The Mayor said: “Significant action is already underway here in the West Midlands to improve the quality of the air we breathe. It was great to showcase our expertise and depth of commitment to the Secretary of State and it’s fantastic to see this recognised with £1 million of funding.
“As we seek to tackle the climate emergency and address health inequalities right across our region, Government will continue to be a vital partner on this in the months and years ahead.”
Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said: “We have made great strides in tackling air pollution nationally since 2010 but we must go further. The £1 million for the West Midlands through our Air Quality Grants scheme will directly support the monitoring of harmful emissions – and is one of the many innovative projects across the country receiving a share of almost £11 million this year.
“I am pleased to be continuing our work with the West Midlands Combined Authority on this important issue, as part of this government’s commitment to clean up our air for future generations.”
As part of its environment programme, the WMCA is developing a regional air quality framework, working with its seven constituent council members to understand the measures that could operate well ‘at scale’ to reduce the impact of poor quality air.
The monitoring of PM2.5 and PM10 particulates will produce real-time data that will enable the WMCA to help residents themselves understand the need for action to address poor air quality and what that action might involve.
Cllr Ian Courts, WMCA portfolio holder for energy and environment, and leader of Solihull Council, said: “Air pollution remains one of the top environmental risks to human health in the UK. It’s a real boost to the region’s future health and prosperity to receive this £1m funding boost from Government. Whilst we’re making great progress in the West Midlands integrating cutting edge electric vehicles into our transport system, this funding will allow us to better understand and tackle the microscopic particulates associated with tyre wear and brake discs for example.
“By monitoring the particulates in real time, we can be reactive and informed in our response to dealing with areas of poor air quality. Ultimately, it will help us in our aim to reduce the health inequalities linked to air pollution across the region.”
William Bloss, Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Birmingham, said: “Through WM-Air and the Birmingham Air Quality Supersite we are able to identify different pollution sources, ranging from road traffic to woodsmoke, and understand how the air we breathe is changing. We are using this insight to inform clean air actions to directly improve health to millions of people across the region.”
The West Midlands’ target of being a net zero region within the next two years will also bring major improvements to residents’ quality of life and the economy and is set out in the #WM2041 plan.
