A recently conducted poll has shown that an overwhelming majority of people in London support the banning of wood burners, which are the single biggest source of tiny air pollution particles in Britain.
The poll indicates that 67% of Londoners backed a ban, with 17% opposed and 16% saying they did not know while 44% supported a wood burner ban, with 36% opposed across Britain.
Recall that government data published last week showed that emissions of toxic pollution particles from wood burning in UK homes had more than doubled in the past decade. It also found that dirty air causes 26,000 to 38,000 early deaths a year in England, with the particles linked to many health problems, including heart and lung disease as well as dementia and depression.
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According to the poll, about only 8% of people in the UK burn solid fuels indoors, meaning a small minority are responsible for significant amounts of pollution. Two-thirds of these people live in urban areas, where the impact of air pollution is worst, and virtually all of them have other sources of heating.
The poll, conducted by Omnisis, posed the question: “Wood burners are significant contributors to air pollution in urban areas. Do you think they should be banned in towns and cities?”
The results of the poll found that among supporters of all the main political parties, more people agreed with a ban than disagreed. The same applied to all age categories, with the strongest backing for a ban among over-75s, with 58% in favour and 32% opposed.
It further found that support for a wood burner ban was strongest in London, followed by the east Midlands. Overall, in seven of the 11 areas in the poll – nine English regions, plus Scotland and Wales – more people were in favour than against.
However, more people in Scotland disagreed with a ban, where opposition was strongest with 49% against and 34% in favour. More people also disagreed with a ban in Wales, the north-west and Yorkshire/the Humber, according to the poll.
According to reports, the government has required new wood burners to meet an “eco” standard since the start of 2022. However, these still produce 450 times more small particle pollution than gas heating, according to a report by Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England.
Ministers had also banned the sale of damp wood, which is said to be four times more polluting than dry wood, from May 2022, but dry wood remains highly polluting.
Story was adapted from the Guardian.
