Cork pioneers Clean Air Day in Ireland

Cork city achieved a notable first in Ireland recently when Clean Air Day was celebrated in Ireland for the first time.

On 7 September the United Nations’ International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (Clean Air Day) was celebrated in Cork city.

Over 140 banners were posted along the bridges and quays across the city with information on how everyone could take simple steps to achieve cleaner air.

The messages varied from: Simple steps for cleaner air and Walk it, bike it, bus it, Take the train to Consider switching to cleaner fuels for home heating.

One of the key messages from the day was to encourage a reduction of solid fuel burning as much as possible and when necessary, to only burn clean, ‘low smoke’ solid fuels.

To highlight the importance of air quality, the United Nations were calling upon everyone, from governments and corporations to civil society and individuals to come Together for Clean Air.

Good air quality is essential for our health and wellbeing. By making simple changes in our day-to-day life, we can make a positive impact on the air quality in our neighbourhoods and across our city.

To further raise awareness and enhance public communication, Cork City Council sought the services of local artist Robyn Deasy to engage with the public and seek opinions and assess attitudes towards air quality, issues around air pollution and potential solutions.

Other events on the day included a night-time light show at Cork City Hall; a pop-up air quality information hub in the Library on Grand Parade; a nighttime wind surfing show along the Lee, a spinning competition hosted by TFI bikes, where passers-by could compete to pedal the furthest over two minutes and a lunch-time cycle to Fitzgerald’s Park hosted by Cork Cycle network.

The day was rounded off in Cork City Hall with public event co-hosted by UCC and Cork City Council on the topic of air quality.

Entitled BEHAV-I-AIR, the open engagement session brought together air quality experts and behavioural psychologists from UCC, Cork City Council’s air quality team as well as concerned citizens to develop a shared vison for clean and healthy air in Cork City and to identify key actions related to public engagement and communication.

The main outcomes from the evening session were:

· the need for greater engagement in sustainable mobility

· to encourage a switch from solid fuel burning for home heating purposes

· that improved public communication and initiatives on air quality are needed

· the greater availability of (and engagement with) urban green spaces.

Cork’s first celebration of Clean Air Day was very successful in terms of raising awareness about the importance of air quality, engaging with the public on the topic and it has set the scene for future actions to improve air quality.

Cork City Council would like to thank the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications for sponsorship as well as TFI bikes and Cork Cycle network for their help on the day.