New campaign urges London’s drivers: save lives and cut carbon emissions by switching off engines when parked
A London-wide advertising campaign has launched today in a bid to cut air pollution and carbon emissions.
Led by the City of London Corporation and Camden Council, and funded by the Mayor of London, the ‘Engine Off, Every Stop’ campaign features posters, bus rears, and billboards on roadside sites and petrol stations across the capital.
Drivers are also being reached with radio adverts, videos and social media to encourage a change in mindsets and behaviour.
The four-week project, running throughout November, highlights air pollution as an “invisible killer” and a serious danger for many Londoners.
Posters reveal the amount of invisible toxic fumes spewed from just a single idling vehicle engine.
Idling Action London have been raising awareness of idling across London through various activities including holding workshops at 113 schools so far and speaking to over 8000 drivers on the street at idling action events.
Idling vehicles emit pollutants including nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter which are linked to asthma, heart disease, chronic bronchitis and cancer.
People with respiratory conditions, the elderly, pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable.
It is estimated that every year more than 4,000 Londoners die prematurely from long-term exposure to air pollution*.
Research shows switching off engines when parked also cuts carbon emissions, with a TRL study revealing that one minute of idling by a HGV can release up to 69g of CO2.
Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Environment Committee, Keith Bottomley, said:
“This campaign gives London’s drivers a clear call to action to safeguard personal and public health.
“Switching off is the easiest way to minimise air pollution and cut carbon emissions.
“With a small change in behaviour Londoners can help save lives and protect the environment.”
Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy Shirley Rodrigues, said:
“The Mayor of London has just expanded the Ultra Low Emission Zone up to, but not including, the North and South Circular roads which will bring cleaner air to the whole of the capital. But there’s more to be done to reduce pollution to healthier levels. The ‘Engines Off, Every Stop’ campaign is one of the many programmes we’re supporting to reduce emissions such as cleaning up the bus fleet, supporting walking and cycling, and funding Low Emission Neighbourhoods.
“The Mayor is delighted to be funding this campaign which sees the City Hall and London’s boroughs work together to help drivers understand the impact they can have just by switching off their engines when they have stopped.”
Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Camden, said:
“During the national lockdowns of the past 18 months, many people realised the benefits of quieter, low-traffic streets in London. We continue to learn from this experience and go further in protecting people’s health by cutting air pollution.
“With the world’s attention focused on Glasgow for the COP26 climate conference, the ‘Engine Off, Every Stop’ campaign focuses on one small carbon-cutting action that all drivers can take to help tackle the climate crisis while also protecting their health – and the health of those around them – from exposure to air pollution.
“We are therefore calling on individuals and businesses to continue to back our ‘Engines Off, Every Stop’ campaign and make a pledge to reduce emissions by avoiding engine idling wherever possible.”
The Engine Off, Every Stop, which is expected to reach over eight million Londoners, is part of the Idling Action London project, which sees 30 London local authorities and the City of London Corporation joining forces to drive down toxic air.
Idling Action London, jointly led by City of London Corporation and Camden Council, is funded by the Mayor of London’s Air Quality Fund which is tackling idling engines as a source of avoidable air pollution.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Firms including Veolia, Marston Holdings, Glendale, Id Verde, Socotec, Addison Lee, Mace, Cadent Gas, and Serco are examples of local authority contractors and businesses which have signed our Engines Off pledge and have used the Campaign’s fleet toolkit to ensure that their drivers will avoid engine idling wherever possible
Businesses, residents, schools, and community groups can get involved by signing the Engines Off pledge and using free toolkits and other resources which provide easy and practical steps to tackling idling engines.
For more information about how to get involved, head to our website www.idlingaction.london
Watch the “Engine Off Every Stop” film here : https://youtu.be/-sCXaziyWnw
About the Idling Action project
Vehicle Idling Action is a London-wide behaviour change campaign which is helping to reduce localised air pollution caused by motorists leaving their engines running when parked.
The project has been awarded funding as part of the Mayor’s Air Quality Fund Round 3 and involves 30 London local authorities and the City of London Corporation. As well as the delivery of idling action events, in which teams of volunteers, local authority officers and project staff work to educate both motorists and pedestrians, the project is delivering school workshops, engaging with businesses, offering vehicle fleet training, and is working with all local authorities to ensure idling regulations are enforced across London.
The Idling Action Project has been running since 2016. Now in its fourth phase it is jointly led by the City of London Corporation and the London Borough of Camden.
About the City of London Corporation
The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
About Camden Council
Camden has a proud, rebellious spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems, and to bring about real social change.
About Mayor of London’s Air Quality Fund
The Mayor’s Air Quality Fund (MAQF) is a £22 million fund over 10 years to support projects by London boroughs to improve air quality. Projects supported with £6m in the third round of the MAQF were announced by the Mayor on 7 June 2019. In this round he is supporting four Low Emission Neighbourhoods and 11 other innovative air quality projects, including this idling project, a pan-London project tackling pollution from construction machinery, and an initiative supporting 250 car free and pedestrianisation schemes across London.
Kristina Drake| Media Officer, Public Services
City of London Corporation
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/newsroom
Kristina.Drake@cityoflondon.gov.uk
M: 07710860884