Bristol Friends of the Earth calls for protection of children’s lungs this Clean Air Day
Friends of the Earth are also teaming up with Knowle West Media Centre to run a family event in Felix Road Adventure Playground in Lawrence Hill. The day will include workshops for kids to build their own pollution monitors and Friends of the Earth will be providing Clean Air Schools Packs for parents and teachers.
Siôn Elis Williams, Friends of the Earth’s Regional Campaigner for South West England, said:
“Bristol’s air pollution has exceeded current legal limits for decades and leads to 300 premature deaths in the city each year. Dirty air disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in society, including young children, older people and those with conditions such as asthma.
“After decades of government inaction children today are taking matters into their own hands by building their own pollution monitors. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We hope that the Mayor of Bristol will safeguard the futures of Bristol’s children by showing real ambition when developing Bristol’s Clean Air Plan.”
Friends of the Earth has been calling for a Clean Air Zone that would cover the whole of Bristol, because research commissioned by Bristol City Council found that this would be the best option for improving public health. This option was ruled out by Cabinet in March. Friends of the Earth is now calling for a Medium Clean Air Zone that includes all vehicle types and charges the dirtiest vehicles to move around, and supporting measures to make sure that the move towards cleaner air is fair.
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Clean Air Day takes place on 21st June 2018. Read more here