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Local rebels joined a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party outside Gatwick Airport yesterday to protest against the high carbon footprint of the airline industry.

Less than 10% of the world’s population has ever been on a plane. Yet the airline industry is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Rebels in fancy dress were joined by a former pilot who left the airline industry, for which he had worked for a number of years, as he felt that he could no longer support the carbon-intensive industry.

The Rebel Riders, en route from Brighton to London, arrived to the sight of rebels performing Discobedience in the centre of the roundabout!

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On Friday we joined Extinction Rebellion groups across the country in a nationwide banner drop, as part of a fossil fuel-focused day of action.  Six banners hanging on three bridges across the M25, spread our message to thousands of travellers, in the constant stream of heavy traffic throughout the day.

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BACKGROUND
Air pollution is one of the largest environmental risks to public health in the UK and contributes to shortening and reducing the quality of life for thousands. 40,000 deaths a year are estimated to arise from air pollution. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is widely understood to be the pollutant that is the most damaging to health and nitrogen dioxide has been identified by The European Environment Agency as the cause of 11,940 premature deaths in 2013 in the UK.
Air quality and climate change are intimately connected, with many common causes. Making major improvements to air quality will make an important contribution to reducing the threat of climate change.
Locally, data on air quality has until recently been limited to a small number of static monitors which measure nitrogen dioxide levels. Data on the levels of other pollutants can only be estimated based on readings from a number of monitoring stations which are outside the area and in some cases 75 miles away.. Data which is limited in scope, difficult to access and some of which is poor-quality hinders public awareness of air quality issues and limits corrective action.

The lockdown implemented as a consequence of Covid-19 presented a unique opportunity to measure air quality in favourable circumstances. Further programmes of measurement will establish the extent to which pollutants are increasing and in which local areas.

The onset of Covid-19 has raised the issue of air pollution to new heights with national and international studies to investigate the connection between nitrogen dioxide, PM2.5 and the transmission of coronavirus and the extent to which the recovery of Covid –19 patients is adversely affected by air pollution.

WHAT WE DID

Measuring air quality during Covid-19 lockdown (the period from mid-April to early May) provided a benchmark against which to assess the deterioration in air quality as the lockdown is eased. At that time, readings were made over twelve locations with three sets of readings taken per day (morning, lunchtime and late afternoon) at each location. Each set comprised an overall index and six main pollutants, giving 1700 pollutant readings in total. Three pollutants – nitrogen dioxide, PM10 particulates and PM 2.5 particulates were selected for detailed analysis.

The monitoring exercise was repeated during the week commencing 8th June. Fourteen locations were monitored i.e. three additional locations and one location replaced from the first set of measurements. The results of this exercise are reported here with 2050 readings, and compared with April/May results. The exercise was further repeated over the same fourteen locations in the week commencing 13th July and these results are reported here.

WHAT WE FOUND

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bP-K1c_d0Bfo2oLfhMEwKBzsMOputYzi/view?usp=sharing

NITROGEN DIOXIDE AS A POLLUTANT
Compliance with Defra limits
The UK limits are measured in units of micrograms/cubic metre (µ/m3). Exposure is limited to 40µ/m3 on a yearly average and c.100 µ/m3 not to be exceeded more than 18 times per year. WHO advises guidelines of an annual mean of 40 micrograms/cubic metre and a 1 hour mean of 200 micrograms/cubic metre.

Health Impact
There is good evidence that nitrogen dioxide is harmful to health. The European Environment Agency reported that the UK had 11,940 premature deaths in 2013 from nitrogen dioxide. The most common short-term outcomes are respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath and cough. Nitrogen dioxide inflames the lining of the lung and reduces immunity to lung infections such as bronchitis. Studies also suggest that the health effects are more pronounced in people with asthma compared to healthy individuals.

Sources
Road transport is estimated to be responsible for about 50% of total emissions of nitrogen oxides, which means that nitrogen dioxide levels are highest close to busy roads and in large urban areas. Diesel cars create more nitrogen dioxide. Gas boilers in buildings are also a source of nitrogen dioxide.

Prevention/Mitigation
Reducing traffic would make a major impact on nitrogen dioxide levels. Travel by petrol/diesel car should become the last option for travel after working from home, walking and cycling, electric bikes and cars, and public transport. HGV vehicles are a major source in town centres. Out of town offloading centres with last mile delivery to locations by low emission vehicles would reduce this source.
Energy efficient housing stock, heated by local heat pumps replacing gas boilers, would reduce the levels of this harmful pollutant.

PM 10 AS A POLLUTANT
Compliance with Defra limits
An annual mean of 40 micrograms/cubic metre, together with levels not to exceed 50 micrograms/cubic metre more than 35 times a year. WHO advises guidelines of an annual mean of 20 micrograms/cubic metre and a 24 hour mean of 50 micrograms/cubic metre.

