When it comes to air pollution, how low can cities go?
This modelling, commissioned by the Clean Cities Campaign and Transport & Environment, shows that air pollution levels can be brought close to the science-based guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) if stronger action is taken on polluting vehicles. If emissions from other sectors are also tackled, for example industry and heating, even lower levels of pollution are achievable.
Air pollution causes at least 270,000 early deaths every year in Europe, including 1,200 children and adolescents. It can affect almost every organ in the body and is associated with a staggering list of health conditions, including asthma and stunted lung growth in children, lung cancer and heart disease. That’s why we’re calling for the EU to set ambitious legal limits and force cities and governments to act by introducing low- and zero-emission zones.
