Council supports campaign for cleaner air
Raising awareness of the myths around wood burning and harm to public health
A new campaign for cleaner air is being supported by Eastleigh Borough Council.
The campaign, led by the Environment Centre and Global Action Plan aims to raise awareness of the myths around wood burning and harm to public health.
Did you know that lighting fires in our homes is the largest source of harmful small particle air pollution in the UK? This type of air pollution can cause life-threatening illnesses, including heart and lung disease, making it crucial that more residents are aware of the issue.
Wood burning not only harms your health, but also your wallet and the planet. Pressures on household finances or a desire to be more eco-friendly may tempt people to burn wood, but research actually shows that wood-burning produces more carbon dioxide than oil or gas and is almost always more expensive than other forms of heating.
The campaign is launching the first-ever Clean Air Night, taking place on 24 January 2024, to shine a light on the uncomfortable truth about wood burning, urging residents to protect themselves, their family, and community by sharing what they’ve learned.
This important new campaign is part of a joint local authorities’ wood burning engagement programme, which local charity, the Environment Centre (tEC), deliver on behalf of funder, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). New Forest, Southampton City, Winchester City and Eastleigh Borough Councils form the local authorities group supporting the campaign.
Cabinet Lead for Environment Councillor, Rupert Kyrle said, “We are proud to be supporting this important local campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of wood burning for residents. The key things to remember are to burn less, burn cleaner and burn better – to improve clean air in the Borough – then simply save the 24 January 2024 date for your diary for the first-ever Clean Air Night!”
tEC’s Senior Outreach Officer, Hazel Agombar, said “We are really pleased to be Official Supporters of the first ever Clean Air Night campaign. It draws attention to the fact that wood smoke air pollution is often unseen as it builds up in neighbourhoods after dark when people light their log burners in the early evening. Contrary to myth, the wood smoke doesn’t necessarily get blown away. On cold still nights it can settle around properties and seep into homes affecting indoor as well as outdoor air quality.”
the Environment Centre- wood burning
www.environmentcentre.com/wood-burning
Global Action Plan - Clean Air Night
www.cleanairhub.org.uk/Clean-Air-Night
Eastleigh Borough Council air quality: www.eastleigh.gov.uk/environment/environmental-health/pollution/air-quality