Did you know? 22 January is Clean Air Night
This annual public awareness campaign shines a light on the significant but often underappreciated health and environmental impacts of wood burning.
Here's why we should pay attention:
- wood burning is the most polluting way to heat a home, releasing high levels of dangerous fine particulate matter
- even newer 'eco-design' wood burners emit three times more pollutants compared to homes without them
- PM2.5 particles (extremely fine airborne particles such as dust, soot, smoke, liquid droplets) penetrate deep into the bloodstream and have been scientifically linked to heart and lung diseases, lung cancer, diabetes, and even dementia
- if only used when no other heating options exist, avoiding wood burning could prevent over 1,500 premature deaths in the UK annually
- reducing wood smoke pollution could save the NHS over £54 million, equivalent to nearly 1.5 million GP appointments every year
- wood isn't carbon neutral - it releases more CO₂ than oil or gas per unit of heat, with forests taking decades to regenerate
- unless you're burning free wood, wood burners typically cost more to run than gas systems or heat pumps
Clean Air Night encourages us to:
- stop wood burning where alternative heating is available
- avoid buying eco-design stoves unless necessary
- share these facts with friends and family to create awareness - please help spread the word by sharing our upcoming social media posts
Final thought - cosiness shouldn't come at the expense of our health, environment, or our wallets. This Clean Air Night on 22 January 2026, let's all play our part to reduce harmful wood smoke, protect NHS resources, and breathe easier in Arun District.
For more information go to: Clean Air Hub | Global Action Plan