PAN UK is supporting the Pesticide Collaboration on their new campaign calling for a national ban on pesticide use in urban spaces.
After diet, pesticide use in our villages, towns and cities is the second most common route through which people are exposed to these chemicals.
The most commonly used pesticide in urban and public spaces is the herbicide glyphosate, which was designated as “probably carcinogenic to humans” by the World Health Organisation in 2015, and is increasingly being linked to Parkinson’s.
Furthermore, the use of pesticides in towns and cities reduces the areas that wildlife, including birds, insects, bees and hedgehogs, can rely on for food and shelter. They can also poison our pets and can run off hard surfaces, such as pavements, further contaminating water courses and harming aquatic life.
Over 100 local authorities across the UK have either ended their use of pesticides or taken significant steps towards doing so. This is hugely significant and demonstrates that there is a strong desire amongst councils when it comes to reducing local residents’ exposure and protecting our environment from harmful pesticides.
Sadly, most local authorities are finding that limited funds and resources are an obstacle to ending their use of pesticides and adopting alternative measures. Councils need greater direction and support from the UK Government.
We invite you to email your local councillors asking them to add their signature to a letter to the new Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – The Rt Hon Steve Reed MP calling for a national ban on urban pesticides. The aim is to demonstrate that councillors from across the UK want to end the use of pesticides in our playgrounds, parks, streets and other urban public spaces. Read the letter here.
