Walsall residents are encouraged to improve air quality and protect the environment as World Earth Day is marked on 22 April 2025.
This year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” provides an opportunity for individual and collective action to create a healthier and more sustainable environment for everyone.
Air pollution is a critical environmental risk factor and it affects everyone’s health. Poor air quality can make existing lung and heart conditions worse. It also affects nature and can impact on climate and wildlife.
Residents are being encouraged to take the following actions this World Earth Day and beyond.
This includes choosing active travel options such as walking or cycling or opting for public transport for shorter journeys, reducing car idling by switching engines off when parked or stuck in traffic, and not burning garden or building waste.
Residents should also consider actions to improve air quality indoors, including ventilation and extractor fans when cooking and safely using household products (such as sprays and aerosols), addressing mould and considering home energy use such as removing log burners and opting for energy efficient alternatives.
Achieving cleaner air requires a collaborative approach. By working together, residents, local authorities and organisations can help to improve air quality and the environment.
“ Improving air quality is essential not just for human health but also for the environment. Many harmful air pollutants are also greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
I would encourage residents to think about the ways they can take action to improve the air quality where they live and to get the support they need to be more energy efficient and reduce their carbon footprint. “
Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing
Walsall Council
Residents can stay informed about local air quality levels through the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Clean Air website, which shows sensor measurements of several pollutants that can be harmful to health and air quality. These include Particulates, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Ground level ozone.
Walsall residents can also get support to be more energy efficient, save money on energy costs and take positive action against climate change through the Walsall Energy Action Project. Regular energy and advice sessions are taking place at Community Energy Hubs across the borough. For details of sessions, visit the Walsall Energy Action Project website.