Upcoming Gathering: Northern Air Quality Conference in 2025
On Thursday, 25 March 2025, Manchester's Bridgewater Hall will once again play host to the Northern AQN Conference. This event, now in its fifth iteration, aims to bring together important policymakers, academics, and advocates working on air pollution and clean air provision.
The day's programme focused on a variety of topics, with a particular emphasis on clean air initiatives, health impacts of pollution, and local campaign efforts. The conference was opened by Beverley Nielsen from Worcester County Council, and the final speaker of the day was Liz Godfrey from Mums for Lungs.
Liz Godfrey, the Coordinator for Mums for Lungs in Greater Manchester, highlighted the high rates of asthma and respiratory conditions in Manchester children and emphasized the slow progress towards implementing ‘school streets’ to reduce pollution near schools. Mums for Lungs is a grassroots network of volunteers that campaigns to raise awareness of the impact of air pollution on children's health.
Professor Greg Marsden PhD, from the University of Leeds, was also confirmed as one of the first speakers for the conference. Professor Marsden, who has been working at the University of Leeds since 2003 and is currently the Professor of Transport Governance at the Institute for Transport Studies, discussed data recording gaps in northern England and the health impacts of air pollution.
The conference also featured a panel session with air quality experts, as well as profiles of organizations offering solutions to air quality challenges. Super Early Bird tickets for the conference are currently on sale on AQN's website, and a report on last year's Northern conference by AQN can be found on their website, along with a short film summarizing the events of last year's conference.
For those interested in the full agenda or the list of all speakers beyond Beverley Nielsen and Liz Godfrey, it may be beneficial to consult official Air Quality News conference announcements or contact the organizers directly. The search did not return that level of detail.
Overall, the Northern AQN Conference addressed both health and policy aspects of air pollution, with participation from delegates interested in promoting clean air for health and business reasons. The event provided a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to come together and discuss the challenges and solutions related to air quality in the north of England.
- Professor Marsden's presentation at the Northern AQN Conference delved into the data recording gaps in northern England and the health impacts of air pollution, touching upon the intersection of environmental science and health-and-wellness.
- During the panel session at the conference, air quality experts discussed various strategies to combat climate-change, highlighting the vital role of science in shaping policy for cleaner environments.
- Mums for Lungs, a grassroots network advocating for mental-health and health-and-wellness through raising awareness of air pollution's effects on children, shared their efforts to implement 'school streets' and reduce pollution near schools in Manchester.
