Together we’re charting a course to cleaner air in Birmingham

This October, we hosted our first Birmingham Clean Air Community Conference. In partnership with the Clean Air Justice Network, the event brought together inspiring people from all over the city to fight for clean air. Maddy from the Clean Air Team tells us all about this fantastic day. 

It’s official: the air in Birmingham is toxic. Air pollution levels are 4.7x World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, and are breaching UK legal limits. The health of local communities is at risk - air pollution cuts short up to 1000 lives in the city each year, and the worst impacts are being felt by our poorest communities. Something has to change. 

There is some good news though. Recent data shows that the Clean Air Zone has reduced air pollution in the city by 17%. There are also numerous council and community-led campaigns that are determined to tackle toxic air. Work is being done to protect children’s lungs from car fumes at the school gate, and to empower communities to choose cleaner ways of travelling around the city such as cycling or walking. 

Turning the tide on toxic air together

But there is still more work to do. That’s why we organised Birmingham’s first Clean Air Community Conference. We were delighted to bring our communities together to turn the tide on toxic air.  

People from all corners of the city came together at Hay Hall in Tyseley, the home of The Active Wellbeing Society. The significance of meeting in Tyseley wasn’t lost on us. The area is dealing with its own unique challenges when it comes to air pollution - with busy roads surrounding the area and a local waste incinerator releasing harmful pollutants into the air. 

We were thrilled to be joined by a diverse range of local campaigners, councillors from wards across the city, healthcare professionals and other dedicated clean air advocates. There was a great blend of seasoned campaigners and enthusiastic newcomers, all united in the goal of making a cleaner, healthier and more equal Birmingham.  

Sharing the impact on our communities

Throughout the morning session, people shared moving personal experiences of how air pollution has impacted their lives and the lives of loved ones. We also discussed how local communities are feeling the effects – from people having asthma attacks, to children feeling unsafe to ride their bikes to school.  

We talked about the root causes of Birmingham’s air pollution problem, and everyone shared great concern for how the health of local people, especially children, is being impacted by toxic emissions. We agreed that whilst every neighborhood is unique, we are all impacted by the air we breathe. 

Community is key to tackling toxic air

In the afternoon, we were joined by a panel of local clean air champions from different walks of life. The panel members were passionate about a range of potential solutions to address air pollution, from reducing the number of cars on our roads to raising awareness of the harms of domestic and industrial burning. We talked about the roles each of us can play in bringing these solutions to life, and the audience’s insightful questions stimulated powerful discussion.  

During the day we looked at past successes and lessons from our clean air campaign so far. We explored the existing challenges we face in tackling air pollution on a local and national level, and identified key opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we started to chart a course towards an even more effective clean air campaign. 

“The event was a great opportunity to network and helped raise my awareness of issues relating to clean air. It also gave me lots of ideas to take back to my community”  

United in our goal of a cleaner, healthier and more equal Birmingham

While we have plenty to do to reach a cleaner, healthier Birmingham, the conference reminded us of the potential we have when communities come together. We were energised by the enthusiasm for collective action amongst attendees - the appetite to face up to our challenges as a community, and our will to make clean air a priority in next year’s mayoral elections. We left the event united as a community and reinvigorated in our goal of cleaning up our air. 

Asthma + Lung UK is working with communities in the West Midlands in the fight against toxic air, as we believe everyone deserves the right to breathe clean air with healthy lungs. To be a part of the campaign, email us at campaigns@asthmaandlung.org.uk – we’d love for you to get involved. If you don’t live in the West Midlands, you don’t need to miss out – we’re running campaigns in other cities in addition to a national campaign asking the government to do more. Read about our clean air campaigns on our website.  

Together, we can defend the right to clean air for all - no matter where you live in the UK.