Impact of pollutant
PM10 particles can settle in the airway and deep in the lungs and cause health problems. The health effects of particle air pollution have been widely studied, and include premature death and the worsening of heart and lung disease, often increasing admissions to hospital.
In 2008, the UK’s Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants reported that the loss of life from particulates is equivalent to 29,000 deaths. More recently studies are investigating the possible link between poor air quality and outcomes such as low birth weight infants and neurological health.

Sources of pollutant
Particles originating from road traffic include carbon emissions from engines, small bits of metal and rubber from engine wear and braking as well as dust from road surfaces. Others include material from building and industry
Wood burning and fires are a source of PM10 particles, as are agricultural emissions where ammonia is converted into particles of ammonium salts. Nitrogen dioxide also reacts with hydrocarbons in the presence of sunlight to create ozone, and contributes to the formation of particulates.
Whilst nitrogen dioxide is predominantly local, particulates such as dust, pollen, sea salt, sand and soil can be carried by the wind and therefore some of the source are national and international.

Ways to improve air quality
Reducing traffic would make a major impact on PM10 levels. Travel by petrol/diesel car should become the last option for travel after working from home, walking and cycling, electric bikes and cars, and public transport. HGV vehicles are a major source in town centres and therefore out of town offloading centres with last mile delivery to town locations by low emission vehicles would remove this source.
Public education on the adverse health impact of fires and wood burning would reduce particulate levels.
Manure management techniques such as those practiced in the Netherlands have been shown to reduce particulates. Local farming practices on manure management should be investigated for areas of improvement.

PM 2.5 AS A POLLUTANT
Compliance with Defra limits
The UK limit for PM 2.5 particulates is an annual mean of 25 micrograms/cubic metre. WHO advises guidelines of an annual mean of 10 micrograms/cubic metre and a 24 hour mean of 25 micrograms/cubic metre. The UK’s Clean Air Strategy should take us a substantial way towards achieving the WHO guideline level for PM2.5 across the country by 2030.

Health impact
PM 2.5 particles can easily work their way into human lungs, bloodstream, brain and other organs which can trigger asthma attacks, allergic responses, heart attacks and stroke.
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The health effects of particle air pollution have been widely studied, and include premature death and the worsening of heart and lung disease, often increasing admissions to hospital. In 2008, the UK’s Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants reported that the loss of life from particulates is equivalent to 29,000 deaths. More recently studies are investigating the possible link between poor air quality and outcomes such as low birth weight infants and neurological health. Healthy Surrey states on its website “If we can reduce fine particulate air pollution in England by just 1ug/m3, this could prevent many tens of thousands of cases for coronary heart disease associated with fine particulate air pollution. By 2035, there is strong evidence that this will rise to nearly 350,000 cases”.

Particles originating from road traffic include carbon emissions from engines, small bits of metal and rubber from engine wear and braking as well as dust from road surfaces. Others include material from building and industry and agricultural emissions where ammonia is converted into ammonium salts particles.
In the UK, there are reported to be 1.5 million wood burning stoves in use, with around 200,000 more sold each year. The use of wood in domestic combustion activities accounted for 38 percent of PM2.5 emissions in 2018. Most of these stoves are for pleasure, not for heating.
Whilst nitrogen dioxide is predominantly local, particulates such as dust, pollen, sea salt, sand, soot and soil can be carried by the wind and therefore some of the source is not local.

Ways to improve air quality
Reducing traffic would make a major impact on PM10 levels. Travel by petrol/diesel car should become the last option for travel after working from home, walking and cycling, electric bikes and cars, and public transport. HGV vehicles are a major source in town centres and therefore out of town offloading centres with last mile delivery to town locations by low emission vehicles would remove this source.
Public education on the adverse health impact of fires and wood burning, and in particular the impact on health of wood burning stoves would reduce particulate levels.
Manure management techniques such as those practised in the Netherlands have been shown to reduce particulates. Local farming practices on manure management should be investigated for areas of improvement.

If you are concerned about air quality in you area, here is a 10 step process which might be helpful.

1. Research your local area’s air quality information
   • Surrey Transport Plan Low emissions strategy is a good overview of current air quality status https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zwd4dkELoTvIrlDLCMqhhQa2l8HRN0YI/view?usp=sharing
   • Surrey Air Alliance response to Clean Air Strategy https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D6j0iSCdrRRKjLTV-Pi8S-tXlEaWrRGz/view?usp=sharing
   • Local authority reports e.g. Mole Valley’s 2019 Status Report https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W dMQK0BwD41AqwRVFO_uTNoA9aOXSNrM/view?usp=sharing and Elmbridge Council websitehttps://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/pollution/local-air-quality/

2. Decide the objectives of your work

What you want to achieve will determine the approach you need to take. For example, our primary concern in Dorking is to raise our local residents awareness about air quality, because we believe that this will lead to their engagement and acceptance of climate change as an existential threat. Other groups may want to challenge their local authority on areas of concern. Obviously these are not mutually exclusive but these choices will particularly determine the monitoring method you select in Step 4.

