Air Quality – Engagement Prepared for: Stakeholders in The Northbank BID In partnership with: Westminster City Counc

1. Air Quality – Engagement • Prepared for: • Stakeholders in The Northbank BID • In partnership with: • Westminster City Council • Date: • January 2014

2. Contents • Introduction • Situation • Air quality and health • Air quality in context • Solutions • The goal & The challenge • Borough actions • Supporting Organisations

3. Introduction • Situation • Poor air quality in The Northbank BID is complex but broadly the result of emissions from: • Transport (cars, taxis and buses) • Buildings (gas from boilers) • Supply chain (LGVs and rigid HGVs) • There is a great deal of work already being done by the council, the GLA, TfL and DEFRA but not all targets are being met • We need the help of the business community • Air quality and the business – current perceptions: • No perception of the problem • Know it’s a problem but not the extent • Agree it’s an issue but what can I do? • Am fully aware of the extent of the problem

4. Introduction • Air quality and health • Poor air quality has a significant impact on health • What should we focus on to get the message across? • Up to 10,000 deaths every year in London are attributable to poor air quality • More people die in London every year as a result of poor air quality than nationally from road traffic accidents • The effects of poor air quality are worse than passive smoking • The lung capacity of children in areas of poor air quality is reduced by at least 5% • The economic cost of the health impact of poor air quality in the UK is around £15 billion

5. Introduction • Air quality in context

6. Introduction • NO2 Concentrations

7. Solutions • The goal • To make and promote The Northbank as a healthy place to live, work and do business • Resulting in improved employee and resident wellbeing • Corporate Responsibility and reputation management • The challenge • If you don’t know that it’s a problem you won’t look for solutions to improve the situation • Any action we take has an almost immediate effect • Solutions: • Communications – profile raising • The Built Environment – increasing building efficiency and reducing gas consumption • Transportation – promoting walking and cycling • Supply Chain – reducing the number of vehicles delivering to your premises and the emission profile of the fleet

8. Solutions • Borough actions • The first local authority to declare an Air Quality Management Area in 1999 and the first to produce an Air Quality Strategy and Plan in 2001 • Pioneered the initial concept of a Low Emission Zone • Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) required for large developments • Air Quality Assessments (AQA) required for developments which are deemed to be significant in terms of air quality • The Westminster Code of Construction Practice (CoCP) for major sites, requires developers to control and monitor dust emissions • Infrastructure and incentivisation for electric and low emission vehicles • Promotion of AirText - air pollution mobile text alert system, in association with GLA and other London boroughs