Camden Secures Mayor’s Air Quality Funding for Clean Air Projects

Camden has been successful in securing funding for five air quality projects from the Mayor of London’s Air Quality Fund Round 4.

From canal boats to film sets, these projects will help to reduce air pollution whilst protecting the health of vulnerable individuals and communities and building stronger collaboration with other London boroughs working to protect the health of the project.

Camden’s successful projects

Clean Air for Camden – Citizen Science and Community Air Quality Champions

This project will secure a legacy of community-owned air quality monitoring throughout the borough, whilst providing information on how air pollution, climate, health, and wellbeing are linked. The project seeks to promote community engagement, empower local action, build capabilities, and improve indoor air quality through an expanded Camden Air Quality Monitor Loan scheme. All aspects aim to tackle health inequalities by focusing on at-risk groups.

London Wood Burning Enforcement Project

This project is jointly led by Camden and Islington councils to provide training and materials to support the investigation and enforcement of household wood burning complaints in smoke control areas across 19 London boroughs. This project follow, and builds on the success of, the impactful London Wood Burning Project awareness campaign delivered last winter.

Idling Action London Phase 4

Building on the hugely successful Mayor’s Air Quality Funded Idling Action project phase 3 (2019-2022), Phase 4 will be jointly led by Camden and Hounslow councils and will involve 18 other boroughs working in partnership to reduce avoidable air pollution from vehicle engine idling.

The project will focus on driving-intensive businesses, such as fleet operators and will aim to improve the effectiveness of enforcement against engine idling. Additionally, the project will improve public awareness about the impact of vehicle engine idling on air quality and the health risks associated with air pollution in general.

Cleaner Filming for Camden

This exploratory project aims to reduce air pollution produced by filming in Camden, which are often powered by diesel generators. These events represent a potentially significant source of air pollution and carbon emissions, with 910 licensed filming days in the borough in 2023.

Camden will be partnering with FilmFixer, the UK’s leading film service, to develop an air pollution reduction programme for the film industry which will have the benefit of being easily replicable across the wider London area.

Healthy Waterways

The Healthy Waterways project will be jointly led by Camden, Hackney and Newham councils and will involve 11 other boroughs with the aim of fostering a positive and collaborative relationship with London’s boating community.

The project will gather evidence on how boaters are affected by air pollution and will help to identify opportunities for reducing emissions from heating, propulsion, and onboard electrical power. It will look to encourage changes to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions, improving health and building climate resilience, and will culminate with the production of a strategic roadmap to support councils to work with boaters to make London’s waterways more sustainable and healthier for everyone.

Councillor Adam Harrison continued:

“These projects support the Camden Clean Air Action Plan 2023-2026, our ambitious four-year air quality programme to realise the vision for a borough with cleaner air.

“Our Plan seeks to tackle the local sources of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter air pollution whilst also helping to build public awareness and advocating for action and ambition in national policy.”

Further information about the Council’s air quality work can be found at https://www.camden.gov.uk/air-quality.