Many UK cities proceed to wrestle to satisfy the legally-defined limits for NO2, forward of the forthcoming Clear Air Day, so Metropolis of York Council’s 2 June announcement that it’s now assembly nationwide air air pollution targets for the primary time appears important.
The newest air high quality monitoring figures from the council for 2024, reported on 3 June 2025, seem to indicate that the health-based air high quality goals had been met in any respect areas in York for the primary time (exterior of the COVID-19 lockdowns).
Air high quality monitoring in some areas of the town, similar to round Gillygate and Bootham, has proven that most annual ranges of nitrogen dioxide air pollution improved by 27% in 2024 in contrast with 2023.
The council cited successes in its personal work together with: securing additional electrification of buses and council fleet autos, insurance policies that incentivise the uptake of extra low-emission taxis, anti-idling campaigns encouraging folks to show off their engines when stationary or ready in site visitors, and improved electrical automobile (EV) charging infrastructure – all of which can have helped enhance air high quality all through 2024.
Town additionally operates an air high quality alert system, which sends air air pollution messages and well being recommendation to these most certainly to be affected.
Cllr Jenny Kent, the Council’s Government Member for the Setting and Local weather Emergency, stated: “That is good information – what a unbelievable achievement to assist us have fun Clear Air Day. By being proactive on bettering the air all of us breathe, the council has helped to satisfy air air pollution targets for the primary time ever in York.
“Having walked the stretch alongside Holgate for over a decade with prams and youngsters, together with a whole lot of younger folks travelling to and from 9 faculties within the space, I do know first hand what a distinction this makes. We made a dedication to enhance air high quality once we printed our 4th Air High quality Motion Plan final summer season and it’s rewarding to see that the measures are working. Cleaner air helps enhance the well being and wellbeing of everybody in York.
“This can be a actually massive achievement which we must always have fun, however we’re not complacent; we have to see these outcomes and the longer-term downward development proceed”.
Peter Roderick, director of Public Well being at Metropolis of York Council, stated:
“Despite the fact that we are able to’t see it, air air pollution impacts our well being no matter age we’re. Bettering air high quality not solely advantages our bodily well being and the atmosphere however also can defend our psychological and mind well being. For the entire of York to satisfy air air pollution targets for first time since COVID is a superb achievement.
“We hope Clear Air Day will assist increase consciousness of air air pollution throughout the town and encourage folks to contemplate their air high quality affect in serving to to guard everybody’s well being. We will all make enhancements; share a elevate to work, work at home or stroll, catch the bus or cycle, if doable.
“The newest outcomes for the town exhibit how far we’ve got come lately to enhance native air high quality for everybody, nevertheless we recognise that extra will be executed. By way of the council’s Air High quality Motion Plan and different complementary methods, we purpose to transcend Nationwide Air High quality Goals and work in direction of assembly stricter World Well being Organisation tips in the long term to additional enhance public well being; this may permit us all to learn from lasting well being enhancements”.
Mick Forbes, Engineering Director of First Bus North & West Yorkshire, stated:
“The outcomes are very constructive and supply actual proof of the environmental advantages we’re attaining with our absolutely zero-emission fleet on the streets of York, which began on routes via Gillygate in September 2023.
“We’re delighted that is recognised within the air high quality evaluation by Metropolis of York Council and can proceed to help its efforts to create cleaner air within the metropolis.
“By working along with the council we’ve got been capable of make investments thousands and thousands of kilos with authorities funding help to remodel our James Avenue depot, which is without doubt one of the first within the nation to be declared web zero.”
Going down on place on 19 June, Clear Air Day is the UK’s largest annual marketing campaign to lift consciousness about air air pollution and promote actions to enhance air high quality and defend public well being.
