Cranmore Integrated Primary School’s Nathan Lennon, Marie Therese Clenaghan from Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, Cranmore Integrated Primary School’s Harry Moffitt, Erin Crangle-McLaughlin, James Mayes, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful’s Charlene McKeown, Sophie McIlroy-Magee from Cranmore Integrated Primary School with Translink’s Ursula Henderson. 

Pupils in a south Belfast primary school are taking action to tackle the climate crisis by taking part in a pilot project delivered by Translink and Eco Schools.

The exciting new initiative aims to raise the profile of the serous issue of air pollution with pupils at Cranmore Integrated Primary Schools in Finaghy monitoring air-quality around school grounds and demonstrating the positive impact of the ‘Translink Eco Schools Travel Challenge’ in supporting the health and wellbeing of the school community.

For more than 10 years, the travel challenge has encouraged teachers, parents and pupils across NI to walk, cycle or use public transport for the school run. Over 300,000 sustainable journeys have been made by participants choosing these active travel modes in an effort to cut car congestion at school gates, protect the environment and boost their health.

Pupils taking part in the new ‘Breath of Fresh Air ’project, will learn how to use special air quality monitoring equipment and actively gather data on air pollution around the school premises before, during and after their Travel Challenge. A series of transport-themed curriculum-linked activities will guide them to better understand the serious issue of air pollution and report their findings.

Translink’s Ursula Henderson said: “This air quality pilot project is an innovative development in our successful partnership with Eco Schools and aims to combat climate change and help build a brighter future for everyone.

“Air quality is recognised as the greatest environmental health risk in the UK and Translink is committed to taking important steps to transform public transport and reduce carbon emissions. In fact, we have ambitious plans to de-carbonise Northern Ireland’s public transport to zero emissions by 2040 and the recent purchase of 3 hydrogen – powered buses – the first in Ireland – reflects our efforts to embrace greener technology options*.

“Currently 35% of all energy in NI is expended on transport but only 5% of all journeys are made on public transport – 84.5m per year.Yet, using public transport is the single greatest way to reduce your carbon footprint and one of the most immediate so there’s a real opportunity for more people to take a simple but effective step forward to reduce their carbon footprint.

“Our new Breath of Fresh Air project is a great way for pupils to explore the impact of vehicle emissions on health and motivate more people to take action and protect the planet.”

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful CEO, Ian Humphreys said: ‘I very much welcome this new and exciting pilot initiative with Translink as an important step to tackle air pollution in our schools. The Breath of Fresh Air project also demonstrates Translink’s commitment to the climate action agenda and supporting projects like this can make a tangible contribution to reducing carbon emissions in Northern Ireland.’

Registration for Translink Eco Schools Travel Challenge is open and all schools in Northern Ireland are invited to register. Last chance to enter the challenge will be 4th May 2020.