8 minute read
ENVIRONMENT
Business tycoon Michael R Bloomberg and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan have announced a £1.5 million investment in air quality monitoring in the capital.
The combined investment – including £779,000 from Sadiq Khan and £720,000 from Bloomberg Philanthropies – will fund the day-to-day running of 195 air quality sensors across London, as well as further research and community engagement until November 2024.
In Data from the sensors – installed at hospitals, schools and in local authorities to measure pollution locally – will produce real-time air quality data that Londoners can access on the new Breathe London website: https://www.breathelondon.org/.
The website will bring together data from London’s existing monitoring network alongside Breathe London sensors, meaning once all the sensors are in operation it will host data from more than 300 monitoring sites.
Sadiq Khan has also announced a new sponsorship programme, run in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Imperial College London, that will provide an additional 60 sensors available to London communities over next three years. Organisations and individuals will be able to apply to host a sensor in a location of their choice from the summer, with all associated costs covered. The first ten sensors will be released in the autumn.
Breathe London will focus on reaching communities that research indicates are exposed to poor air quality and lack access to green space, including low-income and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups. As part of the Breathe London project and supported by the Mayor of London, Bloomberg Philanthropies is also helping to fund a community project in Newham. Greener Together, a pilot project which aims to address environmental inequality linked to social and racial injustices in London, looks at building better relationships between local government and civil society. The project team will work with residents to find environmental solutions to local issues most affecting the community, such as poor air quality.
As part of the Breathe London project, sensors have already been installed at several hospitals across the capital. Community groups, charities, businesses, individuals, academics and boroughs are being encouraged to host a sensor in their area. Each London borough will receive at least one sensor and will work with their local communities to choose the locations.
In addition to the Breathe London sponsorship programme, community groups, charities, businesses, individuals, academics and boroughs will also be able to “buy in” to the network at a reduced cost. The sensor network will significantly reduce the costs of sourcing reliable air pollution data for local projects or schemes such as School Streets. In the past this has been prohibitively expensive for some, often leaving communities with no data or, worse still, extremely inaccurate data with no quality control. Details about how to apply through the sponsorship programme or to buy into the network will be announced in the summer.
The work of the Breathe London network forms a vital part of supporting a green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by tackling environmental and health inequalities. >>Continued overleaf
Sadiq Khan said: “I am delighted that Londoners will now have access to realtime, accurate air quality data for their area from more than 300 monitoring sites. This will improve awareness and help people reduce their exposure to polluted air.
“As we look towards a recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, it is vital that we create a city that is cleaner and greener. Never has tackling London’s toxic air been more important, which is why I am taking these bold and innovative steps to improve it.”
Michael R. Bloomberg, U.N. secretarygeneral’s special envoy for climate ambition and solutions, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the 108th Mayor of New York City, said: “I’ve often said, if you can’t measure it you can’t manage it. Improving air quality monitoring gives us the data we need to tackle sources of pollution and protect public health. Bloomberg Philanthropies’ partnership with Mayor Sadiq Khan and London will help do exactly that. Our joint investment will support high-quality air sensors across London and make localized air pollution data available in real-time online. That will help policymakers identify problem areas and take steps to protect those who are most at risk, including schoolchildren and residents of lower-income neighbourhoods.” Professor Frank Kelly, the Battcock chair in community health and policy at Imperial College, said: “The Breathe London sensor network is rapidly taking shape after intensive work over the past two months by our team at Imperial. The necessary data transfer and quality control systems have been put in place and nodes at hospitals across the city are already providing near real-time air quality data via the new Breathe London website. The next stage of the project will see schools and local communities benefiting from this expanding network of sensors as we supply real-time air quality information to more and more Londoners.”
Chinedum Nwokonko, community consultant for Greener Together, said: “As partners in Greener Together, we want these programmes to strengthen community relationships, promote improvements in physical and mental health, and increase understanding of how the area is affected by air pollution and climate change. The time to act is now, and we have a great opportunity to tackle the environmental burden placed on the people who live here.”
