Southwark hosts launch of new London wide air quality initiative

15 January 2019

Sadiq Khan officially launched Breathe London this morning, in a quest to take bold action to address the effects of air pollution.

Cllr Richard Livingstone, Cabinet Member for environment, transport management and air quality, joined the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, at Charlotte Sharman School, to launch the project.

Breathe London is a data driven initiative that shares Southwark’s approach to improving air quality by measuring the problem, sharing knowledge and taking measurable and effective action to reduce it.

Breathe London is launching with the introduction of eight air quality monitoring sensors in Southwark. These, along with another 92 new sensors across the capital, will help add to existing data that illustrates the air pollution problem in London.

Further to this, two Google Street View cars will spend a year driving around the city, measuring air quality every 30 metres. This will add to the air quality data that the council already has and highlight previously unmapped pollution hotspots.

Cllr Richard Livingstone said: “Today’s launch will support our rigorous monitoring of local air and the many council actions, from banning engine idling to closing roads outside our schools, that we’ve introduced since launching our ambitious new Air Quality Strategy in 2017.

“With the help of the new monitoring and continued support from our residents and many other partners, we will continue to work to improve London’s air quality.”

The data generated by this new network will be available for the public to view on an interactive online map on the Breathe London website. 

Page last updated: 16 April 2024