The Mayor has today launched a new initiative to help clean up toxic air and protect the health of young children at nurseries in some of the most polluted parts of London.
20 nurseries in pollution hot spots across the capital will receive new ‘air quality audits’, to help identify measures to reduce children’s exposure to toxic air pollution.
Five nurseries will trial new air quality filtration systems to test their effectiveness at reducing indoor pollution.
Responding to this news, Alastair Harper, Head of Advocacy at Unicef UK, said: “We know that children are the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution and evidence shows schools are one of the places they are most exposed. What we need now is the resource to create targeted interventions to tackle this.
“Mapping the schools and nurseries with dangerous levels of air pollution is a crucial first step in taking an ambitious, proactive approach to protecting children from toxic air. However, this is a national problem – not just an issue for the capital. This positive work by the Greater London Authority now needs to be replicated across the country, with central government funding to ensure local authorities have the support they need to act.”
Notes to Editors
Read more here: Mayor to trial indoor air pollution filtration systems in nurseries
For more information please contact:
Unicef UK Media Team, 0207 375 6030, [email protected]
About Unicef
Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children. As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK. For more information please visit unicef.org.uk