This goal seems achievable. Over the period 2005-2020, this figure had already fallen by 45% according to the European Environment Agency (EEA). In the European Union, around 300,000 people die each year from exposure to fine particles, including around 4,000 in Belgium. Unsurprisingly, urban areas, where three out of four European citizens live, remain most at risk.
Raised ambitions
However, much work remains to be done, because restrictive European standards limit the concentration of fine particles in the air. And this is where the problem lies, although these standards are much more flexible than the WHO recommendations.
We observed a contrasting situationcomments Klaus-Heiner Lehne, member of the European Court of Auditors. Air quality in European cities has improved significantly in recent years, a success to which the EU has largely contributed. However, some air quality standards are not yet systematically met or have only recently been achieved in certain areas.“
A striking observation when we know that the EU has revised its requirements upwards for 2030, which will force each Member State to redouble their efforts. Concerning the maximum concentration of very fine particles (whose diameter is less than 2.5 micrometers), which are the most harmful to humans, future standards will even be more than twice as strict as those currently in force.
Transport, source of noise pollution
Meeting European commitments in terms of noise pollution linked to transport is also in the sights of the Court of Auditors. The Zero Pollution plan provides for a 30% reduction by 2030 in the number of people suffering from chronic disorders due to transport noise compared to 2017. But “in the best case scenario, this number would drop by 19%, and in the worst case, it would increase by 3%.“, underlines the Court’s report.
-Unlike air pollution, noise pollution is not (yet?) subject to binding standards at European level. “This discourages Member States from prioritizing actions to reduce noise pollution“, regretted Klaus-Heiner Lehne.
Belgium on track, but be careful
Here, air quality “has clearly improved over the last fifteen yearsnotes Philippe Maetz, scientific collaborator at the Interregional Environment Unit (Celine). For nitrogen dioxide or fine particles for example, we respect most of the limit values of European legislation“.
Belgium should even “respect over a large part of its territory“the limit values set for 2030, which will therefore be significantly stricter. Be careful with nitrogen dioxide, which will not be able to exceed 20 micrograms per m³ in 2030 compared to 40 currently.”Near major traffic routes, standards will be more difficult to respect because automobile traffic is the main source of nitrogen dioxide emissions.“, explains Philippe Maetz. “Additional measures will be necessary to reach the NO2 limit values in places with high car traffic“, underlines Celine in its provisional 2024 report.
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