Camden announces five new air quality projects

Having secured funding from the Mayor of London’s Air Quality Fund, Camden will be addressing air quality issues around the borough, from sources as diverse as canal boats and film crews. 

Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet member for a Sustainable Camden said: ‘It’s great news that we have been successful with these bids. Funding for these projects offer us significant opportunities to improve the air quality across Camden, and to work with other boroughs to improve air quality in London as a whole.

‘We were the first council to commit to achieving the updated World Health Organization air quality guidelines and these new projects will support our work to realise the vision for a borough in which no person experiences ill health because of the air they breathe.’

The five projects are as follows: 

Clean Air for Camden – Citizen Science and Community Air Quality Champions

This will see the Camden Air Quality Monitor Loan scheme – through which residents can borrow a free indoor air quality monitor for up to four weeks – expanded. The project seeks to promote community engagement and empower local action. All aspects aim to tackle health inequalities by focusing on at-risk groups.

London Wood Burning Enforcement Project

Jointly led by Camden and Islington councils, this project aims to build on the success of, the London Wood Burning Project awareness campaign delivered last winter. It will provide training and materials to support the investigation and enforcement of household wood burning complaints in smoke control areas across 19 London boroughs. 

Idling Action London Phase 4

Jointly led by Camden and Hounslow councils, this project will build on the Mayor’s Air Quality Funded Idling Action project and will involve 18 other boroughs working in partnership to reduce avoidable air pollution from vehicle engine idling.

Focussing on driving-intensive businesses, such as fleet operators the project will aim to improve the effectiveness of enforcement against engine idling. Additionally, the project will improve public awareness about the impact of vehicle engine idling on air quality and the health risks associated with air pollution in general.

Cleaner Filming for Camden

In 2023 there were 910 licensed film days in the borough, with many of the crews powered by diesel generators.

In partnership with FilmFixer, the UK’s leading film service, Camden will develop an air pollution reduction programme for the film industry which will have the benefit of being easily replicable across the wider London area.

Healthy Waterways

Jointly led by Camden, Hackney and Newham councils and involving 11 other boroughs, the Healthy Waterways project will gather evidence on how boaters are affected by air pollution and will help to identify opportunities for reducing emissions from heating, propulsion, and onboard electrical power. It will look to encourage changes to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions, improving health and building climate resilience, and will culminate with the production of a strategic roadmap to support councils to work with boaters to make London’s waterways more sustainable and healthier for everyone.