DD2412 International Air Quality Summit & Conference

In the London Environment Strategy, the Mayor set out an objective to take action to achieve legal compliance with UK and EU air quality limits as soon as possible, including by mobilising action from London Boroughs, Government and other partners.

From 22 to 25 October 2019, the Mayor will be hosting an international air quality event consisting of a data showcase at the Science Museum; a summit, conference and evening reception at City Hall and Tower Bridge; and the C40 Air Quality Network Workshop.

22 October 2019: Public engagement event at the Science Museum

As the International Air Quality Summit and Conference will take place during schools’ half-term, there will be an additional opportunity to engage with a wider audience, especially young people who are most vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and have been strong advocates for change. This will be accomplished by hosting a public engagement event at the Science Museum on 22 October 2019 which will showcase the Breathe London monitoring network and the associated data it has collected this year, including with partners like Google.

23 October 2019: International Air Quality Summit, Conference and Evening Reception

On 23 October 2019, the GLA will also host a morning International Air Quality Summit in partnership with UK100, an afternoon air quality conference in association with the WHO, an evening reception.

The Mayor has previously hosted two air quality summits to set out city priorities for air quality action, as well as discuss opportunities for a partnership approach with Government to help tackle the national public health crisis being caused by our polluted air. The second summit was delivered in partnership with UK100 and attended by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Secretary of State for Health, the CEO of NHS England, national city leaders and Metro Mayors.

Attendees and contributors to the International Air Quality Summit and Conference will include UK and global cities, climate discourse and economic actors, Government officials and representatives from NGOs, businesses, academic institutions, the cultural and creative sector, community groups, philanthropic institutions and London’s boroughs.

The added support and attention from the international audience and participants at this third air quality summit will reinforce the need for the Government to adopt strong clean air legislation as they consider the Environment Bill, including adopting legally binding WHO air quality standards for the UK.

By sharing London’s experience, expertise, and influence, the GLA will be able to support and encourage other UK and global cities and governments to develop policies and adopt legislation that will drive action towards meeting WHO health-based air quality targets.

By working in association with the WHO to deliver the summit and conference on 23 October, which will include the participation of its Director-General, the GLA will be able to enhance the profile of the event and not only increase awareness on the issue of air pollution, but be able to support and help build momentum behind global policymakers and citizens who are actively trying to find solutions to improving air quality.

24-25 October: C40 Air Quality Network

As co-chair of the C40 Air Quality Network, which includes Portland, Los Angeles, Ciudad de Mexico, Lima, Berlin, Warsaw, Addis Ababa, Bengaluru, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Chengdu, Delhi, Sydney, Auckland, Vancouver, Houston, Quito, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Venice, Milan, Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Durban, Kolkata, Chennai, Hanoi, Jakarta, Tokyo and Quezon City, the GLA will be hosting the second network meeting from 24-25 October 2019.

The C40 Air Quality Network (“Network) is focused on helping cities identify and implement actions that reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. By identifying climate-friendly solutions that also address the public health crisis of air quality, the Network will support member cities to overcome political barriers and build public support for bold action. Additionally, the Network will support cities to advocate for accelerated action because of the immediacy of the air pollution crisis and health impacts in cities around the world.

The public engagement activities, conference in association with the WHO and C40 network meetings will provide a platform to showcase some of the innovative approaches to air quality action delivered in London and incorporate a London-wide educational and awareness raising programme.
UK100

UK100 is a network of local government leaders who have pledged to secure the future for their communities by shifting to 100% clean energy by 2050. These local leaders are working together to create flourishing communities, seizing the opportunities of technology to create jobs and establishing a nationwide project of renewal, focussed on local needs and ambitions.
The Clean Air Fund

The Clean Air Fund is a new philanthropic initiative to tackle air pollution, accelerate decarbonisation and improve human health. This initiative will deploy philanthropic capital to a variety of interventions to reduce air pollution globally – including monitoring the state of the air, developing policies for clean energy and transport, mobilising the public and supporting communications campaigns.

External financial support from the Clean Air Fund (established by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation) will enable the coordination of public air quality installations and exhibits at iconic locations such as the Science Museum, an evening networking reception for key decision makers and stakeholders, as well as the participation of inspirational international presenters on subjects such as global city action and new research.

