Articles

By Amy Coyne Communications Manager, Sustainable Merton

Sustainability and wellbeing go hand-in-hand, so our initiatives pair environmental and social goals, such as reducing social isolation, improving mental and physical health, connecting people to nature, and responding to the ‘cost-of-living’ crisis. Our wide-ranging projects address issues around waste reduction and the circular economy, growing spaces, food insecurity, energy, and air quality.

Helping residents to #BreatheCleanerAir

Air quality is the most pressing environmental threat to the health of Londoners. Despite progress being made, there is still much to be done, especially to protect those most at risk, such as children and older adults. Research also shows that the most deprived communities are the among the hardest hit, limiting the life chances of many young people.

In line with the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainability Development Goals, SDG 3: ‘Ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing at all ages’, we believe that a healthier, happier, more connected community is one that will have the greatest impact.

During the Covid-19 lockdown, many of us experienced cleaner air and we saw huge shifts in low pollution behaviours. These changes in behaviour had a positive impact on both people and our environment. We want to see this become the new normal, and we’re here to help make that happen.

Air Quality Handbook

Our volunteer Community Champions – local people who are passionate about sustainability and want to make a difference in their community – are making it easier than ever for Merton residents to make changes that will reduce NO2 and PM levels locally and beyond.

To help residents reduce emissions, save money and improve their wellbeing, our Community Champion Air Quality team produced a locally-focused Air Quality 

Handbook which contains creative advice on everything from greening your home, to addressing cycling concerns, to saving fuel in your vehicle. The handbook is available to download on Sustainable Merton’s website and we encourage local organisations, groups and businesses to share it with their networks.

“Since working on the Air Quality Handbook, I’ve become more aware of how the air quality around us affects everything from our health and wellbeing to climate change and beyond.” Kathryn, Sustainable Merton Community Champion, Air Quality Team.

Air quality monitoring

Alongside their work to promote behavioural change, our Community Champions also gather air quality data as part of Merton Council’s Citizen Science Project. This data contributes to the Council’s evidence base that underpins higher level action, such as where and what interventions are needed. In 2021, 15 Community Champions and members of the Colliers Wood Residents Association Parks and Green Spaces Group, monitored NO2 at 16 locations across Merton, leading to school air-quality audits and air-quality action days at locations found to exceed national air-quality objectives.

“Thank you to Davide Pascarella from Merton Council’s Air Quality department who took time to train four residents from Colliers Wood on how to measure air quality in their area, a process known as citizen science. The residents who took part want to be able to monitor any changes in air quality in their area following a major change to traffic flow along the high street and we are pleased to have helped make this happen. At present, the measurements will focus on NO2 levels using diffusion tubes on a monthly basis.” At present, the measurements will focus on NO2 levels using diffusion tubes on a monthly basis.”

Our Air Quality Monitors also supported Merton Council’s anti-idling engagement day in Colliers Wood, helping to install a new Breathe London air quality sensor.

Getting more people cycling

Through a partnership with The Bike Project, our Community Champions also collected 24 used bikes on Clean Air Day 2021 that were fixed up and given to refugees, enabling more people to join the cycling revolution. That’s equivalent to over 5,700Kg of CO2!

We hope this work inspires you by showing the power of community action and how one small environmental charity, in one London Borough, is contributing to a global movement. Our individual actions may seem to be a drop in the ocean, but it is the choices we make each day that add up – and by coming together through on-the-ground initiatives and inspiring others to join, momentum builds, our voices get louder and our impact grows.

To find out more about who we are and what we do, please visit sustainablemerton.org. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.