With climate change now at the top of the news agenda, drivers using roads in Barking and Dagenham are being encouraged to turn their vehicle engines off when they’re not moving.



The move follows the council’s declaration of a climate emergency in 2020 and is part of its ambitious plans to create a cleaner, greener borough, by cutting unnecessary air pollution.



Leaving engines running while they’re stationary - also known as engine ‘idling’ - can have a huge impact on the health of other residents who may be walking, cycling or jogging nearby.



Engine idling produces avoidable pollution, which contributes to London’s poor air quality, and long-term exposure to it has proven to lead to conditions such as asthma, lung disease, heart disease and restricted lung development young people. It is estimated that long-term exposure to air pollution contributed to the deaths of more than 4,000 Londoners in 2019 alone.



Switching engines off is not only better for people’s health, but it is better for the planet and people’s pockets too. A recent Transport Research Laboratory study found that:



•    It can cost up to 3p for every minute spent idling. If that vehicle idled for 10 minutes per day, within 6 months that would equate to a cost of over £58.

•    Idling for just 30 seconds produces twice as much pollution and wastes more fuel than switching off and restarting your engine. 



That’s why Barking and Dagenham Council has decided to back the Engine Off. Every Stop Campaign - part of an initiative from Idling Action London, which is jointly led by the City of London Corporation and Camden Council. It is also a Mayor of London’s Air Quality Fund project that sees 30 local authorities and the City of London Corporation working together to tackle engine idling as a source of avoidable air pollution.



As part of its dedication to the campaign, Barking and Dagenham Council has been working with its own drivers and through training, encouraging them to turn council vehicle engines off when they’re stationary for a prolonged period of time.



Councillor Dominic Twomey, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services said: “Now’s the time for everyone to do their bit to help improve air quality. In the last year, in Barking and Dagenham, we have experienced the impact of global warming from heatwaves to severe flash flooding and even a tornado hit the borough in the summer.



“Although it might not seem like much, turning your engine off if you’re sat at the traffic lights or waiting to pick someone up, can have a huge impact on improving the air quality in our borough. I’d like to encourage all residents to stop and think about air pollution, their health, their family’s health and start switching their engines off when they can. It’s a small step we can all take to make a difference.”



Since the council declared a climate emergency in 2020, it has introduced a range of measures to help reduce its carbon footprint and create a greener borough, including increasing recycling rates.



Now the council is calling on residents and other motorists to help tackle the environmental challenge by turning their vehicle engines off when they’re stationary for a prolonged period of time.



Councillor Andrew Achilleos, Member Champion for Climate Change added: “Global warming isn’t just a global issue affecting different parts of the world, it’s a local issue that’s now really affecting our residents.



“Everyone needs to play their part if we’re to create a better world for our children and grandchildren – from large global organisations right down to families at home making small steps. As a council we’re trying to reduce our carbon footprint and we hope residents will join us in doing their bit to create a greener and healthier borough.”



The Engine Off. Every Stop Campaign is running throughout November and if residents would like to find out more, they should head to www.idlingaction.london.