Transport and Air Quality Position Statement
Healthy Auckland Together is working to make Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland a healthier place to call home, where people can breathe easy while travelling to work, school, and play. We envision a city where the wellbeing of our communities and the environment are protected; where the air is clean thanks to an accessible, affordable, and convenient transport system that allows everyone to get around safely.
Clean outdoor air is vital to our wellbeing, but current policies, infrastructure, urban planning rules, and industry interests have led to dirty air that harms our lungs and hearts. Our current standards for outdoor air quality fall short of international norms (World Health Organization, 2021). In Tāmaki Makaurau, harmful particles and gases in our air are mainly caused by motor vehicles and the way we heat our homes (Kuschel et al., 2022a).
Leaders in central and local government can develop policies to clear the air in Tāmaki Makaurau and more widely across Aotearoa. Taking practical steps to responsibly manage our transport system can make our city a healthier, more enjoyable place to live. The benefits of a healthier transport system extend far beyond cleaning up our air – there are also major health gains from reductions in noise, fewer road traffic injuries, improved physical activity and mental wellbeing, and benefits to the climate (Randal et al., 2022).
Download our position statement to learn more about the issue and what needs to change.