Local authorities and public sector bodies leading the battle against air pollution are set to be honoured during the tenth annual Energy Saving Trust Fleet Hero Awards – but the deadline for entries is fast approaching.
Applications for the new Air Quality Initiative Award are being sought as fresh concerns were raised about levels of pollution in many of the UK’s cities, including London and Newcastle.
However, only days remain for organisations to apply for this or the 10 other accolades to be presented during this year’s ceremony, with the entries to be submitted by the July 31 deadline.
Held in the London Transport Museum, the Energy Saving Trust Fleet Hero Awards will be hosted by Watchdog’s motoring reporter Ginny Buckley, with the keynote speech delivered by transport minister Andrew Jones.
The event will recognise the contribution of those private and public sector organisations using innovative methods to reduce fuel bills and cut carbon emissions.
Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust said: “Over the last decade we have helped many organisations reduce the environmental impact of their transport operations and we are continually impressed with the ways in which organisations are helping lower transport emissions and running costs.
“As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of these awards and achievement among our Fleet Heroes, we felt it was important to recognise the diverse approaches taken by local authorities and public sector bodies to improve air quality – the Air Quality Award is the perfect way to do this.”
Recent figures from Public Health England suggest that around 29,000 early deaths each year are attributable to poor air quality. The cost to the economy is estimated to be as high as £16 billion a year.
Nearly 9,500 people died in London in 2010 as a result of long-term exposure to air-pollution, while Newcastle University said pollution in the North East might be as much as 60% worse than first thought.
Sellwood continued: “The introduction of this new award reflects the rising importance of air pollution on the political and fleet agendas.
“I’m confident that the winning authority will have made an outstanding contribution towards improving the UK’s air quality.”
The awards ceremony will take place on November 26 and will follow the newly rebranded Fleet Hero Conference – formerly known as the Motorvate Conference.
Or is it me? - 23/07/2015 21:58
Are these people for real? They've spent the last ten years pushing disgusting diesel as the low carbon fuel to "Save the World" with: and now backtrack by offering an award to the people that have ignored them all this time and stuck with clean fuels. They should be resigning en-mass and letting someone else spout nonsense.