Progress in delivering clean air for Birmingham - January 2026
Emissions reduction and awareness campaigns
This page sets out progress on actions 6 to 8 of the Clean Air Strategy.
These actions focus on reducing emissions from activities beyond everyday road traffic and supporting behaviour change through campaigns and practical guidance.
Action 6: Investigate ways to reduce emissions from Non-Road Mobile Machinery
Work is underway to reduce emissions from Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM), such as diesel generators used on construction sites.
A survey of NRMM equipment is in progress. To date, 80% of active construction sites within the Clean Air Zone have been visited.
The aim is to produce an inventory and identify measures to reduce emissions. This work is drawing on:
- lessons from London’s approach to NRMM inventories
- insight from the West Midlands Combined Authority’s behaviour change trial on idling on construction sites in Wolverhampton
The council is working with Environmental Protection and Planning to review and revise policy around construction site permitting.
Scoping has also begun on the potential for a Construction Dust Monitoring Assessment.
Action 7: Increase awareness of the impact of wood burners, fireworks and bonfires
The council is delivering a bespoke social media campaign, #ClearTheAir, to highlight the health harms of wood burning, fireworks and bonfires. The campaign links to key moments in the year such as Clean Air Night and Bonfire Night.
Lighting fires at home is one of the largest sources of small particle air pollution in the UK. A dedicated campaign focused on wood burners is underway to raise awareness of the harms to health, the environment and household costs.
A new Smoke Control Order takes effect on 23 March 2026 to include waterways. A reimbursement support scheme will be introduced to encourage canal boat users to switch to more sustainable forms of heating and energy usage. Enforcement for occupants of moored vessels will be deferred while a Moored Vessel Enforcement Policy is developed, to reflect the specific circumstances of boat users in a proportionate way.
Action 8: Deliver anti-idling campaigns
As part of the #ClearTheAir campaign, schools have been offered anti-idling signage and an anti-idling toolkit to support local work to reduce unnecessary engine idling. This sits alongside School Streets schemes operating at 21 schools, with 5 more due in April 2026.
The council is supporting the Rail Safety and Standards Board in work to address unnecessary idling of trains. Anti-idling advice will also be included in the council’s work on Non-Road Mobile Machinery at construction sites and in work to support Faith Centres and Community Hubs.
Page last updated: 30 January 2026