Clean air is a crucial resource that matters to people all over Europe.
Recognising the vital role that air quality plays when it comes to the health of European citizens, the European Union has been actively combating air pollution for the past four decades – be it through legislation, transnational initiatives, research projects or by cooperating with polluting sectors and non-governmental organisations.
Air pollution constitutes one of the focal points of the EU’s ‘Sixth Environment Action Programme’ (EAP), that aims to “achieve levels of air quality that do not give rise to unacceptable impacts on, and risks to, human health and the environment”. Over the past decade, this programme has been a driving force towards the establishment of policies that address major environmental challenges in the European Union.
EU air policy boasts a track record of success and has successfully contributed towards improvements in air quality since the 1990s. A report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) highlights that emissions from air pollutants have declined over the past 20 years, as a result of the policies in place. Despite the fact that great strides have been made towards ameliorating the air quality for European citizens, EU air policies still fall short of meeting their central objective to curb unacceptable risks for humans and the environment that arise from poor air quality. After a period of decline, some levels of harmful pollutants are now back on the rise. This is partly due to the failure of member states to live up to their commitments and comply with EU standards.
Poor air quality has numerous impacts on the health and the quality of life of human beings – ranging from respiratory diseases and cardiovascular complications to severe reductions in people’s life expectancy. This is particularly true for people living in urban areas, where air pollution is greater. Some studies even indicate that poor air quality is the underlying cause for approximately 500,000 deaths per year in the European Union, which equates to 0.1% of the community’s population. In addition, it leaves behind a costly bill in terms of healthcare, estimated at several hundred billion euros per year in 2020.
Yet the impacts of poor air quality range far beyond the obvious human health concerns, as ecosystems are equally affected by the quality of the air that they are exposed to. Acidification, for instance, is a common phenomenon that damages the habitat of plant and animal species, who in turn struggle for survival in an overly acidic environment.
The relevance of this issue has also come to the centre of public attention in recent times in relation to the 2012 Olympic Games, to be held in London this summer. Problems related to poor air quality are anticipated during the event, as a result of traffic congestion. Fearing that pollution levels may lead to breaches of air quality laws, authorities are currently developing measures to mitigate the associated risks, which affect not only the crowds of visitors pouring into the capital, but also the athletes themselves.
The factors mentioned above highlight the challenges that lie ahead, as well as the urgent need for the European Union to take action on these, in order to reach the air quality levels it aspires to provide for its citizens. The good news is that winds of change are set to blow. The European Commission has embarked upon a thorough review of the community’s existing air policy, with the aim of creating an ambitious EU Clean Air Package that is expected to be finalised by 2013.
These developments promise a wide range of benefits – not only with regard to human health and the environment, but also from an economic perspective. Putting in place strict air quality standards can also foster innovation in the European Union. This is because technical innovations may become necessary in order to meet the most stringent air quality standards.
This, in turn, provides the European Union with the opportunity to focus on the development of pioneering technologies that can give the region a competitive edge over other countries or regions that may eventually have to resort to these technologies. In addition, it also constitutes a great incentive for the creation of new businesses in the EU.
The EU will have to take on these challenges in the months ahead. Hopefully, it will also take full advantage of the opportunities that such challenges provide. The European Union has already achieved significant improvements with regard to air quality and the forthcoming overhaul of European air policies should send yet another fresh breeze through the region, allowing it to finally reach the targets it strives for.
David Casa is a Nationalist MEP