Some comments as an atmospheric/AQ scientist on cyber trees & Cork city #airquality:
1ST
It’s a huge positive that AQ is being seriously discussed. @corkcitycouncil is doing innovative monitoring work (incl. with us in @craclabucc) & it’s good to see cllrs engage with the problem

2ND
That’s important because local AQ is a HUGE problem.
E.g., my rough calcs on premature deaths (city & county):
Road deaths (2019)=15
Covid = 50 (@ 25/7)
AQ = 80 (metro only)...a quick pro-capita est. from natl figures. It’s likely higher in Cork city.
And that’s EVERY year

3RD
It’s a simple problem in Cork:
Solid-fuel burning. Too many cars (including BEVs).
The solution is to reduce emissions.
You can’t effectively clean the air once pollutants are there with expensive gadgetry. The first priority must always be to stop/reduce emissions.

AQ will improve with behavioural change supported by policy measures & effective on-the-ground supports.

Cyber trees are a costly & ineffectual gimmick.
I don’t support them.

Cyber trees are greenwashing by NTA/council & a waste of taxpayer money.

4TH
AQ (& climate change) must be addressed at a cross-cutting council-wide level led by CEO:
Roads & transport affects AQ
Spatial dev affects AQ
Housing affects AQ
Environ affects AQ

We can't afford siloed thinking on AQ & climate
Action is needed across @corkcitycouncil
depts

An Air Quality plan for Cork city… some ideas to start the discussion:
1) Improve housing stock. Take all possible measures to reduce solid-fuel burning. Chimneys in all council housing should be removed & replaced with heat pumps.

Provide councils supports/pressure to permanently block chimneys for private dwellings.

Open fires seem nice, but killing your neighbours or sending them to hospital definitely isn’t.
@UCCPublicHealth @IrishDocsEnv

2) Develop effective measures to reduce vehicle use. There’s no getting away from it:
more cars=more air pollution.
There’s no free pass for BEVs which also produce particles from tyre wear etc. as well as climate emissions. They're not a major part of the solution

3) Remove barriers to walking & cycling. Make bus travel more efficient & use cleaner buses. Set ambitious city targets for walking & cycling (CMATS numbers should be binned). Let’s say 25% walking & 20% cycling in city by 2027.... That would greatly improve AQ & climate impacts

4) More trees. Start with planting 210,000 trees, one for every person in city. A tree officer. Trees reduce some air pollutants noise, & make places feel calmer & more welcoming.
Add some green walls to the mix too…think Harley street, flood protection scheme & elsewhere

Here are some easy/low cost steps (1-4 could be implemented next week):

1)VMS & other signage should promote walking & cycling ALL the time. Advertising car parking indirectly promotes car use. That’s inconsistent with city’s #climateemergency declaration & AQ

2)Priorise buses, incl. on Pana (remember that one? Do it properly. Make it work this time). Bus priorisation needs to be enforced and extended. Bus travel needs to be more efficient for people to get out their cars.

3)An on-going, coordinated no-idling campaign across city (e.g., through VMS etc.). Idling outside schools/sportsground maximizes harm to the most vulnerable, our kids. What was prev done in ignorance should not tolerated in future

4)Parking wardens should prioritise fining of parking on footpaths & cycle lanes. 0.3% of fines for parking in cycle lanes is appalling failure

5)Bring back towing. Looking the other way while motorists abuse cycle lanes & footpaths mean than people see few alternatives to driving…thus more cars…=more air pollution. If @corkcitycouncil cares, they should tow.

6)More pedestrianization (get in your opinion http://buff.ly/3mSPXMY ).
7)Create & enforce no-parking zones outside schools. Citywide promotion of active travel to school. We’re harming our kids by driving them everywhere.

8)A high quality cycle network. Fully segregated. Good enough for 8 y.o.s & 80 y.o.s to use with confidence. NO other transport measure would have a bigger effect on climate & AQ in Cork city.
It's time to stop tinkering around the edges and make a difference.

Longer term:
- A low emission zone through city centre...our large diesel fleet is a big cause of our high city NO2 & particle levels.
- Higher parking charges/a congestion charge/high occupancy lanes on the South Link would make a big diff

Now continue the discussion...