The understanding of the link between air quality and health has led to increased awareness of the need to tackle air pollution. For Ireland, the economic costs of air pollution have been estimated by the WHO at around 1.3% of GDP or €2.3 billion per year.
In addition to premature deaths, air pollution causes absence from work, reduced productivity, and increased hospitalisation. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Imagesĭespite this, The European Environment Agency, ‘Air Quality in Europe Report’ (2020) indicated that 1,410 premature deaths in Ireland in 2018 were due to air pollution. The European Environment Agency, ‘Air Quality in Europe Report’ (2020) indicated that 1,410 premature deaths in Ireland in 2018 were due to air pollution. Significant reductions in emissions of key pollutants have already been achieved through a range of policy measures and other developments. Increased levels of active travel have the dual benefit to our health of both increasing levels of physical activity and leading to reduced air pollution because of the reduced need to travel in cars.Īir quality in Ireland is generally good and compares favourably with other European countries. To be successful, active travel policy is best aimed at population level and at all sectors of the community. Key to success is the recognition that active travel is a key risk and protective factor for all chronic diseases. These include good walking and cycling infrastructure, policies that address the needs of all road users including good links with public transport policies that improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists and programmes that promote active transport and disincentives for car use - including less car parking facilities, lower subsidies for car purchase, operating and parking. However, evaluation of active travel to school programmes has found them to be most effective when they form part of a package of policy measures for substantial and sustained shifts in active travel. The Government introduced an initiative in March 2021 to support walking and cycling infrastructure to school which aims to tackle traffic congestion at school, create safer paths and bike lanes and encourage more kids to walk and cycle. World Health Organisation (WHO) data costs physical inactivity at €150 to €300 per citizen per year (up to €1.5 billion per year).Ĭycle buses have proved successful as part of a package of policy measuresĪctive travel to school has been endorsed by leading public health organisations including the WHO, as a highly effective way to increase children and young people’s physical activity. They are more likely to smoke, use alcohol and illegal drugs than active children. Inactive children are at risk of poorer self-esteem, higher anxiety, and higher stress levels. Physical inactivity has been identified as one of the leading risk factors for poor health – in terms of increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, breast, and colon cancer as well as being a shared risk factor for dementia and mental health issues. On average, adults are sedentary for about 5 hours a day during the week, only slightly less at weekends. Less than half of adults meet national physical activity guidelines of 30 minutes of physical activity, five times per week. Taking part in sport helps but is not enough – only about one third of children who take part in sport four times per week, meet the guidelines for physical activity. A study undertaken by the all-island Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity (CSPPA) research team in 2018, found that just 13.5 per cent of students meet these guidelines. National physical activity guidelines recommend moderate to vigorous activity for children of at least 60 minutes a day. Only a small minority of children in Ireland get enough exercise. Only a small minority of children in Ireland get enough exercise, according to national physical activity guidelines Apart from the fresh air, peace and quiet and opportunity to oxygenate my brain before I start work, here is another few reasons why walking to school and / or work is a good idea.
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