Clean Air Day - 15 June 2023

The day is a chance to learn more about air pollution, share information, and make our air cleaner and healthier for everyone.  

Cleaning up our air is good for us in many ways: it not only benefits our physical health and the environment but can also protect our mental and brain health. The physical health impacts of air pollution – such as asthma, heart disease and cancers – have been recognised for decades. More recently, researchers are beginning to understand how air pollution can affect the brain and the mind. 

People who breathe polluted air are more likely to develop mental health and brain conditions. Being exposed to air pollution is linked to mental health and brain conditions such as depression, anxiety and dementia. When a person breathes polluted air, small pollution particles can enter through the lungs, into the bloodstream and can reach the brain. 

Although they may seem to be two very different issues, climate change and air pollution are closely interlinked. Air pollutants include more than just greenhouse gases - principally carbon dioxide, but also methane, nitrous oxide and others. Therefore when addressing air pollution, we also address a critical and easy-to-implement solution to climate change.

Newham Council declared a Climate Emergency and published a Climate Emergency Action Plan to pave the way for the council to become carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon zero by 2045.

GET INVOLVED

Clean Air Day is a campaign delivered across the UK - from local authorities, schools, health professionals, campaign and community groups and individuals.

Clean Air Day resources for campaign and community groups

Clean Air Day resources for healthcare professionals

Clean Air Day resources for individuals

Clean Air Day resources for schools

Clean Air Day resources for businesses

For more information about what the Council is doing to tackle air pollution in the borough, please visit Air quality in Newham – Newham Council