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Global Action Plan announces Clean Air Day 2021 date and campaign theme
- Global Action Plan, the sustainability charity that co-ordinates Clean Air Day, announces Clean Air Day 2021 will take place on 17th June.
- This year’s theme is ‘protect our children’s health from air pollution’, following a year of children’s lives being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sustainability charity Global Action Plan today announces this year’s Clean Air Day, the UK’s largest clean air campaign will take place on Thursday 17th June. In its fifth year and 20 weeks away from today, the theme for the campaign is ‘protect our children’s health from air pollution’.
Whilst air pollution is the UK’s largest environmental health issue that impacts everyone, children are particularly vulnerable to its impacts. Exposure to poor air quality can damage the health of our children, stunting their lung development and limiting life expectancy for some. Air pollution also causes heart and lung diseases, is linked to low birth weight and may even contribute to mental health issues and children’s ability to learn. It is therefore vital that they breathe clean air while at school, at home and outside.
2020 further saw children bear the burden of COVID-19, impacting their freedom, education and mental wellbeing. As our children return to their lives, we must ensure they go back to a safe and healthy environment where they can learn and play safely.
This Clean Air Day, as a clean air movement, Global Action Plan will be working with:
- Business – to help them recognise the impact they are having on children’s health and act to reduce air pollution by taking action through their own operations, with employees and with customers and suppliers
- Schools – to help schools ensure they are healthy places to learn and play as students come back into the premises
- Parents – enhance parent’s understanding of air pollution issues and solutions, aiming for majority support for the most crucial air quality measures
- Local authorities – to work together to ensure that children are protected from dirty air as they learn and play
- National government - convey the support of children, parents and teachers for government and major polluter action on air pollution
Clean Air Day 2021 will provide resources which will enable businesses, schools, parents and local authorities to take actions to reduce air pollution and come together to reflect on the difference we can all make.
Larissa Lockwood, Director of Clean Air at Global Action Plan, says: “We have seen the power of Clean Air Day to unite a movement, to bring confidence to talk about the importance of tackling air pollution even in trying times, and to push for change. But this year we are theming the campaign to ensure this information reaches those who need it most urgently. It is our belief that children, and particularly those from low-income families, will be impacted by the turmoil the pandemic has caused for years to come.
We all have a role to play in protecting our children’s health from the damaging consequences of air pollution – so they can learn and play safely. While face-to-face events will continue to be restricted this year, we hope people and organisations still make efforts to leave the car at home, hold knowledge sharing online events, share information and inspiration on social media and ensure that the demand for clean air is heard across the media to protect our children.”
Last year, Clean Air Day saw over 200 events, more than 2,200 individuals, classrooms and organisations tuned into the first ever Clean Air Day Live and more than 270 organisations now consider themselves Clean Air Day Supporters. To find out more, you can read the Clean Air Day Celebration Report.
To find out more about the campaign head to the Clean Air Day website or to learn more air pollution and how it impacts you, head to the Clean Air Hub.