So specific objectives might include

1. Addressing local hotspots with the local authority (LA)
2. Filling gaps in air quality information, either by your work or by lobbying the LA
3. Raising awareness and engagement of residents so they become involved in action

3. Set up a team to carry out your programme

A team approach has many benefits particularly creativity and avoiding the vulnerability of over dependence on one or two individuals. In addition to all team members motivation, it is helpful to have skills in the team such as data analysis, an ability to find useful air quality resources and to keep up to date with air quality reports in the media.

4. Select the methods which you will use to monitor air quality

As our primary objective is to engage with residents on air quality, we chose to use Breezometer, which has a mobile phone app. It is free and can measure air pollution levels in any location, irrespective of your location. We hope that residents will begin to use the app.No doubt there are other similar free apps which are also readily accessible.

5. Using the air quality monitor

Using Breezometer, we had to decide which pollutants to measure. We chose to record all six pollutants listed – ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, PM10 and PM 2.5 – and omitted the overall index, which often gave counter intuitive results.

Whilst we accepted that there was a trade off between ease of use and accuracy, we wanted to understand how accurate Breezometer was. This is ongoing research. If you want to know more, please contact us. We use the data to highlight potential local hotspots and to fill the gaps where local authority data is limited or non existent.

6. Decide the locations you will monitor to achieve your objectives

Based on the local authority report, our own sense of local hotspots and locations of particular interest – schools, motorway junction, remote countryside, drilling site- we chose up to 15 locations to monitor

7. Carry out the monitoring programme

To catch rush hour times, we took readings at 9am, 1300 and 1800 for a week, including weekends. It takes about 10 minutes to monitor and record 3 locations. Setting an alarm on your phone minimises blank data.

8. Analyse the results using e.g. Excel

In a week, we took nearly 2000 readings . It is essential to record and analyse the data using a spreadsheet. This means that, when you repeat the exercise to check how AQ is changing, it is easy to compare periods.

We decided to focus on three pollutants – nitrogen dioxide and the two particulates, but retain the data on the other pollutants for potential later use

9. Communicate the results of your investigation

There are four target groups

• the media ( who have published our results on their front page on our first two reports ( see Every Breath We Take).

• our local XR group so they can take outreach opportunities and direct action

• The local authority to discuss what they are doing as a result of our work
• Local resident groups who are interested in air pollution

10. Take action on your results

Review, replan, act and share your learning and progress with other XR groups

Despite long running campaigns to persuade them, the Surrey Pension Fund (SPF) Committee has refused to commit to selling its investments in fossil fuel producers. The most recent data we have (May 2019) showed £151m of investments in oil & gas companies. In response to pressure at the last pensions committee meeting the written response was:

“Holding zero fossil fuel investments in the Fund’s portfolio has no impact whatsoever in reducing the impact of climate change”

We disagree with that statement on several levels and moreover see continuing to invest in fossil fuel companies as being increasingly risky and inconsistent with the Fund’s other sustainability goals.

Read more about the campaign here.

What can you do?

Join the protest at County Hall in Kingston, 9am on March 13th 2020.

Write an email or letter to the SPF board members. Crib sheet here.

Dear Rebels,

How did you feel about the Canning Town Tube action, in week two of last October’s Uprising?   Did it interfere with movement-building and sympathy-winning; or was a necessary disruption in the fight for change?  Or maybe a bit of both?  

Your view is urgently needed on how we – XR local, regional and national – can mix activities to best achieve our aims.  So please come and take part in our first local People’s Assembly, to voice your opinions and to contribute to forward XR strategy. 

The PA will be on Saturday 8 February; 1.30 for a prompt 2.00pm start at The Friends Meeting House, Dorking; conclusion by 4.15 guaranteed.  Short notice I know, but the request from XR central only came on Monday, with a 14 February deadline. 

So please do whatever you have to do to be there, and register your intention to attend by clicking here.  

XR has supplied us with a format for this Assembly, and helpfully condensed the variety of routes forward into three ‘Theories of Change’ (ToC).  To what extent are they complimentary, or competing?  And where can our energies and skills be directed most effectively?  That is what our first People’s Assembly is all about.  If you have time, you can read the ToC papers here, but we will recap on them at the Assembly anyway.  

