Cities worldwide are experiencing high levels of air pollution, with severe
consequences to human health, the economy, and the natural environment.
Greater Manchester (GM), a conurbation in the United Kingdom, has declared an
Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) as air pollution levels are sometimes above
or close to limits set by the European Union. Transport is one of the main
contributing sectors, and rapid policy and lifestyle changes are needed when it
comes to public transportation, walking, or cycling. Public engagement is central
to this aim, but one-way provision of information is not effective in encouraging
the needed behavioural changes. Through a systematic review (n=50), this thesis
provides a comparison of how five different two-way communication formats (i.e.
social media, educational programmes, serious games, citizen science, and
forums) have been employed worldwide to create dialogues between experts and
the public in relation to air pollution. A one-size-fits-all communication strategy is
not sufficient in engaging the public in socially diverse cities where the
environment and sustainable lifestyles are conceptualised in a myriad of ways.
Through a questionnaire study (n=365), this thesis explores how the public in GM
perceives air pollution and accesses environmental information, as well as how
this varies with gender, educational level, age, postcode district, and income.
Through qualitative interviews (n=30), this thesis also provides an in-depth
exploration of the experiences of one particular group in society that has
traditionally been underserved: women. The focus on women is necessary
because a greater responsibility for unpaid work, economic inequality, longer life
expectancy, and greater fear of crime shape how women travel and access the
city, and consequently, their experiences of air pollution. The fact that these
findings are specific to women, however, does not make them less valid in relation
to society at large. A transportation system that is environmentally sustainable as
well as safe, economical, and that facilitates combining paid and unpaid work, is
beneficial to all. These findings advance knowledge in the field of public
engagement with air pollution, and provide recommendations for policymakers or
charity organizations. These include communication of air pollution as something
physical, moving away from the invisible adjective that encourages people to
avoid the problem altogether; and the further exploration of the health and wellbeing frame, as it can be effective in motivating active forms of transport