Residents will be empowered to take direct action to improve air quality in their local area as part of a West Midlands-wide campaign to tackle pollution.

To coincide with Clean Air Day 2023 tomorrow, Thursday 15 June, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is announcing plans to go into communities to improve their knowledge and understanding of the main sources of pollution and the impact on their health.

The results of a survey by the WMCA to gauge public awareness and attitudes to air pollution show that while most residents are concerned about air quality they are also unsure about where it comes from and what they can do to improve it.

As part of the campaign, a new network of air sensors will be installed across the region later this year thanks to a £1 million Government grant secured by the WMCA. The sensors will provide comprehensive real-time data on air quality for the first time.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “We’ve already taken a number of steps to improve the quality of the air we all breathe by planting thousands of trees, developing our sustainable public transport offer, and protecting and enhancing our green spaces and waterways.

“But it’s now becoming clear that domestic emissions from log fires and garden bonfires are a major cause of air pollution - typically double that of transport related emissions.

“That’s why a public awareness campaign can help to reduce and avoid these drivers of air pollution. We want to empower residents right across our region to help us in ensuring clean air and supporting our #WM2041 net zero commitment.”

Improving air quality is part of the WMCA's long-term commitment to the environment and will support collective efforts to reduce the short and long-term health impacts including 1,400 premature deaths each year across the West Midlands due to air pollution.

The West Midlands Natural Environment Plan already sets out a number of actions that have the potential to make a significant impact in tackling air pollution while supporting the #WM2041 target of becoming a net zero region within the next two decades.

To support both plans, a regional air quality framework is being developed with local councils, businesses, and residents, through the recently formed Greener Together Citizens’ Panel, with a set of collective measures that can be adopted on a region wide scale.

Cllr John Cotton, the WMCA’s portfolio holder for environment and energy, and the leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The short and long-term health effects of poor quality air are clear but entirely preventable. It will take acts of personal responsibility to make simple changes that will have a positive impact on the quality of the air we breathe.

“This region-wide campaign offers the opportunity to double down on the good work that councils across the region are already doing to improve or maintain air quality standards and reduce the health inequalities linked to air pollution across the entire West Midlands.”

Read more about the WMCA’s environment programme at www.wmca.org.uk/what-we-do/environment-and-energy/.