The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) facilitated focus groups for West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to gain understanding about community perceptions, awareness and attitudes towards air quality within the region. The research findings would help inform a behaviour change programme, funded by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), to support the goal of net zero emissions in the West Midlands by 2041.
Our research team designed and facilitated four focus groups within local communities across Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull with participants from a range of diverse backgrounds. We also worked with community-based translators to ensure the views could be captured from across multiple languages.
The key findings, identified through thematic analysis, are outlined below:
- Whilst participants had varying levels of knowledge about specific pollutants, the health impacts of poor air quality, including respiratory issues and mental health challenges, were widely recognised by them.
- Concerns about mould, dampness, poor ventilation, and emissions from household products were prominent in relation to indoor quality, but their limited knowledge and financial constraints were barriers to addressing these.
- Urban areas, such as Birmingham, were perceived as having poorer air quality than suburban areas (e.g., Solihull), which participants attributed to more traffic, reduced greenery, and construction. They also noticed temporary improvements in air quality during COVID-19 lockdowns due to decreased traffic and industrial activities.
- While some participants took individual actions (e.g., using plants, reducing car use) to improve air quality, limitations in public transport and the affordability of electric vehicles were identified as some barriers to sustainable practices.
- Participants were unsure about the effectiveness of initiatives such as electric vehicles (EV) and the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in reducing air pollution and were concerned about their associated costs. They also expressed frustration about the loss of trees and green spaces in local areas and the impact of this on air quality.
- There was also a call for increased transparency from governments and corporations on their environmental impacts.
Based on the voices of local communities from this research during 2023, recommendations were provided to WMCA in the areas of education and awareness of air quality, green initiatives, public transportation, community engagement and corporate responsibility.
