air! 2023 campaign #1

January 2023 saw the arrival of traffic tolls to clean up air in the centre of Newcastle and further rollout of measures to improve air safety near schools, for pupils and adults. Climate Action Newcastle welcomed this overdue progress, but much more was urgently needed – so in 2023 we launched our Cleaner Air campaign. Our supporters and partners got involved to help us all achieve – and breathe! – cleaner air.

LAUNCH HIGHLIGHTS Celebratory Welcome Walk for Newcastle’s new Clean Air Zone - 28 January

• Supporters and medical campaigners walked the CAZ boundaries! – report and Picture Gallery here

• Support for cleaner air shared – our messages of support were shared in press and social media for this chance to improve health and reduce lives lost due to poor air quality (see a sample below)

• The Walk was supported by the Ride for their Lives Bike Ride – cyclists who highlight the health dangers of poor air quality. Share their powerful stories here.

• Newcastle’s CAZ increased its impact in July, with the expansion of Newcastle’s Clean Air Zone. Vans were added to the vehicles subject to tolls – all helping our air to get even cleaner. Lots more info on the zone here. 

We supported “Ella’s law” – the Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill – link to the background and the Ella Roberta Foundation here.

• We raised awareness about 9-year-old Ella, whose tragic death raised the profile of the invisible dangers of air pollution

• And we explained why local people in our area are at risk – almost 40,000 UK citizens die due to dangerous air pollution every year. Many others suffer reduced quality of life for many years.

Congratulations were sent to Ella’s mother Rosamund, whose campaigning led to her being included in the New Year Honours list for services to public health.

END-OF-2023 HIGHLIGHTS

• There was early evidence that Newcastle’s Clean Air Zone was reducing pollution and making air healthier for local residents

• The CAZ scheme entered a second stage in July, requiring more vehicles to meet safer emission standards.

• Our 30 WAYS TO CLEANER AIR guide, developed by CAN supporters, had been used by hundreds of local people to decide how they could best help improve local air quality

• We highlighted the value of monitoring data, and celebrated an artwork at the Baltic gallery that captures this - picture above!

• BUT the badly needed new Metro trains did not arrive on time - leading to a rise in technical breakdowns, disrupted schedules and crowded carriages. Forty-six new trains were on order and being tested.

LOOKBACK BY KEY ORGANISATIONS AND PARTNERS, WITH LINKS

• NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL: Throughout 2023, Climate Action Newcastle supporters and other climate campaign groups expressed the importance of clean air for the health of local residents, as well as for tackling climate breakdown.

Councillor Marion Williams, cabinet member for a connected, clean city at Newcastle City Council, sent this message at the end of 2023: “2023 has seen the city council, our residents and businesses take a number of important steps towards cleaner air.

“The launch of the Clean Air Zone in January has resulted in hundreds of businesses and taxi drivers investing in cleaner, less polluting vehicles, with over £2m paid out in vehicle upgrade grants to help towards this cost. We’re currently reviewing the grants scheme so that in 2024 we can provide financial support to more people looking to upgrade older vehicles and help cut harmful emissions.

Together with Sustrans, we’ve also continued our School Street trials, which have helped many children and their families enjoy safer, more active and less polluted journeys to school. I’m delighted that we were recently able to confirm that the trial at Hotspur Primary School, in Heaton, will be made permanent, with monitoring and evaluation of the remaining trials currently ongoing.

The impact of poor air quality on people’s health – particularly children’s health – is well documented and our commitment to tackling this issue will continue in 2024.”

• SCIENCE: A leading air quality scientist confirmed that the first five months of the new zone saw a “significant” improvement in air quality. Professor Anil Namdeo, Northumbria University, said: “The analysis needs to be repeated for a longer duration, but these initial results indicate that measures like CAZ are steps in the right direction to tackle a complex environmental problem like air pollution.

He added: “Our initial analysis of the air quality data from urban background monitoring station at Newcastle Civic Centre has shown that air quality (NO2 concentrations) has improved significantly over the Feb-June period in 2023 when compared to the similar period in 2022. Real progress is possible with the right commitment from local and national governments.”

ART: Local artist Cameron Lings created Repercussions to illustrate peaks and troughs of pollution near the Tyne Bridge over 12 months. The acrylic, aluminium and concrete work was installed on the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art’s Level 4 Viewing Terrace, close to the kittiwake nesting area.

CAN marked the July CAZ expansion next to the work of art. Convener Jacky Doran said: “Because we can’t SEE the high levels of pollution that cause deaths and a wide range of harms to health, monitoring data has been vital to show us all why change was needed. We were delighted to find that a local artist made this connection and was inspired to create his work. Positioning it close to the world’s most inland kittiwake colony is a brilliant way to show how wildlife, as well as local people, are benefitting from these improvements.”

