Clean Air Day 2020: How you can get involved

Colleagues are being encouraged to support Clean Air Day 2020 despite the annual campaign having to be rolled out a little differently this year.

Although things will look a little different this year, there are still lots of opportunities to get involved in Clean Air Day 2020

Clean Air Day 2020: How you can get involved. October 2020

While the ‘commute’ to work might look markedly different for many of us, especially for those working from home, there are still plenty of ways to mark the national event on Thursday 8 October.

Led by Global Action Plan, the Clean Air Day initiative brings together communities, organisations, schools and the health sector to:

  • improve public understanding of air pollution
  • build awareness of how it affects our health; and
  • explain the easy actions we can all take to tackle this issue, helping protect the environment and our health.

Past years have seen the University host a range of exciting events across campus, from electric bike trials to free breakfasts for ‘active commuters’.

But although things will look a little different this year, there are still lots of opportunities to get involved.

Saddle up

In response to high demand, the Bike Hub – which reopened last month – is extending its slots for cycle maintenance by an extra day to both Tuesday and Thursday afternoons (12 noon to 4pm), starting on Clean Air Day. Visit the Bike Hub webpage for further information and to book an appointment.

If you would like to try before you buy through the new staff Cycle to Work scheme, launched yesterday (5 October), why not hire first from the Bike Hub? Bike Hire appointments are available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons (12 noon to 4pm). Visit the Bike Hire webpage for further information about the options available, which include hybrid, folding and electric bikes.

We’re also asking colleagues to consider a clean air commute (or lunchbreak, if working remotely!) to support the Clean Air Leeds campaign. Why not try walking, running or cycling for all or part of your ‘journey’. Visit our Active Travel webpage for further information and details about the support available.

Sign up

Global Action Plan is streaming Clean Air Day Live content online from 10am to 5.30pm on Thursday 8 October. Register in advance to take a look at what’s planned and to sign up for session reminders.

Also look out for more Clean Air Day content on the day via the Sustainability Service social media channels, including on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

And we’d love to hear what you’re doing to mark the campaign – please send us your photos and stories using #CleanAirDay via the channels listed above!

Research round-up

Researchers from Leeds, led by Dr Kirsty Pringle and Dr Jim McQuaid, are taking part in a new Born in Bradford (BiB) project with primary school children across the city – to measure levels of pollution and its impact on health.

The landmark research programme, based at Bradford Royal Infirmary, has launched the ‘BiB Breathes’ study, which is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

The study has been set up in response to plans by Bradford Council to introduce a Clean Air Zone to try and reduce levels of pollution in the city. 

You can also go behind the scenes at BiB through the Be Curious programme (10-23 October), which showcases our world-leading research to colleagues and the wider public. A short film premiere about the ‘BiB Breathes’ project is being held on Twitter at 2pm on Thursday 22 October. Meet some of the people who are working to reduce exposure to pollution, including local primary school children, who are acting as ‘citizen scientists’ on the project.

Posted in: