23 October 2014

Health Impact assessment findings to inform Air Plan development

Canterbury’s Air Plan is being updated for the first time in more than ten years to make sure everything is being done to ensure the community has clean, healthy air to breathe.

The recently completed Health Impact Assessment (HIA) report is one of a number of work streams and programmes that will feed in to the development of the Air Plan, along with community feedback received in June and July this year.

David Bedford, Environment Canterbury Commissioner for Air Quality, said both clean air and warm homes are important for the health of our community.

“Every winter the community debates what is worse for the community’s health - breathing polluted air or living in cold homes. We have been working with stakeholders and the community to review the Air Plan to help achieve the difficult balance between having clean air and keeping our homes healthy and warm,” he said.

“We’re keen to show people having both clean air and warm homes is possible. This winter, we have been showing people how to heat their home using wood without polluting their neighbourhoods and good progress is being made to reduce emissions from wood burners, with the number of high pollution nights reducing each year.

“There is substantial evidence to support the need to reduce pollution from wood burning to reduce the adverse impacts on public health but around 22% of Christchurch homes rely on wood for heating. The potential impacts on these households from having to make changes to home heating are less understood so we have been working with the CDHB to address this.”

The HIA arose out of the joint work plan between Environment Canterbury and the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) to ensure policies and supporting programmes could be designed that take the broad range of health impacts into consideration. It looks closely at the current heating methods and level of insulation in Christchurch homes, as well as the cost and availability of fuel sources and the associated health impacts.

Dr Alistair Humphrey, Canterbury Medical Officer of Health, said improving air quality is a balancing act and the needs of the most vulnerable must be addressed.

“The quality of air that we breathe has a big impact on our health and the each winter the emissions from wood burning cause respiratory and other health issues. We need to reduceemissions through changing how we heat our homes while still ensuring the most vulnerable in our community have warm, healthy homes to live in,” he said.

“The joint Health Impact Assessment shows most people using wood burners are middle and upper income earners but there are vulnerable people who do rely on their wood burners, so it’s important that these households get the support they need to replace older wood burners with cleaner more efficient home heating and insulation.”

David Bedford said the HIA provides a foundation to review the Air Plan taking into consideration the complex heating, housing, and health issues.

“There are a range of health effects that arise from inadequate household temperatures and restricting the use of wood burners without appropriate support could exacerbate these impacts. This is particularly a concern in low-income houses, rental properties, households with people who have pre-existing health conditions, and the elderly,” he said.

“A key finding of the HIA is that a collaborative approach is needed among agencies and social organisations to develop and deliver supporting measures. Our work with Community Energy Action which helps install insulation for some households on low incomes, and provides information about heat pump subsidies is a good start and we will be looking to grow these relationships.

“We are also aware the Air Plan will need to include appropriate timeframes to allow communities to make changes and vulnerable groups may need more time and assistance.We are equally aware that many people are passionate about their burners, so consideration will also be given to ensure that ultra-low emission wood burners can be available as an alternative heating source.”

The findings from the HIA report inform the development of the draft Air Plan for public consultation which will be notified in February 2015.

For a copy of the HIA report visit: http://www.ecan.govt.nz/our-responsibilities/regional-plans/regional-plans-under-development/air-plan/Pages/have-your-say.aspx

ENDS

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