Solutions not Pollution

 

Solutions not pollution

 

Sunday 22nd of April was ‘Earth Day’, one of the world’s largest environmental movements now in its 48th year. It started back in 1970 during a time of counterculture in the US allowing protestors a way of pushing environmental concerns into mainstream media, which had remained largely oblivious to the links between pollution and public health until then.

The origins of the movement are documented through this short video series: Intro to Earth Day:

As Earth Day has evolved over the past five decades the message has become stronger across the world, with the main focus now centred on ending plastic pollution and the fight for a clean environment. The organisation sets clear actions that individuals, organisations and educators can take to reduce plastic consumption.
At Somerset House in London, artist David Pinsky has set up an installation allowing visitors to experience the difference in air quality across five different environments. This installation has run over the past 7 days, to coincide with Earth Day.

“These five geodesic domes each contain carefully created environments, simulating different atmospheric conditions globally. Visitors begin in Tautra in Norway, breathing in clean smelling air and then continuing through to the cities of London, New Delhi, Beijing and São Paulo which between them suffer from some of the lowest air quality in the world.”

 

Installations like Pinsky’s Pollution Pods provide a much clearer physical representation of how pollution affects air quality and public health. One strategy in combating pollution is creating as many effective ways as possible to educate people into behavioural change, which can be difficult for some when they are only offered climate change data graphs. Having the opportunity to actually experience the impact of pollution on air quality will hopefully change the mindset of some visitors who were before oblivious to the effects of pollution on the environment. This installation is great for raising awareness, but there are a few links below that you can follow if you would like to take action to reduce your own plastic and air quality pollution, as well as an outline of Earth Day’s new goals to launch in 2020 for their 50th anniversary:

 ‘2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day. In honour of this milestone, Earth Day Network is launching an ambitious set of goals to shape the future of 21st-century environmentalismLearn more here.’

‘ Sophie Power, CEO of Airlabs has written this blog suggesting ways to reduce exposure to air pollution in London. Click here to find out more’


 

DominicI joined Mattinson Partnership in 2014 after completing a BSc in Geography from Aberystwyth University. Over the last 3 and a half years with the business I have become a Team Leader whilst developing the Construction & Real Estate sector - placing professionals across Health & Safety, Building Surveying, Quantity Surveying, Project Management, Valuations, Development and Land. Outside of work I enjoy going to art galleries and film events, as well as using all of my annual leave to climb up mountains in Africa and travel around Southern India and Europe.

 dom@mattpart.com

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London Wildlife Trust.

We are proud partners of The London Wildlife Trust, a charity dedicated to protecting the wildlife and wild spaces of London by driving environmental projects throughout the city. Our team often get involved at ground level in Wild Workdays by helping to maintain and restore treasured spaces and land… we love to get our hands dirty! We also run multiple interactive workshops, providing their conservation trainees with invaluable career advice and insights into the environmental sector to prepare them for employment. Most recently, we worked with young people taking part in their Keeping it Wild programme, which engages young people from backgrounds currently under-represented in nature conservation.



Royal Town Planning Institute.

The RTPI represents planning professionals in the UK and Ireland and aims to encourage the development of vibrant and prosperous places and communities. Our Senior Consultant Freddie enthusiastically attends the annual Planning Convention, and we host several events throughout the year to show our support, including drinks networking and a literal pub quiz. We also keep in close contact with our friends down under, at the Planning Institute Australia and New Zealand Planning Institute. In addition, we sponsor the London Planning Summit, an event designed to address the biggest challenges facing the industry. This is our opportunity to stay on top of the latest changes in town planning by meeting with other key professionals in the sector, while celebrating our achievements.



Land Securities Group Plc.

One of our clients, LandSec, are the clever people behind Girls Can Do It Too, an initiative designed to encourage girls to consider a career in construction. Currently, only 11% of the construction workforce are female, and LandSec are attempting to increase this number by providing education and engagement projects and workshops for girls aged 11-13. Featuring workshops on demolition and tower building, as well as challenging the girls to design a planning project of their own (with a focus on budgeting and environmental considerations), LandSec have proven their dedication to addressing the need for diversity in this very male dominated industry. Ruth assists the project by sharing her fascinating insights into the industry and is even on the project judging panel!



Urban Land Institute.

In partnership with Urban Land Institute we are able to play an imperative role in creating a larger and more diverse pool of candidates within the planning & property professions. Working in schools we take part in the Urban Plan Educational workshops programme, which has now reached more than 2,500 pupils in 100 schools since its launch. Alongside more than 200 industry volunteers engaged across the country, we provide invaluable industry & careers advice to students while guiding them through their workshops and helping judge their presentations.



Carbon Footprint.

Carbon FootprintTM works to help organisations offset their CO2 through tree planting and community projects worldwide. By partnering with Carbon FootprintTM, we have planted native trees and shrubs such as Whitebeam, Hazel, Field Maple, Silver Birch, Rowan, Beech, Blackthorn, Holly and Dog Rose to create a Mattinson Forest that spreads across South East England. Carbon FootprintTM work in conjunction with the Florestal Santa Maria Project (FSM-Redd Project), designed to reduce deforestation in the Amazonian Rainforest. So, for every tree we plant in the UK we guarantee a tonne of CO₂ offset in Brazil too. Carbon FootprintTM have allowed us to not only do our bit for the environment but also commemorate moments of growth for our clients and candidates.