Join The Highland Council in supporting Clean Air Day 2025

The Highland Council is proud to be taking part in this year’s Clean Air Day - the UK’s largest air pollution awareness campaign – on 19 June 2025. Supported by Global Action Plan and Health Equals, the initiative is a vital step in helping our communities understand the health risks of air pollution and the simple actions we can all take to make a difference.

One of the contributors to poor air quality is engine idling — when car engines are left running while stationary - which can significantly increase harmful emissions.  Changing idling behaviour will be the focus of this year’s events.

Why this campaign matters

• Air pollution affects us from before our first breath to our last.
• Children are especially vulnerable to the health impacts of polluted air.
• Idling engines contribute to unnecessary emissions and fuel waste.
• By switching off engines, we can all help reduce pollution and protect our environment.

To celebrate Clean Air Day, Highland Council’s Environmental Health Team will have an information stall at the entrance to the Victorian Market Food Hall, Inverness on Thursday 19 June from 11:00 to 15:00 and will be speaking to drivers around the town centre, providing a great opportunity to engage with the public and raise awareness on air pollution issues.

In the run-up to Clean Air Day, the team will also be revisiting schools who previously took part in an Air Quality Project to monitor air quality around school premises.  This project had identified distinct peaks in pollution levels during school drop-off and pick-up times and pupils will be supported to run an Anti-Idling Campaign to raise awareness of the negative impacts of engine idling which will help encourage positive change. 

Each participating school will be provided with an ‘Anti-Idling’ sign for their drop-off zone, an information pack and toolkit to help them run their campaign and a banner for installation at their school gate on the campaign launch day.

Participating schools will help raise awareness by:

• Teaching pupils about why clean air matters.
• Supporting pupils as they lead this important initiative.
• Encouraging staff and parents to turn off their car engine when waiting outside the school.

For more information on how to participate in Clean Air Day, visit the Clean Air Day website.