Measures are being taken by the council to ensure Cumbria remains a space with top-quality fresh air, as part of a national campaign.

To mark Clean Air Day 2021 today (June 17), Cumbria County Council has shared details of all the steps taken by the organisation to reduce its carbon footprint.

Air pollution affects everyone from their first breath to their last, and causes up to 36,000 UK deaths every year.

Clean air is essential for health, and the co-benefits of clean air measures are key for wellbeing as well as the planet.

The council has a number of initiatives designed to help reduce its carbon footprint, including owning a fleet of electric vehicles for staff to use to travel between sites, and making digital improvements with ICT equipment, to help reduce the need to travel between offices for meetings.

It is also investing in charging infrastructure, installing a total of 30 new electric vehicle charging points located at five council-owned sites in the county.

This is in addition to a number of charging points already provided by Cumbria County Council that are available for public use. A list of these sites can be found here.

Councillor Celia Tibble, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “I am delighted that the council is again supporting Clean Air Day – it’s a national day of action to raise awareness about the dangers of toxic air and how we can all contribute to reducing pollution.

"I think it’s so important to know about the damage that pollution causes, so I’d urge everyone to think about what they can do to help improve air quality and reduce the harm from pollution.

"We’re lucky to live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country – let’s keep it that way by working together to care for our environment.”

For more information about the practical steps you can take to reduce pollution and breathe cleaner air, visit the Clean Air Day website.