Islington Greens and Climate Rush campaigners are calling for action to address Islington’s health damaging air pollution. This Saturday, International Car Free Day, they are touring Highbury with a “Clean Air Cloud”, creating an opportunity to imagine life with streets free from cars, and the associated noise, danger and pollution that come with them.
Caroline Russell said “Regrettably the council are not running any events for Car Free Day this year, so Islington Green Party has got together with campaigners from Climate Rush and will be touring Highbury with a ‘Clean Air Cloud’, handing out information about the detrimental impact of air pollution on health as well as positive ideas for changing our behaviour to reduce it.
Air pollution in London and the UK is the worst in Europe. The health impacts dwarf those seen in London during the Great Smog of 1952. However we travel, whether drivers, cyclists or pedestrians, we are all breathing polluted air that is damaging our health. Only smoking causes more early deaths than breathing polluted air.
Cars can come in handy, but by thinking creatively, we can reduce our dependence on them, and Islington is crying out for a re-think. We live in London’s most densely populated borough, with the least green open space and a high proportion of residents suffering obesity and lung and heart diseases. With fewer local trips by car, more of us could travel quickly and easily on public transport or walk and cycle more safely and more healthily.
Hopefully International Car Free Day will inspire residents with access to a car to consider ways to reduce their car trips and help clean up Islington’s air for all our health. Clean air is good for everyone. It’s only fair.”
The Clean Air Cloud will be touring Highbury from 11.00 – 2.00 on Saturday 22nd September. Join us in Laycock St at 11.00am or find us in Highbury Fields from 1.30pm. Check Twitter for #Cleanaircloud