rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/respond-to-the-gm-clean-air-plan-consultation?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-respond-to-the-gm-clean-air-plan-consultation' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Manchester Friends of the Earth https://actionnetwork.org/groups/manchester-friends-of-the-earth https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/letters/photos/000/142/242/normal/I_support_clean_air_everywhere_-_placard.jpg Air pollution is a public health emergency and action is urgently required. Greater Manchester is currently consulting on plans to introduce a charging Clean Air Zone (CAZ), and we need your support to make this happen. The Clean Air Zone is being introduced because Greater Manchester is required to meet legal limits for air pollution. It is due to come into force from spring 2022, and would place a charge on the most polluting commercial vehicles. A public health emergency Air pollution limits life expectancy, damages children’s development and has been linked with dementia. Emergency admissions to hospital for asthma in Central Manchester and North Manchester NHS trusts are double the national average. And the most vulnerable people and those living in disadvantaged areas are at greater risk from air pollution. Support the Clean Air Zone In Greater Manchester, road transport accounts for over 75% of air pollution and Government research has shown that Clean Air Zones are the most effective route to compliance. We are asking people to support the proposed scheme that covers the whole region and with charges set at levels that achieve real changes in the way people travel. And push for more However the proposed Clean Air Zone excludes private vehicles, which make up the majority of vehicles on our roads. We are therefore also calling for the Clean Air Plan to introduce a Ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) in Manchester City Centre which includes all polluting vehicles. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/respond-to-the-gm-clean-air-plan-consultation