Air Quality Policy

In January 2020 we were funded from the EPSRC QR policy funding scheme to investigate the science, engineering and social consequences of implementing a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in Sheffield. This was in response to Sheffield City Council’s proposal to create a clean air zone, known locally as the “Ring of Steel”, in the centre of Sheffield within the inner ring road.

Little did we know that the COVID-19 pandemic was looming and of the consequences this would have on the CAZ. The national lockdown in March 2020 created a unique environment where restrictions on transport meant that in effect a national CAZ was actually created. While our March conference was postponed due to the lockdown, it allowed us to get out in the field as part of the daily exercise programme and carry out emissions monitoring in virtually traffic free environments.

Comparison against normal conditions showed contrasting results. While CO2 and NOx emissions were considerably reduced, other emissions that are hazardous to health increased. We are still working on this and similar effects are being noticed in the third lockdown. While this is at the moment preliminary data, we aim to publish the final studies later in the year.

The work is now being extended to collaborations across the university through Sheffield:Air and beyond and a second amount of QR funding has been awarded in 2021 that will allow us to continue to monitor emissions in different scenarios and also look at the social and behavioural impacts of emissions reduction.

The new project will be led by Dr Matthew Wood from the Department of Politics with Dr Chantelle Wood (Psychology) and Peter Styring completing the team, joined by members of Sheffield City Council (SSC). The output will be a policy recommendation to SSC on how to manage technical and behavioural change through policy development.