Camden council and six other leading employers in the borough have become the latest signatories to the Camden Breathing Better Charter.
The signings - made on Clean Air Day - mean the project now has the support of more than 23 organizations across Camden and beyond, representing more than 32,000 Camden employees.
As well as the council, other new signatories announced today include: Bennetts Associates, Francis Crick Institute, LifeArc, Hat Trick Productions, United Colleges Group (City of Westminster College & College of North West London) and Veolia Camden.
The Camden Breathing Better Charter was launched on 1 April as a Sustainable Markets Initiative’s (SMI) Lighthouse Project led by Reckitt, Bupa and GSK.
It commits signatories to making 12 tangible steps towards reducing air pollution emissions and supporting workforce respiratory health.
Founding Charter signatories include leading employers such as AstraZeneca, ARUP, BCG, Bupa, Caversham GP Practice, Clarion Housing Group, Freuds, GSK, Havas, HS2, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Paramount, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Wellcome Trust.
The project also has the support of partners including Asthma & Lung UK and the Clean Air Fund.
Camden Council was the first local authority to commit to meeting the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines
Particulate air pollution contributes to 7% of all deaths in the borough. and asthma-related hospital admissions in Camden are four times the UK average.
Camden’s air contains 24% higher levels of pollutants than the UK average.
The announcement coincides with Clean Air Day, coordinated by environmental change charity Global Action Plan.
Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden said: “Outdoor air quality has improved hugely in Camden over the past 10 years, but we still have a long way to go before we reach the World Health Organization air quality guideline limits throughout the borough.
“We are also aware how vitally important indoor air quality in our homes, workplaces and schools is for our health and wellbeing. “In Camden and across central London a large proportion of air pollution is from non-domestic buildings, and through public, private and third sector working together with a shared vision there is significant opportunity to create a healthier environment for everyone in the borough.” The Camden Breathing Better Charter forms part of a wider, two year programme to create practical tools and resources to promote city-led health and wellbeing interventions.
Specific measures include; increasing energy efficiency in buildings, switching to 100% renewable electricity, transitioning to zero-emission vehicles, enabling sustainable commuting, and offering employees respiratory health support and education - all within pre agreed timescales.