❛❛Our joint investment will support high-quality air sensors across London and make localized air pollution data available in real-time online. That will help policymakers identify problem areas and take steps to protect those who are most at risk, including schoolchildren and residents of lower-income neighbourhoods.❜❜
IS YOUR BUSINESS DOING AMAZING THINGS FOR THE PLANET? THEN JOIN US!
Businesses that put the environment at the forefront of their growth are the beating heart of the Thames Estuary. If this sounds like you, join our movement and apply to become an Estuary Visionary!
The Thames Estuary Growth Board – a government backed team – are working to make amazing things happen in this region, but we believe that growth should work in tandem with the environment. We call this ‘good green growth’.
That’s why we’ve launched Estuary Visionaries. We want to celebrate and share stories from successful businesses who are making their growth green.
The scheme is free to join and we’re seeking applications from businesses in East and South East London (including Bexley and Greenwich), North Kent and South Essex.
Successful applicants will be championed on the Thames Estuary website, at events, including one at Parliament, where they can share good green practice with like-minded businesses, and as ambassadors integral to marketing the Estuary domestically and internationally. Moreover, they will work with Government-backed Estuary Envoy, Kate Willard OBE, to deliver her ambition of creating the greatest, greenest Estuary in the world.
Businesses in any sector, any size can put themselves forward to join a growing number of current green visionary organisations, including Elvis and Kresse, The Kentish Soap Company, London City Airport, Ashwells Reclaimed Timber and others, that are leading the charge in being more sustainable.
From banks to hairdressers, multinationals to sole traders, there are many businesses in the Estuary that are reducing their environmental impact. By highlighting these innovative businesses, in the UK and internationally, the scheme hopes to share ideas and inspire others to grow in a more environmentally friendly way.
Creating the greatest, greenest estuary in the world
The UK government identifi ed the Estuary as the UK’s number one growth region. In its ambitious ‘Green Blue’ plan, the Thames Estuary Growth Board committed to making this growth green. Across the region, the Board is looking to do this by facilitating projects to improve access to green and riverside spaces for all to enjoy, supporting clean energy production and supply, and greening transport, including moving freight from roads to river. This will support local and national net zero targets..
Individual businesses can also do a lot to help create a world leading green estuary, and the Board want to recognise those that already are operating more sustainably.
Would you like to be a Visionary business?
Benefi ts include:
• Business promotion – through local, national and international marketing activities.
• Exclusive events – when it is safe to do so, including our planned Parliamentary celebration in 2021.
• Help from the Thames Estuary Growth Board – who have a wide range of expertise, are willing to support sustainable businesses like yours in the Thames Estuary region. • Shaping the Growth Board’s support - as a
Visionary you will be able to help us develop our off er to sustainable businesses in the region to support good green growth. • Working with Estuary Envoy, Kate Willard
OBE, to deliver her ambition of creating the greatest, greenest Estuary in the world.
How can I apply?
Email us and tell us why your business should be an Estuary Visionary. We want to know what you do and how you ensure your business positively contributes to the Estuary environment. Please keep it brief (no more than 500 words) - you can use the form on our website or email
enquiries@thamesestuary.org.uk
To fi nd our more visit thamesestuary.org.uk/
thames-estuary-visionaries
Join Elvis & Kresse and become one of the growing number of businesses in the Estuary Visionaries scheme.
Elvis & Kresse in Tonge, near Sittingbourne, prove that sustainable fashion is possible and profi table. They rescue materials that would otherwise go to landfi ll to make sustainable, luxury lifestyle accessories whilst donating 50% of their profi ts to charity. A 100% plastic free brand, they began with a negative carbon footprint, which it still maintains by running on renewable energy and has saved over 250 tonnes of waste from going to landfi ll.
Find out more: elvisandkresse.com
“In the Thames Estuary, we are proud to be the home of such dynamic, innovative and resourceful businesses, of diff erent sizes and sectors, that are pushing the boundaries by demonstrating an unwavering dedication to good, green growth. We are looking for more businesses like these in the region to become Estuary Visionaries so that we can share ideas, inspire learning, future-proof our environment and stand as an example to the rest of the UK of how to deliver stronger, greener growth.”
