Demand action on air pollution from your Council

Air pollution is a public health emergency in Northern Ireland. The Department of Health project that in the period 2017-2035, the total costs to health and social care are estimated to be in the region of £182m - £635m. Air pollution is draining our resources, straining our health system, cutting short over 500 lives a year here and expected to cause 84,000 new disease cases by 2035.

When people are exposed to high pollution levels, for example next to a busy road or during a high pollution episode, they breathe in these toxic materials. Many experience immediate symptoms such as irritated airways, breathlessness, and coughing.

People with a lung condition suffer further with high levels of air pollution. Toxins can exacerbate symptoms, cause an asthma attack or a COPD flare-up. 

In comparison with other major UK cities, Belfast is the second biggest per head emitter of particular matter pollution in the UK, but this is a problem across all parts of Northern Ireland.

At a government level, we are calling for a new Clean Air strategy and legislation provide better air quality and lung health for everyone in Northern Ireland. However, there are things that councillors can do to tackle air pollution in their own communities now.

We want Councils to:

1. Develop their own local clean air plans that seek to reduce all pollution, specifically around schools, hospitals and care homes.
2. Form local Climate Action Working Groups and by sending Council representation to the All-Party Group on Climate Action at Stormont.
3. Apply to DAERA (Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) to boost pollution monitoring at Council sites, outside schools, and health centres/hospitals.
4. Allocate greater investment through the Capital Plan to public transport and active travel, e.g., greenway feasibility studies. 
5. Improve pollution monitoring, awareness campaigns and public health alerts, linking in with health subgroups of the Community Plan so that people living in every part of Northern Ireland are aware of local pollution levels.
6. Develop ambitious plans to increase the electric car charging network and review alternative methods of fuel such as hydrogen. 
7. Commit to reducing the carbon footprint of your local authority, through energy efficiencies and transition the council vehicle stock away from traditional diesel engine appliances.
8. Proactively introduce smoke control zones, where applicable, across your Borough.