Toxic air in Wales can’t be ignored
Stephanie Woodland, our Communications Officer for Wales & Northern Ireland, shares our concerns about dangerous levels of air pollution in Wales, what areas are most at risk and our push for progress on the Clean Air Bill.
To breathe safe, clean, and non-toxic air should be a basic human right. However, in Wales we’re still seeing unsafe levels of air pollution. We’re campaigning to introduce the much-needed Clean Air Bill, which will save thousands of lives each year by improving air pollution monitoring and investing more into active travel. We believe the new law is needed to help prevent people from developing lung conditions and protect those with existing lung conditions from dangerous spikes in pollution.
The aim of the Clean Air Bill is to deliver new commitments and reduce the burden of poor air quality on human health, our economy, biodiversity and natural environment. The Bill could also support wider actions to address the climate emergency. Learn more: Healthy air, healthy Wales vision — The Asthma UK Blog (asthma.org.uk)
What’s the problem?
This year the World Health Organisation (WHO) published new ambitious targets to reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), toxic gases associated with air pollution. These toxic gases have been linked to children developing asthma, worsening of existing asthma and COPD, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, mental health and more. Leading to 1400-2000 people dying early each year.
What are these toxic gases?
NO2 is normally associated with road transport, energy generation and industry.
PM2.5 is associated with domestic wood and coal burning, industry, road transport and agriculture.
1400-2000 deaths per year in Wales can be attributed to air pollution, with people from deprived communities being impacted the most. We need to urgently tackle this threat to our health.
New data highlights that in Wales there is a serious breach in air pollution levels near residential properties, schools, GP practices and hospitals. It also states that all 7 health boards in Wales are now in areas of unsafe levels of air pollution.
Cardiff and Vale topped the charts as having the worst levels of air pollution followed by Aneurin Bevan and Abertawe Bro-Morgannwg. We need the Welsh Government to urgently speed up plans to introduce their promised Clean Air Bill and implement the Clean Air Plan.
The Welsh Government is dragging its feet
It’s vital that the Welsh Government move quickly to introduce the promised Clean Air Bill and enshrine the new WHO limits in law, helping us all to breathe better.
We need the Welsh Government to take bold action to reduce climate change and tackle air pollution. The two go hand in hand. It won’t be easy but by investing in low carbon technologies, public transport, and active travel, we can tackle air pollution.
Use your voice to take action against air pollution.
Use our simple tool to send an email to your MSs asking them to clean up our air.
It only takes 2 minutes and your voice can make a difference!
Take action now to tackle air pollution in Wales
Where there’s Christmas, there’s hope
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