SFE YP Blog | National Clean Air Day, Douglas C Ross

Douglas C Ross
Graduate Sustainable Finance Consultant
EY

Content, grateful and relaxed. That is how I feel as I sit here, in the beating sun and cool breeze, writing this blog post. I’m reminded of an age-old counselling technique – the ‘5 Things’ Grounding Exercise.

It’s a simple method of grounding oneself, and it’s very effective. If you haven’t tried it before, now is your chance to do it with me – and don’t worry, it can be done from the comfort of being stationary. You start by listing 5 things you can see. For me, I see the sun, high in the sky. I see green - lots and lots of green – trees and fields and wild-flowers (probably weeds, but my glasses are very rose-tinted today) and tall grass and oddly, my washing line. I see my partner’s cat, lounging in the sun with irritatingly few responsibilities. I see a lone bee, working hard to pollinate, and hope they are earning a fair living wage. And I see the blue, blue sky.

Next, 4 things you can feel. I can feel the contrast between my crisp, ironed work-shirt and my soft working-from-home jogging bottoms. I feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. I feel the slightly itchy fabric of the outside furniture, and the coarseness of wild grass. What can you feel?

Now – 3 things you can hear. Take a minute to close your eyes and tune in to your senses. I hear swallows, sparrows, and geese. I hear the breeze brushing through the long grass. The illusion is only somewhat ruined by the faint roar of traffic, and my partners cat now shouting at me to be let out from his desperate hellhole (he is inside, just extremely dramatic).

Now, 2 things you can smell. I smell what I can only describe as ‘the outside as it should be’ – the distinct lack of fumes, the flowers and trees and pollen and grass and the biodiverse landscape around me. I also smell the factor 50 sun-cream I’ve slathered on myself (It’s my girlfriends fancy one – please don’t tell her as I may not live to finish this blog). What about you?

Last – 1 thing you can taste. For me, my first morning coffee. What a delight.

Now, at this point, you may be wondering A) is he in the Mediterranean, and B) What does any of this have to do with anything? A) No (he says, only slightly disgruntled) - at risk of sounding like a Visit Scotland advert, I’m in the highlands, on the single summer’s day we get annually.

As for B), this post is all about Global Action Plan’s (GAP) Clean Air Day – the UK’s largest air pollution campaign, held on June 15th this year – and the importance of getting outside for our mental and physical health. I split my time between the highlands and Edinburgh, so can appreciate the difficulty which comes with city-living and access to clean air.  So, whilst I’ve painted a very rosy picture of clean air thus far, this is the access to clean air that everybody should have.

There are some seriously hard-hitting facts when it comes to air pollution, laid out plainly by GAP:

·       Every year, air pollution kills 36,000 people. “The World Health Organization [WHO]…are unequivocal in stating that harmful air pollution, even at low concentrations, kills.” GAP.

·       The WHO and the UK Government both classify air pollution as the largest environmental health risk we currently face.

·       Air pollution is responsible for heart and lung diseases in children, low birth weights and deficient lung development.

·       Air pollution also poses a threat to our environment. Harmful pollutive gases damage land and crops and end up in our water sources, putting animals, plants and whole ecosystems at risk.  Clean Air Day 2022: Air pollution impacts the whole body says charity - BBC Newsround

Why does Clean Air Day matter, and what does Clean Air Day achieve?

·       By coming together on June 15th to spread the word, we bring attention to the dangers of air pollution.

·       This helps build public understanding and increase the likelihood of congruent behaviours. According to GAP’s research, 90% of people report to doing at least one thing to reduce outdoor air pollution – let’s keep the momentum going!

·       Clean Air Day highlights the large-scale support for a cleaner air future, sending a mandate to decision-makers to implement the system level changes that we require.

o   82% of people assert that air pollution should be a UK Gov priority, an 11% increase over the past three years. GAP.

So – what can you do to help? And what can we, as the SFE YP group and set of connected business, do to help?

·       Learn! Research about clean air for all. You can use the GAP’s Clean Air Hub to find out more about the harmful effects of air pollution.

·       Take Action! Walk, cycle or use public transport where you can to reduce your contribution to air pollution. Please read Clean Air Day’s Resources for Individuals for further guidance.

·       Ask for change! Get in touch with your local decisions-makers and ask them to support measures that make it easier for you to breathe clean air.

·       Spread the word! Use Clean Air Day’s Social Media Pack to communicate the health risks of air pollution using #CleanAirDay.

·       GAP makes its stance for companies clear: “Companies that consider how their business is contributing to adverse air pollution will be asserting their corporate responsibility to respect the right to a clean and healthy environment.” The Business for Clean Air is a principles-based framework, which helps businesses commit to taking action to address air pollution.

Lastly – get outside! Visit your local park and take a stroll – switch off for a while and try to experience nature. I’d love to hear any reflections you may have, and your experience of Clean Air.