The Commonwealth Games is being staged in Birmingham in 2022, bringing over 1 million visitors as well as athletes and volunteers to the Games.
WM-Air have been working closely with the Commonwealth Games organising committee (via an Impact Fellow secondment) to support work on air quality, such as reviewing actions taken to improve air quality at previous Games, supporting development of the Commonwealth Games sustainability strategy to ensure that local air quality is considered alongside their ambitious targets for carbon reduction, providing guidance and expertise for air quality monitoring and data interpretation, including “low cost” sensors, their placement, and interpretation of the data obtained (via daily AQ updates, which can be viewed here), around key Commonwealth Games locations, and providing evidence to support the use of low emissions vehicles in the CWG fleet. By providing support on air quality to the Organising Committee, WM-Air is ensuring that air quality was a key environmental focus of the Games and that any negative impacts of the event are minimised.
WM-Air is also working with the Organising Committee to help shape legacy – to maximise the scope for the Games to become a catalyst to inspire behavioural change and provide a lasting air quality impact in Birmingham and the West Midlands.
WM-Air researchers will also be on site at Alexander Stadium before the am and pm athletics sessions on 4th, 5th and 6th August, to talk to visitors and spectators about our air quality work.
