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Build Back Cleaner Air

Our Build Back Cleaner Air report, based on primary social research and secondary scientific data over the lockdown period, presents evidence for government, local authorities, and campaigners to build back cleaner air more urgently than ever.

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Key outcomes

 

There is a link between environmental health and infectious disease

 

Air pollution is more important than ever as it is a cause of underlying health conditions that can make people more susceptible to detrimental health outcomes from COVID-19.

 

 

 

Heightened salience of air pollution

 

 

The public now consider clean air more important than ever and want to see central and local government and businesses invest more urgently in tackling air pollution than before the COVID-19 crisis

 

Willingness to change

 

 

The public have embraced new low air pollution behaviours, such as walking, cycling and working from home, and want to keep doing them.

 

 

 

Downloads

 

Off the back of the report, we have created downloadable tools and assets to help the clean air movement, active travel groups and national and local governments best utilise its key findings. We hope our guidance will equip you to effectively engage the decision makers, businesses and the public in making the urgent case for clean air.

Downloadable Tools

 

Introductory Powerpoint (ppt)

 

Full report (PDF)

 

Summary briefing (PDF)

 

Stats and quotes (PDF)

Awareness raising on changes in air pollution

 

To create awareness of changes in air quality and campaign against air pollution in your local area we have created three images you can use to draw attention to times when pollution is good and times when it is poor. You can use any of these as posters in the form of separate images or as a set, if you have the capability to adapt them on a manual basis to the current pollution situation. They can also be used as social media graphics on a similar basis.

 

Please head to our forecasting section on the Clean Air Hub to find your air pollution level.

      • If the air quality is 1-3 use the “good” image
      • If air quality is between 4-6 use the “moderate” image
      • If the air quality is between 7-10 use the “bad” image

 

Twitter

 

Twitter, air quality good  Twitter, air quality moderate   Twitter, air quality bad 

 

Instagram

 

Instagram, good air quality  Instagram, moderate air quality  Instagram, bad air quality

 

Facebook and Instagram Stories

 

Stories, good air quality  Stories, moderate air quality Stories, bad air quality

Link between environmental health and infectious disease

 

Useful for: Clean air campaign groups, national and local government. Use these if you want to campaign: for a green recovery, the health impacts of air pollution, better tackle coronavirus and social justice.

 

Air pollution causes or worsens underlying health conditions that make people more vulnerable to complications if they contract COVID-19  People with health conditions that are caused or worsened by air pollution - such as asthma, heart disease and COPD - are more vulnerable to complications if they contract COVID-19  I live on Brixton Hill and my kids cough a lot - I think it's related

People exposed to high levels of air pollution are more vulnerable to catch COVID-19. Health conditions that are caused or worsened by air pollution make a person more vulnerable to COVID-19 and its consequences  Over lockdown levels of NO2 air pollution dropped by 20-30% across the UK  The pandemic has demonstrated that health outcomes are the result of inter-related determinants of health such as where we live. Action to reduce air pollution should therefore be seen as an essential route to addressing the health inequalities that we see nationally

The doctor says I should use the inhaler every 4 hours, but since lockdown I only use it once a day  Only 28% of lower income households are working from home, compared to 76% in higher income households  People that have been living in places that are more polluted are more likely to die from coronavirus

1 billion road miles could be saved through remote working

Heightened public awareness of air pollution

 

Useful for: Clean air campaign groups, active travel groups, national and local government. Use these if you want to campaign: a green recovery, low emission traffic measures and social justice.

 

5% of the UK public reported noticing an improvement in air quality over lockdown  During lockdown 72% of Londoners noticed an improvement in air quality  72% of the UK public now feel that clean air is more important than ever

Wouldn't that be amazing though, if there were a lot more pedestrianised streets. I think the absence of traffic, rather than the absence of people, is the great thing  I've lived in central London for years and I suppose I'd just got used to the grey-yellow haze of fumes that hangs permanently in the air. This photo was taken six weeks into lockdown. I'd already noticed that the air tasted fresher - but the crystal clear view from Point Hill to Canary Wharf was literally evidence in front of my eyes.  I've noticed a bit of change. I'm quite happy to sit out on the balcony and I don't feel like I'm particularly choking like I did before. It has been really good to go out there and not smell the car fumes 

More than 1 in 3 of us say the roads feel safer for walking and cycling during lockdown  2 out of 3 adults in Manchester want to see the central and local government invest more urgently in tackling air pollution than before the outbreak  2 out of 3 adults in Birmingham want to see the central and local government invest more urgently in tackling air pollution than before the outbreak

6 out of 10 parents are worried about increased levels of traffic when lockdown is lifted   62% of us want to see central and local government invest more urgently in tackling air pollution than before the outbreak  69% of us want to see communities retain safer roads and fewer car journeys when lockdown eases

3 out of 4 adults want businesses to do more to improve air quality in their recovery   The majority of adults in London want to see the central and local government invest more urgently in tackling air pollution than before the outbreak

Public willingness to change

 

Useful for: Clean air campaign groups, active travel groups, national and local government. Use these if you want to campaign: for a green recovery, for the implementation of “school streets”, for low emission traffic measures and social justice.

 

It's a freedom I've never felt before in a car, now I see why you do it. Let's hope it stays like this after COVID-19 There has been lots of talk about expanding cycling lane provision, and making people feel safer. That would be a place to start We need the government and local authorities to put in place long-term systems which are forward thinking and actually consider issues of inclusivity and fairness. We need more investment in safer active public transport that allows people to get back to work

I'd like it if there weren't so many cars in the streets. That people can use the bike more, that we can move and be more relaxed Half of the UK public would like to do more walking We know that cleaner air is possible. During lockdown we saw massive shifts towards low pollution behaviours as people worked from home and walked and cycled instead of driving short trips. Moments to maintain profound change like this rarely come along. We must together seize this moment and build back cleaner air

Right now it's a cyclists and walkers' dream with no cars. Everyone feels safe, I've seen lots of families outside ...as soon as they lift those restrictions that traffic is going to come back, and that is the reason I didn't use to cycle as much. If I can I'd love to keep up cycling but one of the reasons I'd go to the gym was because of traffic on the roads The majority of adults want to see more space for pedestrians and cyclists More than half of parents plan to walk or cycle more than they did before lockdown Over half of us say we would do more cycling or walking after lockdown. 1 in 4 of us would like to use private vehicles less when lockdown is lifted 47% of us would like to walk more when lockdown is lifted4 out of 5 of us say active travel would be easier with pedestrianised city centres. 4 out of 5 of us say active travel would be easier with wider pavements. 4 out of 5 of us say active travel would be easier with cycle lanes.

69% of us want to see communities retain safer roads and fewer car journeys when lockdown eases 87% of people currently working from home would like to continue to do so

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Action For Clean Air is brought to you by Global Action Plan. Charity registered in England and Wales number 1026148, and in Scotland number SC041260. Tel: 020 3817 7636. © 2024