About this webinar 

Join this lunchtime free webinar to hear about the Institution of Environmental Sciences' latest publication Integrating Action on Air Quality & Climate Change: A Guide for Local Authorities. 

We know that air quality and climate change emissions overlap. We know that there can be substantial benefits in tackling both together. We also know that there can be trade-offs and unintended consequences. Integrating Action on Air Quality and Climate Change: A Guide for Local Authorities supports local authorities in navigating these issues. 

The guidance sets out twenty-three measures that local authorities could take, their possible air quality and climate impacts, wider considerations, and actions that can be taken to support delivery. It also provides case studies, including anti-idling measures in York, Clean Air Gas Engines at construction sites, and low-carbon procurement guidance for the City of London Corporation.

The guidance is for air quality officers, climate change officers, town planners, transport planners, contracts managers, public health officers – any staff whose work can impact emissions or be impacted by emissions. It is also for elected members who want to know more about the issues and policy options.

The guidance was originally published by Environmental Protection UK in 2013, which became the Environmental Policy Implementation Community (EPIC) in 2024. An EPIC task group, Chaired by Sarah Legge, fully updated and published the new version of the guidance in October 2024.

The guidance has been produced by the Institution of Environmental Sciences’ Environmental Policy Implementation Community (EPIC). It is a comprehensive update of previous work that Environmental Protection UK first published in 2013, before merging with the Institution of Environmental Sciences to form EPIC. 

Why attend? 

• Learn how and where local authorities can combine local measures on air quality and climate change, to get the best overall results for their areas
• Learn how  to develop an integrated approach to air quality and climate change
• Free event for all and excellent CPD opportunity
• Learn about the latest challenges and leaned lessons in making transport resilient to climate change
  Interactive Q&A with experts

Who is this event for? 

This event is open to all and will be of particular interest to those working in a local authority or working on decarbonisation and climate change projects and policies. 

Speakers include:

Sarah Legge, Task Group Chair – EPIC Air Quality and Climate Change Guidance

Sarah is an air quality specialist, with 28 years’ experience working on technical air pollution assessment and action, and air quality policy and strategy. She has a particular interest in the intersection of air quality and other issues, particularly climate change and health.

Sarah is a member of the Environmental Policy Implementation Community (EPIC) Community at the Institution of Environmental Sciences and Chair of the EPIC Air Quality & Climate Change Guidance Task Group. Previously, as Chair of the Air Quality Committee at Environmental Protection UK, she was heavily involved in lobbying the government for strong and effective legislation, policy and action on air pollution and the environment.

Sarah has worked in both the public sector and in consultancy. She was an Associate Director at Arup from 2022-2025, founded and ran SLH Environmental Ltd for 12 years, specialising in air quality issues and sustainable transport solutions for a wide range of organisations. She also spent 7 years at the Greater London Authority, where she was Head of Air Quality and led the Mayor’s work on low carbon transport.