Cyclists in the City

Imperial College: London air pollution cancels positive health effects of exercise in over-60s

Exposure to air pollution on city streets is enough to counter the beneficial health effects of exercise in older adults, according to new research. The findings, published in The Lancet, show that short term exposure to air pollution in built…

Telegraph: Huge drop in air pollution in first month of lockdown

The first few weeks of the Covid-19 lockdown cut levels of dangerous pollutants by as much as 40 per cent in towns and cities, according to new research. Data gathered on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) found dramatic…

Guardian: Air pollution likely to make coronavirus worse according to UK experts

Air pollution is likely to be increasing the number and severity of Covid-19 infections, according to the UK government’s expert advisers. In a report published on Wednesday, the experts said further investigation of the link between dirty air and the coronavirus…

BBC News: Evidence emerging of airborne transmission of COVID-19

The World Health Organization has acknowledged “evidence emerging” of the airborne spread of coronavirus, after a group of scientists signed a letter urging the organization to update its guidance on the disease’s transmission. One of the signatories, Joe Allen, an…

Air Quality News: Lockdown’s Effect on Air Pollution Shows Us a Low Carbon Future

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused industrial activity to shut down and cancelled flights and other journeys, slashing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution around the world. If there is something positive to take from this terrible crisis, it could be…

Air Quality News: Biomethane is essential to decarbonise transport says report

Biomethane is essential to successfully decarbonise the transport industry, according to a report published today (July 2) by The European Biogas Association (EBA). According to the report, despite current efforts, transport is the only sector that is not decarbonising and…

ClientEarth: Clean Air Business Update

ClientEarth’s June 2020 update outlines air quality news and its relevance to business. Many people have noticed cleaner air and clearer skies during lockdown. This has resulted in widespread calls for measures to clean up our air permanently from the…

BBC News: Traffic levels ‘now double the lockdown low’

In April, UK carbon emissions reportedly fell by 31%, but have increased since. Whilst the AA predicts that this road traffic slump will soon even out, Friends of Earth warn that “the government themselves are contributing to increased pollution from…

Barry Sheerman MP questions Parliament on Government’s strategy on road air quality

This week in Parliament, the leader of the Westminster Commission for Road Air Quality, Barry Sheerman MP, questioned the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Rachel Maclean, exactly how government are planning to tackle air pollution. Sheerman asked whether the government…