Merton has an ambitious target to become net zero as a Borough by 2050, but 22% of carbon emissions in Merton still come from transport. Improving air quality through active travel is an important way to help us reduce emissions and keep residents healthier at the same time.

From February to April we ran Beat the Street, a free interactive game to encourage people to walk, cycle and wheel around Merton, to make exercise fun, to reduce congestion on our roads  and to improve air quality.

Merton also has 30 permanent school streets to keep students safe and air pollution levels down at drop off and pick up times.

Meanwhile, our Air Quality Team have been delivering the world’s first Construction Low Emission Zone in partnership with the GLA and London Councils, ensuring that equipment used on construction sites in London is as clean as possible. This is benefiting residents in Merton and beyond, making the air we breathe cleaner.

Cleaning up our air is good for us in many ways: it not only benefits our physical health and the environment but can also protect our mental and brain health. 

This Clean Air Day on 15 June, come and visit our award-winning Air Quality Team, the Council’s Climate Team and Sustainable Merton at Wimbledon Piazza from 12-5pm to

1. Learn: find out more about how air pollution impacts our mental and physical health, as well as the planet’s health, and learn about our 30 permanent school streets.

2. Act: get your bike marked or maintained for free with Dr Bike so that you can wheel around the borough and reduce local transport emissions.

3. Ask: how to get involved in local projects that make it easier for you to breathe clean air,  or those that prevent climate change.

Learn more about Clean Air Day at www.cleanairday.org.uk

#MertonNetZeroTogether