Community Engagement and Education
Taking action to improve air quality can lead to a healthier, happier life, highlighted by the improvements in air quality we all experienced during lockdown. Our Community Champions are making it easier than ever for Merton residents to make sustainable changes that will reduce NO2 and PM levels locally and beyond so we can all #BreatheCleanerAir together.
Alongside writing blogs on Active Travel for the Mind, Body, and Planet and Addressing Cycling Concerns, the Community Champions published our colourful and engaging Air Quality Handbook outlining many simple actions that will improve air quality and wellbeing. Through a partnership with The Bike Project, our Community Champions also collected 24 used bikes on Clean Air Day that will be fixed up and given to refugees, enabling more people to join the cycling revolution. That’s equivalent to over 5,700Kg of CO2!
"Since working on the Air Quality Handbook, I’ve become more aware of how the air quality around us affects everything from our health and well-being to climate change and beyond."
Kathryn - Sustainable Merton Community Champion, Air Quality Team
Air Quality Monitoring
Alongside their work to promote behaviour change, our Community Champions also gathered air quality data that contributes to the Council’s evidence base that will underpin higher level action. Throughout the year, 15 Community Champions and members of the Colliers Wood Residents Association Parks and Green Spaces Group, monitored NO2 at 16 locations across Merton, leading to school air quality audits and Council air quality action days at locations found to exceed national air quality objectives.
If you are interested in becoming a Community Champion, please visit sustainablemerton.org/champions
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