West Midlands Mayor Andy Street says a £1 million plan aims to make air quality cleaner and safer.
The region-wide plan will begin with a series of priority measures, installing a network of air quality sensors to measure pollution levels across the region, education and awareness campaigns in communities and the development of an alert system when pollution levels are high.
It will also fund research into the potential to positively impact air quality by reducing speed limits on high-speed roads and in urban centres.
Mr Street, who heads the West Midlands Combined Authority, said: “We all want and deserve to breathe clean air but sadly there are still 2,300 premature deaths every year in our region due to air pollution.
“This demonstrates the need to take further action to address this issue. That’s why we’ve drawn up a plan - in close collaboration with our local authority partners - that is backed by an initial £1m of Government funding.”
The adverse health effects of poor-quality air have led to hundreds of local people - many with lung conditions impacted by air pollution - signing a petition calling on local leaders in the region to prioritise improving air quality.
The petition has been handed to Mr Street by representatives from Asthma + Lung UK.
Mr Street added: “We acknowledge and understand the depth of concern shown by local people - evident from the numbers who have signed Asthma + Lung UK’s recent petition. We’re committed to delivering solutions that ensure we’re leading the way when it comes to cleaner air.
“Together, we can make the West Midlands a place where local people benefit from the unmatched purity of our air in the months and years ahead.”