Tackling Air Pollution – Clean Air Day
Every year, air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths in the UK.
Clean Air Day (17 June 2021) is the UK’s largest air pollution campaign. Its aim is to unite communities, businesses, schools and the health sector with a common goal of making the air cleaner and healthier for everyone.
Air pollution affects your health from your first breath to your last, so this Clean Air Day South Wales Fire and Rescue Service pledge to work to reduce air pollution and build a clean air future for our communities.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service provides essential and life-saving services to some of the most densely populated areas in South Wales. This means that many of the areas we serve and protect have concerning levels of air quality.
Poor air quality levels can be a result of a combination of things like road transport, energy generation and open fires.
Healthy Travel Charters:
We have signed a number of Healthy Travel Charters across South Wales that commit to a range of actions to encourage and support a greater professional and leisure active travel from our personnel – contributing to a reduction in vehicle emissions.
Electric Vehicles:
We have introduced a number of electric vehicles and vehicle charging stations at our Headquarters in Llantrisant. We are also running an ongoing replacement scheme with the aim of moving to a fully electric fleet of vehicles. Additionally, we are also looking to pilot electric charging facilities at a number of our Stations to encourage the move to electric vehicles by our staff and crews.
Tree Planting Projects:
We are working with a number of tree planting organisations across our network to facilitate increased canopy coverage across Wales in an effort to improve the air quality across Wales. In partnership with Cardiff Council, crews from Whitchurch Station rehomed 12 Saplings!
Carbon Reduction Plan:
We are continuously working to fulfil the objectives and actions identified within our Carbon Reduction Plan.
Walk, cycle or scoot: Being stuck in traffic isn’t just frustrating, it can also expose you to lots of pollution! Polluted air from the exhaust of other vehicles can get sucked into your car and stay trapped there, meaning you and any passengers travelling with you breathe in lots of pollution.
Work from home: If your employer allows it, working from home occasionally be beneficial as it helps you avoid commuting to and from the workplace altogether.
Travel electric: Whether you own or hire, there are lots of ways you can travel electric. You could even consider an electric vehicle for your next car.
DON’T start deliberate refuse or grass fires: Deliberate fires are dangerous and can spread extremely quickly, putting the environment and lives at risk. Fire smoke can give off thick swathes of smoke which can damage your health and put those with respiratory conditions at further risk.
If you have any information on deliberate fires call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
If you see a fire or anyone starting a fire, please call 999 immediately.
For more information and to find out how you can get involved in Clean Air Day, please visit the Clean Air Day website.