• "RIDE FOR THEIR LIVES" CAMPAIGN: Dr Heather Lambert, a recently retired Newcastle paediatrician, worked with CAN to welcome the CAZ arrival in January : "The science demonstrating the devastating effects of air pollution on health, is clear and we believe it is our responsibility to keep repeating the health arguments to support those making good infrastructure changes and to help convince those who doubt the importance of controversial changes like clean air zones and low traffic neighbourhoods. "

In addition to cycling, the campaign has spoken on TV and radio, talked to journalists, written letters and attended parliamentary meetings. In September, Heather spoke at a  Newcastle Council meeting. "We will keep up the dialogue and pressure to advocate for every child's right to breath clean air." See why Tyneside medical campaigners support change here' and info about Ride for Their Lives here.

• CAN CLEANER AIR CAMPAIGN COMMENT: organiser Olwyn Hocking said: “Monitoring data from other parts of the country where clean air changes came in earlier has shown that air pollution has reduced. Local high levels of air pollution put us all at risk – it’s the biggest environmental risk each of us faces every day. Just as we all welcome drivers looking after the safety of their cars by having annual MOTs, we also welcome the changes people are making so their car emissions safer as well.” Campaign 2023 overview here.

EXAMPLES OF OUR CLEANER AIR CAMPAIGNING IN 2023

The Clean Air Zone imposed no tolls on private car drivers, so reducing emissions through fewer car trips is down to all of us. We urged everyone to step back to check other "hidden" vehicle emissions from our decisions, such as deliveries of our homes or workplaces.

· Active travel is good for fitness, reduces carbon emissions and saves money! Opportunities to get active and cut the mileage include "WALK & WHEEL" - consider cycling, e-bikes, e-scooters, rollerblading or simply pulling on your trainers and aiming for 10,000 steps a day. Check out safe routes away from roads with Sustrans,

· Home deliveries – can your supplier change transport options, such as using bikes or e-bikes? Could you walk or use public transport to a collection point? Does your supplier offer "eco-delivery slots?" - if not, tell them you will switch to other suppliers who do. And do take into account the carbon emission of ordering goods then returning them.

· Spreading the word also makes a huge difference – to workplaces, volunteer groups, personal contacts. If a taxi is used – why not request an electric car? Phoenix Transport is a local firm that's showing the way - if you use a different firm, why not ask them to follow this green example.

Cleaner Air around Newcastle Schools. We supported Walk to School Week between 16 and 20 May, with Living Streets support.

We invited all supporters of clean air to take action to mark UK Clean Air Day on 15 June.

#WeLoveCleanerAir! - MESSAGES OF SUPPORT AT THE LAUNCH

Anil Namdeo, Professor of Air Quality Management, Northumbria University

“There is already enough evidence to link exposure to air pollution with adverse health effects. Air pollution has been linked with asthma, coronary heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, COPD, diabetes and dementia. Its effects are worse for vulnerable people including children, the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. Any improvement in air quality in an area will bring about significant public health benefits to the sensitive populations. Thus, the Newcastle and Gateshead Clean Air Zone will play a vital role in improving the health of citizens.”

Cllr Jane Byrne, cabinet member for a connected, clean city, Newcastle City Council: “We need to tackle air pollution for the sake of everyone’s health and the Clean Air Zone, which launches on Monday 30 January, is part of the solution. According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to human health, alongside climate change.

In Newcastle, we’re taking steps, through the Clean Air Zone and initiatives such as School Streets and low traffic neighbourhoods, to try to reduce the harmful vehicle emissions that are a significant part of the problem.

In addition to improving our air quality, this will also help to reduce our impact on the wider environment and climate. It is wonderful to see people showing their support for this action through the Welcome Walk and Bike Ride.”

Dr Paul Steadman, Sustainability Manager, Northumbria University

“Northumbria University is happy to be the starting location for those who plan to embark on symbolic walking and cycling trips on 28th January to commemorate the launch of the Newcastle and Gateshead Clean Air Zone. At Northumbria we are committed to sustainability and proactively aim to minimise the impact our activities have on the environment. Our research is supporting the response to some of the biggest challenges facing the world today, including the fight against climate change.”

Ride For Their Lives organiser Heather Lambert, retired Newcastle paediatrician.

"Rates of asthma and other respiratory diseases are rising. Over 30,000 people die prematurely each year in the UK because of poor air quality. Local people, especially children, deserve the right to breathe clean air. “We know the solutions to climate change include reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and that bicycles, along with walking and other forms of active travel, are part of the solution. That is why I and other Newcastle doctors, health workers and supporters are celebrating the introduction of a Clean Air Zone.”