Do come and join us on Saturday week.  It is important, but it will also be exciting.  So register now.

With Love and Rage – James
James Benn
People’s Assembly Working Group

P.S.  We may be able to organise a play area for small children; if you will be bringing them please note that when registering. 

P.P.S.  Details of final arrangements, and further joining instructions will be sent to all registrants. 

Our Crowdfunder is now live.

The purpose is to raise funds to help anyone in need with legal fees they may incur on behalf of Extinction Rebellion.

Activism in the face of the climate and ecological emergency should be available to everyone regardless of financial situation.

We added arrestee stories to the front page too.

The page is at https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/extinction-rebellion-surrey-hills/ – please take a look.

Dorking residents were among hundreds of protestors from Extinction Rebellion who blocked roads in the City of London on Monday 14th October to highlight the financial sector’s complicity in accelerating climate breakdown.

The protests closely follow a warning from the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, that corporations which fail to move towards zero-carbon emissions will be punished by investors.

Protestors gathered in the rain outside St Paul’s Cathedral before stepping into the road at 7am to block traffic at Bank junction. Police began making arrests shortly afterwards.

Demonstrators were joined by representatives from a variety of faith groups from the Christian, Jewish and Moslem communities.

Companies targeted by protestors included asset management fund Blackrock, which recent research has shown is one of three money managers – including Vanguard and State Street – that have a combined $300bn fossil fuel investment portfolio, built by using money from people’s private savings and pension contributions.

Climate activists glued themselves to Blackrock’s doors whilst others staged a mock dinner party with rolled up banknotes on their plates.

One placard raised outside the offices read: “When the last tree is dead, the last fish caught and the last river poisoned, you will realise that you cannot eat money.”

The Walkie Talkie Building on Fenchurch Street, which houses some of the UK’s largest insurers, was also targeted with protestors dressed as canaries, glued to the entrance.

Dorking resident David Crawford, 66, a retired engineer, attended the action with his son Guy Crawford, 31, a PHD student.

David said: “I came here today, to the heart of the UK’s financial centre, outside the Bank of England, to bring attention to the fact that the climate and ecological crisis is being funded to the tune of trillions of pounds by British-based companies profiting from ecological disaster and societal collapse around the globe.”

He added: “Major investment banks have provided $700 billion to the fossil fuel sector sice The paris Agreement in 2015. This is madness.”

Referring to the Governor of the Bank of England’s warning, local activist and youth worker Dom Rudd, 61, said:

“I think the corporates know the truth. They know that if they do not make changes they will go bankrupt. I have spoken to two or three bankers here today who say they have made risk assessments and know they have to change.

“And I think the big corporations can make those changes in a way that governments have failed to do so far because they can look at the long term. So, if we can bring these corporations onboard we can drive change.

“We need to change the system and the best way to do that is from within the system.”

He added: “None of us can hide away from the truth any longer. I did for 30 years but now I have grandchildren and I look at them and know this is going to hurt them and hurt all of us if we don’t act. We must act now.”

Notes to editors

About Extinction Rebellion

Extinction Rebellion came to public prominence in 2018, after a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that immediate, deep cuts in carbon emissions and radical infrastructure changes are needed for even a 50–66% chance of avoiding catastrophic climate change.¹ The group blocked bridges in London in late 2018, before a major protest action that lasted more than a week in April pushed climate change up the political agenda and persuaded Parliament to declare a Climate Emergency. However, there has been little Government action since then, and global carbon emissions and rates of ecosystem destruction have continued to rise unabated. Subsequent reports by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services² and a key UN Science Advisory Group³ have confirmed that humanity is on track for an unprecedented global climate and ecological disaster.

Extinction Rebellion believes it is a citizen’s duty to rebel, using peaceful civil disobedience, when faced with criminal inactivity by their Government.

Extinction Rebellion’s key demands are:

1. Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
2. Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
3. Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.

What is a Citizen’s Assembly?

Citizens’ Assemblies involve informed, non-partisan deliberation by a representative set of citizens selected at random. Proponents believe that they help democracies to avoid the pressures of party politics and lobbying by powerful corporations and interests. An Extinction Rebellion spokesperson said “The climate and ecosystem emergency is too important to be left to party politics. A Citizens’ Assembly would help our country to identify fair, effective policies by means of decision processes that are representative and thoughtful. Our politicians should welcome this way of addressing the threat to everyone’s future without getting side-tracked by party politics and special interests.”

Get involved:

• In the UK, come to one of our events, or join the Rebellion Network and let us know how you can help out.
• Find your local group, or start a group where you are: in the UK or around the world.
• Check out the International XR website, with links to the French, German, Italian and UK websites.

And while your time and energy are of most importance, if you are financially able to donate money, see our crowdfunder.