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Climathon 2.0: Ideas for tackling air pollution

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Leeds joined the Climathon movement for the second year in a row, this time in an effort to tackle air pollution. The city, along with four other UK cities, has been designated to have a Clean Air Zone by 2020 so Leeds Climathon was a very well-timed event to contribute to this goal.

Leeds Climathon was co-hosted by the Leeds Climate Commission and the Priestley International Centre for Climate, with support from the Institute for Transport Studies, Sustainability Research Institute, Cities theme and the Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Studies.

Our very own Dr Richard Tunstall delivered some training to the participants on business models as well as shaping their pitches.

All five teams came up with great, innovative ideas for this challenge ranging from air quality monitoring units to technological solutions removing a range of air pollutants. After some tough questioning from the judges, two teams were selected as joint winners: Plants for Pollution and Be a Stop Idol.

Plants for Pollution proposed vertical garden installations and moss-framed billboards to absorb pollution and beautify the city, with an LCC-owned multi-storey car park suggested as a pilot.

Be a Stop Idol proposed an awareness campaign to encourage drivers to switch off their engines when stationary.

The two winning teams will be presenting their ideas Leeds City Council’s State of the City event in December. All five teams though will be getting further support to develop their ideas.