We've made a significant step in the fight against air pollution by signing up to the Clean Van Commitment (CVC).
Currently, we have a fleet of 109 branded vehicles.
The CVC is an initiative run by Global Action Plan which asks its partners to make a public pledge to move towards zero emission vans in cities by 2028.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 4.2 million people worldwide die as a result of outdoor air pollution. According to the organisation, there are up to 11,000 estimated outdoor air pollution-related deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke in the UK each year. This is why we have funded over £1 million of research into air pollution.
The UK’s current legal limits for the dangerous pollutants are twice as high as the WHO recommends, and the we are calling for the Government to drive action to reduce the public’s exposure to the most dangerous particles for health by adopting the WHO guideline limits into law.
The Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) – an initiative that we have supported – comes into force on April 8 in London. This will mean that vehicles that do not comply with the ULEZ due to their emissions standards will be charged £12.50 a day to enter the zone. Larger vehicles, such as lorries, buses and coaches, will be charged £100 a day.
John Maingay, our Director of Policy and Influencing, said:
“The time to take action on air pollution is now. Air pollution represents the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, and almost six out of ten deaths related to outdoor air pollution worldwide are a result of heart disease or stroke.
“Our research first identified that exposure to particles found in diesel exhaust has negative effects on the heart and circulatory system, and could increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke in vulnerable people. By signing up to the CVC, we are demonstrating our commitment to cleaning up Britain’s air. We urge other charities and organisations with vehicle fleets to follow our lead and commit to moving towards zero emissions, helping to potentially save thousands of lives in the future.”
Find out how air pollution can impact your heart