Calls to tackle Leeds air pollution ahead of clean air summit
Asthma + Lung UK warn that with air pollution returning to pre-covid levels, the plans following the backtracking of the proposed clean air zone in the city, are not ambitious enough to meet the challenge.
It claims over 800,000 people in West Yorkshire, including 56,000 children under six, are exposed to harmful pollution levels well above recommendations from the World Health Organisation and warns the air quality in Leeds is putting the health of our communities, especially children, at serious risk.
Despite some progress, efforts to tackle this issue seems to have stalled.
The charity adds the decision to scrap plans for a clean air zone in Leeds highlights the pressing need for leadership and decisive measures to protect public health. The pollution levels have returned to the alarming pre-covid levels and more worryingly the plan to tackle it has gone.
Asthma + Lung UK say it is imperative that the next elected mayor makes a firm commitment to combatting air pollution and prioritises the implementation of effective measures to safeguard public health.
We want to see a plan in place and to see the next mayor to make clean air a priority.
With over 800,000 people in West Yorkshire, including 56,000 children under six, being exposed to harmful pollution levels well above recommendations from the World Health Organisation, ahead of the elections next month for the West Yorkshire mayor, Asthma + Lung UK is calling for more action to be taken to tackle the problem, including improving air pollution monitoring across the region and for introduction of more schemes to reduce the levels of toxic air around schools.
The charity adds these measures are key to protecting children who are among the most vulnerable to effects of air pollution.
Asthma + Lung UK is organising a panel event in Leeds on Tuesday, April 16, at Leeds University, Newlyn Building, where mayoral candidates will discuss their plans to combat air pollution.
This is a chance for candidates to voice what they are planning to accomplish to protect public health.
If you would like to attend the panel event, please reserve a spot here.