Cleaner air and safer journeys for children as Birmingham marks Clean Air Day

On 16 June, 100 children from 19 primary schools in Birmingham attended a Clean Air Day and Modeshift STARS celebration event at the Council House. Working with partners including Mums for Lungs, Living Streets, and Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, pupils took part in interactive activities exploring the links between clean air, health, road safety and active travel.

Birmingham City Council’s wider work to improve sustainability in the built environment has also received global recognition, with Birmingham shortlisted for the Sustainable City Award at the BREEAM Awards. The nomination reflects the Council’s ongoing efforts to support the delivery of high-quality, low-carbon buildings.

Thousands more children across the city engaged with the clean air message through performances of Abbie Ayre and the Shed of Science, a theatre-in-education production visiting twenty primary schools throughout June. Through science, storytelling and audience participation, pupils learn about the causes of air pollution, how it affects health and the practical steps they can take to help improve air quality, including walking, cycling and scooting to school.

Young people are also helping to shape the conversation through Birmingham’s Asthma and Air Quality Youth Health Champion Programme. Delivered in partnership with NHS colleagues and Mums for Lungs, the programme brings secondary school students together with health professionals and air quality experts to develop campaigns aimed at encouraging positive behaviour change among their peers.

Year 9 student Ibrahim, who attended a recent workshop, said:

“By the end of the workshop, we’d learned how asthma develops, how pollution affects the lungs, why Birmingham’s air quality is such a big issue, and what small changes can make a difference. But the biggest takeaway was understanding how powerful young voices can be.”

Birmingham schools are playing a central role to improve air quality and support healthier futures for young people. A key part of this work is the rollout of free outdoor air quality monitors. Since February 2025, more than 230 monitors have been installed in schools, providing real-time data that pupils, staff and families can use to better understand local air quality.

The monitors support cleaner air campaigns, anti-idling initiatives and active travel programmes, while helping school communities make informed decisions about their environment. Councillor Rob Grant, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:

“Every child deserves to learn in a healthy environment and travel to school safely. From air quality monitoring to active travel programmes, we’re taking practical action that benefits children today. What makes this work so powerful is that children and young people are not simply learning about these issues; they are helping to lead change in their schools, families and communities. Together, these initiatives are helping us create cleaner air, safer journeys and healthier futures for the next generation.”