In the first of a new series of interviews with air quality professionals across London and the South East, we talk to Camden’s new air quality officer Katie Watson about the upcoming joint air quality summit with Islington.

(King’s) - Can you give us a bit of background to next month’s air quality summit?
(KW) - Official estimates suggest that 29,000 premature deaths in the UK in 2008 were attributable to long-term exposure to man made air pollution, which also made a smaller contribution in another 200,000 early deaths. In order to improve the air quality in our boroughs, and the health of those who live in, work in and travel through them, LB Camden and Islington are hosting a joint public air quality summit this month. A range of expert speakers will provide attendees with the facts about air pollution in an accessible and clear manner.

(King’s) - What are some of the air quality challenges that Camden and Islington, as inner-city London boroughs face?
(KW) - Camden and Islington are working together to deliver this summit because, as inner London boroughs, we face many of the same air quality challenges. Both boroughs have high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter and we hope that by working together we can raise awareness of these problems and try to reduce levels of these pollutants in our boroughs.

(King’s) - What do you hope the summit will achieve?
(KW) - We hope that attendees will learn about the health impacts of air pollution and how they can protect themselves from the worst exposure to pollutants. We will also be discussing the actions which can be taken at a regional, local, organisational and individual level to reduce air pollution.

Our thanks to Katie for speaking to us this month

The summit is taking place on November 21st at Camden Town Hall from 5-8:30pm.

Speakers at the event include:
Isabel Dedring, Mayor of London’s Environment Advisor
Professor Frank Kelly, Kings College London
Simon Birkett, Founder, Clean Air London
James Grugeon, CEO, Environmental Protection UK
Sir Roger Madelin, CEO, Argent

More Information

Item date 07/11/2011