Mayor launches campaign to cut region’s pollution

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street is challenging tech innovators, artists, politicians, academics and business leaders to join forces in finding ways to cut pollution.

The ‘Mayor’s Clean Growth Challenge’ will be launched on Clean Air Day on Thursday to find ways to tackle toxic pollution after Street said the West Midlands has a “moral responsibility” to lead on clean growth.

Street has set out four separate Clean Growth Challenges, centred around the creation of more low-carbon buildings, clean transport systems and a new approach to clean energy leadership in the region.

He said: “Clean growth is a challenge facing every major city across the globe.

“Here in the West Midlands, we’re making huge strides in green technology, and we have the expertise, enthusiasm and knowledge to lead the way in clean growth for the rest of the world.

“That’s why I’m throwing down the gauntlet to businesses, academics and political organisations across the region to get together to meet my Clean Growth Challenges. We can improve, enhance and innovate on the great work already underway in the West Midlands and show we have the big ideas to grow a strong economy without creating a cost for our environment.”

Day one of the Mayor’s Clean Growth Challenge will take place at the Birmingham City University’s Curzon Building, with a range of high-profile speakers tackling topics from low carbon transport and clean energy to the West Midlands’ ‘clean air revolution’.

The second day will be held at the STEAMhouse facility in Digbeth. STEAM events bring together a range of people with various specialisms to find new solutions to problems.

The event is being hosted by Birmingham City University and Eastside Projects’ STEAMhouse initiative, in partnership with West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Climate Change Solutions.

Key speakers at the event include world explorer Mark Wood, who has witnessed first-hand the impact of climate change on the north and south poles.

He will be joined by Birmingham City Council’s Councillor Lisa Trickett and Professor Julian Beer Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Birmingham City University.

Beer said: “There’s no doubt that identifying solutions to the challenge of improved air quality is an urgent priority for all of us.

“I’m delighted that the Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street has chosen to work with Birmingham City University and STEAMhouse on this element of his clean-green future agenda.

“It’s a recognition of the University’s leading position in innovative STEAM thinking – bringing together individuals and organisations from different backgrounds to maximise opportunities for creativity and innovation.”

Up to 900 people in Birmingham die early each year as a result of air pollution, and it has been linked to still births, premature deaths, heart disease, asthma and cancer in the city.

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