Hundreds of people in Camden die every year from illnesses related to air pollution. Most streets in the borough break the standards set by the European Union.
At a meeting on Monday, it was said the council should have “deep concern” about the possible health risks.
The council are the first local authority to commit to the WHO’s standards, aiming to achieve them by 2030.
Environment chief Councillor Adam Harrison says:
“We are aiming at WHO’s limits because they go further. We want people living and working in Camden to work with us and the Mayor of London. The motion is a good starting point.”
Councillor Danny Beales says the borough is “immensely proud” of its commitment to improving air quality. He says that while Camden has achieved a great deal already, “we need to go much further” and “hopefully we can provide an example for other authorities”.
Mr Beales stresses that the targets are the most ambitious that Camden have ever faced. He says that the council now need to develop an action plan with interim targets so that the borough can improve before 2030.
Initiatives to increase cycling will continue, while new building projects will gradually use more environmentally-friendly HGVs.
New developments will also be built without car-parking facilities and measures will be implemented to monitor and improve air quality around schools.
Rachel Wrangham from Camden Air Action says that the commitment is a “massive step in the right direction”, but that physical action is still needed.
An initiative encouraged by the group as part of the targets is “Healthier School Zones”.
This would consist of a number plate recognition system that only permits certain vehicles to access schools during drop-off and pick-up times.
Air pollution levels around Camden schools are especially dangerous, and this was a key focus of the meeting.
Tune into City News at 3:30pm for the full story.
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineCamden becomes first council to adopt stricter air pollution targets
Short HeadlineCamden adopts stricter air pollution targets
Standfirst
Hundreds of people in Camden die every year from illnesses related to air pollution. Most streets in the borough break the standards set by the European Union.
At a meeting on Monday, it was said the council should have “deep concern” about the possible health risks.
The council are the first local authority to commit to the WHO’s standards, aiming to achieve them by 2030.
Environment chief Councillor Adam Harrison says:
“We are aiming at WHO’s limits because they go further. We want people living and working in Camden to work with us and the Mayor of London. The motion is a good starting point.”
Councillor Danny Beales says the borough is “immensely proud” of its commitment to improving air quality. He says that while Camden has achieved a great deal already, “we need to go much further” and “hopefully we can provide an example for other authorities”.
Mr Beales stresses that the targets are the most ambitious that Camden have ever faced. He says that the council now need to develop an action plan with interim targets so that the borough can improve before 2030.
Initiatives to increase cycling will continue, while new building projects will gradually use more environmentally-friendly HGVs.
New developments will also be built without car-parking facilities and measures will be implemented to monitor and improve air quality around schools.
Rachel Wrangham from Camden Air Action says that the commitment is a “massive step in the right direction”, but that physical action is still needed.
An initiative encouraged by the group as part of the targets is “Healthier School Zones”.
This would consist of a number plate recognition system that only permits certain vehicles to access schools during drop-off and pick-up times.
Air pollution levels around Camden schools are especially dangerous, and this was a key focus of the meeting.
Internationally renowned for transforming her life into confessional art, the exhibition offers an intimate and unapologetic glimpse into one of Britain’s most influential contemporary artists.
As e-bike riders weave through London’s busiest junctions, red lights are increasingly treated as optional. One software engineer says the problem may be baked into how hire firms charge users