The GLA has successfully applied for external funding from Clean Air Fund and subject to the agreement of this decision, the GLA will enter into a grant agreement with Clean Air Fund to receive external funding support to deliver the summit, conference and evening reception on 23 October, as well as the public engagement activities taking place at the Science Museum on 22 October.

The World Health Organization

The WHO consists of more than 7,000 people from more than 150 countries working in 150 country offices, six regional offices and its headquarters in Geneva. The organisation works worldwide to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. Its aims include protecting a billion more people from health emergencies, and providing a further billion people with better health and well-being.

Objectives:

• To provide an international platform for city leaders, global NGOs, government officials and industry representatives to commit action to tackle air pollution, including those that are known contributors to air pollution, i.e. businesses, car and freight industries;
• Build international and national consensus to adopt WHO recommended guidelines as legally binding targets in appropriate legislation;
• Showcase action taken by the GLA and its project partners and the resulting achievements as examples of impactful policies and programmes that can be modified and adopted by other global and UK cities, e.g. the Breathe London project, the Ultra Low Emission Zone, school and nursery audits, healthy streets, etc.;
• Raise awareness of new research and best practice on air quality action and improve collaboration across different sectors (transport, academia, public health);
• Develop London as a global hub of air quality innovation, research and leadership, supporting ambition and action in other cities;
• Engage Londoners and reach new audiences to generate wider interest in air quality action through marketing, cultural events and activities; and
• Support call for stronger provisions in the Government’s final Environment Bill by creating a global consensus on action.

Outcomes:

• Successful discussions that reinforce the need for the Government to adopt strong clean air legislation as they consider the Environment Bill, including adopting legally binding WHO air quality standards for the UK;
• Successful engagement with businesses, including vehicle manufacturers, construction and the freight industry, to overcome barriers preventing the realisation of Zero Emission Zones/ Clean Air Zones;
• Opportunities to explore solutions to problems highlighted during the roundtable discussion of the Summit and public engagement activities;
• Londoners will understand the issues and causes of air pollution and feel empowered to consider personal behavioural changes to improve air quality;
• By showcasing the latest air quality research produced by London and other international academic organisations, build the case for further global air quality action; and
• Successful engagement with vehicle manufacturers, construction and the freight industry, with progress on barriers needed to be overcome to make Zero Emission Zones a reality. This is likely to progress some of the high-level commitments expected to be made in Copenhagen as part of the C40 Mayors Summit, which will build a global coalition of leading cities, businesses and citizens and showcase examples of how cities are already delivering on their strong commitments to accelerate the bold climate solutions needed for a sustainable, healthier, resilient and inclusive future.

Under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, as a public authority, the GLA is subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty and must have ‘due regard’ of the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation as well as to advance equality of opportunity between people who have a protected characteristic and those who do not and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

Older and younger Londoners are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of poor air quality and recent research suggests that there are health implications for pregnant people. Additionally, BAME Londoners are exposed to concentrations of PM10 over 28% higher on average than the urban white population due to the concentration of this pollution in urban environments. Similarly, Londoners with physical disabilities that impair their respiratory performance or with existing respiratory illnesses are particularly sensitive to poor air quality.

Air pollution is a transboundary issue affecting millions of people around the world. This summit will bring together city leaders, global NGOs, government officials and industry representatives and provide an international platform for partners to commit action to tackle air pollution, thereby improving air quality, reducing health inequalities and improving life for the global population, including all Londoners, particularly those most vulnerable to and most exposed to poor air quality.

The summit, conference, public engagement activities and evening networking reception for key decision makers and stakeholders will be used to progress mayoral priorities and is likely to be beneficial for all Londoners, including groups with protected characteristics, as it will contribute towards improving air quality and reducing health inequality. The Aether report showed that while everyone will benefit from improved air quality, those living in the most deprived areas would benefit the most on average. The pollution exposure ‘gap’ between the least and most deprived areas is expected to fall by around 70% by 2030 as a result of Mayoral air quality policies.

This programme of work aims to reduce emissions from businesses, transport and freight industries, thereby improving air quality; therefore, it will reduce the health inequalities and improve life for all Londoners, particularly those most vulnerable to and most exposed to poor air quality.

