Laura Sharman 01 April 2020

Coronavirus lockdown has improved air quality, scientists find

Air pollution across the UK’s largest cities has fallen since the start of the lockdown, new analysis has shown.

Scientists from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science have found air pollution has improved since travel and outdoor activity have been restricted, compared to average levels over the past five years.

New analysis shows that levels of nitrogen dioxide and small particle pollution are significantly lower than the levels normally seen at this time of year.

Professor James Lee from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the University of York, said: ‘The air is definitely much healthier.

These are big changes - pollution levels at the moment are the equivalent of a holiday, say an Easter Sunday.’

Pollution data was plotted from Birmingham, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, York.

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know image

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know

Councils and mayors are to be handed a central role in developing skills pipelines for local industries, as the Government unveils what it calls a ‘fundamental change’ to the education system aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Here's what council leaders and officers need to know.
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