60 West Midlands schools in areas exceeding air pollution limits
Over 3.4 million UK children attend schools with toxic air
60 schools in the West Midlands are in areas with air pollution limits which exceed those set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
It comes as new data from the charity Clean Air Day finds over a quarter (27%) - 7,852 out of all 28,965 UK schools - are located in areas which are above limits for the pollutant PM2.5.
The charity reviewed the air quality outside schools because children are particularly vulnerable to its impacts and spend a significant amount of time at school.
People in Worcester are keen to cut their carbon emissions as well and say it's a top priority for them.
One woman said: "We need cleaner air for better living, for the planet and for lots of things really."
A teenager said: "I try to use a car less and share lifts with my friends if I can.
A girl in her 20s added: "Going forward sustainability is a massive issue. I try to shop as local as possible to avoid longer journeys."
New data from Volkswagen Financial Services UK Half of motorists (50%) say they would like to drive an electric vehicle.
The research also reveals that 78% of people say it'll hurt the environment if they don't give up petrol and diesel cars.
Worcester City Council are stepping up efforts to encourage people to use electric vehicles.
The local authority has committed to installing more electric vehicle charging points across the city, with six being installed in St Martin's Gate car park in July.
How can you reduce your carbon emissions?
The Clean Air Day campaign is calling on people to do what they can to help reduce air pollution in towns and cities.
• Individuals: are being asked to go polluting-vehicle free by leaving the car at home and refraining from ordering non-essential, polluting deliveries as well as supporting their local authority’s actions to tackle air pollution to protect children’s health.
• Schools: are being asked to host assemblies to raise awareness on air pollution, to encourage parents, carers and teachers to leave the car at home and to tell their local council what they would like to see happening to tackle air pollution by writing or tweeting them to protect children’s health.
• Businesses: are being asked to signal their commitment to cleaning up toxic air by assessing and addressing their business impact on air quality and make a public statement outlining their commitment to protect children’s health.
• Health sector: hospitals and health professionals are being encouraged to host events and use the campaign as an opportunity to share information with patients and staff on the impact of air pollution and how to protect their health. They are also being asked to support local council’s clean air activities by writing or tweeting at them about what they want to see happening to tackle air pollution to protect children’s health.
• Local authorities: are being asked to communicate the health risks of air pollution and how to tackle it to schools, residents, businesses and health groups with the need for action and say what they are doing to protect children’s health from air pollution.
Larissa Lockwood, Director of Clean Air at Global Action Plan said: “The fact that 27% of UK schools are above WHO air pollution limits is extremely alarming.
"Air pollution is not a fact of life. If we all do our bit, it can be solved with collaborative action and education.
"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 it can’t stop there.
"Tools like the Clean Air for Schools Framework are available for free to help any school set up a clean air action plan, but schools cannot do this alone.
If we all come together - individuals, schools, businesses, local authorities across the UK to collectively act and seize this moment we can create and support change, for good.”