Risk register

Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities

The proposal supports the following policies and proposals in the Mayor’s strategies:

London Environment Strategy (May 2018)

Objective 4.2

Achieve Legal Compliance with UK and EU Limits as soon as possible, including by mobilising action from London Boroughs, Government and other partners

Policy 4.2.1

Reduce emissions from London’s road transport network by phasing out fossil fuelled vehicles, prioritising action on diesel, and enabling Londoners to switch to more sustainable forms of transport.

Policy 4.2.5

The Mayor will work with other cities (here and internationally), global city and industry networks to share best practice, lead action and support evidence based steps to improve air quality

Objective 4.3

Establish and achieve new, tighter air quality targets for a cleaner London by transitioning to a zero emission London by 2050, meeting WHO-based guidelines for air quality

Policy 4.3.1

The Mayor will establish new targets for PM_2.5 and other pollutants where needed. The Mayor will seek to meet these targets as soon as possible, working with government and other partners.

Policy 4.3.2

The Mayor will encourage the take up of ultra-low and zero emission technologies to make sure London’s entire transport system is zero emission by 2050 to further reduce levels of pollution and achieve WHO air quality guidelines

Mayor’s Transport Strategy (March 2018)

Policy 6

The Mayor, through TfL and the boroughs, and working with stakeholders, will take action to reduce emissions – in particular diesel emissions – from vehicles on London’s streets to improve air quality and support London reaching compliance with UK and EU legal limits as soon as possible. Measures may include promoting electrification and responsible procurement.

Proposal 35

The Mayor, through TfL and the boroughs, and working with Government, will seek to implement zero emission zones in town centres from 2020 and aim to deliver a zero-emission zone in central London from 2025, as well as broader congestion reduction measures to facilitate the implementation of larger zero emission zones in inner London by 2040 and London-wide

by 2050 at the latest.

Proposal 36

The Mayor, through TfL, and working with Government, manufacturers and other relevant organisations, will work to reduce PM levels and support and accelerate the development and uptake of technologies to tackle tyre and brake wear and auxiliary engine emissions.

Mayor’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (May 2018)

The Mayor’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy sets out how he will work to create a fairer, more equal, integrated city where all people feel welcome and able to fulfil their potential.

Objective 9

To work with boroughs, communities, transport providers and businesses to help regenerate the most deprived parts of London in a way that supports good growth and opens up opportunities for the most disadvantaged groups.

Objective 11

To work with all relevant partners to ensure actions to improve levels of air quality and mitigate the effects of air pollution are informed by an understanding of the groups most likely to experience poor air quality.

Officers involved in the drafting or clearance of this form do not have any conflicts of interest to declare.

Approval is sought for the receipt and expenditure of up to £39,500 from the Clean Air Fund to support the delivery of the International Air Quality Summit and Conference and associated public engagement activities.

In addition, approval is sought for expenditure of up to £20,000 to deliver the event.

The expenditure of up to £20,000 will be funded from the Air Quality budget 2019-20 and up to £39,500 of funding support will be provided by the Clean Air Fund.

Sections 1 – 2 of this report indicate that the decisions requested of the director concern the exercise of the GLA’s general powers, falling within the GLA’s statutory powers to do such things considered to further or which are facilitative of, conducive or incidental to the promotion of economic development and wealth creation, social development or the promotion of the improvement of the environment in Greater London; and in formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought officers have complied with the Authority’s related statutory duties to:

• pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people;
• consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons, health inequalities between persons and to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom; and
• consult with appropriate bodies.

In taking the decisions requested, the director must have due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty; namely the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010, and to advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic (race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity and gender reassignment) and persons who do not share it and foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it (section 149 of the Equality Act 2010). To this end, the Director should have particular regard to section 3 (above) of this report.

Any works, services or supplies required must be procured by Transport for London Commercial who will determine the detail of the procurement strategy to be adopted in accordance with the GLA’s Contracts and Funding Code.

Officers must ensure that appropriate contract documentation is put in place and executed by the successful bidder(s) and the GLA before the commencement of the works, services or supplies.

Paragraph 1.16 above indicates that the contribution of up to £39,500 from the Clean Air Fund amounts to the provision of grant funding. Officers must ensure that the funding is distributed fairly, transparently, in accordance with the GLA’s equalities and in manner which affords value for money in accordance with the Contracts and Funding Code. Officers must ensure that an appropriate funding agreement is put in place between and executed by the GLA and the Clean Air Fund before any commitment to spend is made.