Concentrations of the harmful NO2 pollutant across 30 major European cities could be reduced by up to 40% with the right traffic policy measures, according to JRC scientists.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) alone was responsible for 68,000 premature deaths within the EU in 2016 and many European cities still regularly exceed current EU limits for NO2.
Urban NO2 Atlas
The Urban NO2 Atlas developed by JRC scientists provides city factsheets to help designing effective air quality measures to reduce NO2 concentration within European cities and identifies the main sources of NO2 pollution for each city examined, helping policymakers to design actions that target them.
When it comes to the 30 European cities analysed in the report, the average contribution of transport to overall nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions was 47%. Within the whole EU, road transport is the largest contributor to NOx (NO and NO2) pollution, ahead of the energy, commercial, institutional and household sectors. As shown by the report, the shares of road transport in total local NOx emissions differ considerably across Europe. In Athens and Milan over 70% of emissions comes from transport, while in Lisbon, where shipping emissions are high, road transport is only responsible for 20% of NOx pollution. A closer look on the road transport sector shows that NO2 in cities mainly originates from the emissions of diesel vehicles.
Traffic policies for reducing emissions
Los científicos del CCI estiman que, al reducir el flujo del tráfico que emite NOx, las ciudades podrían reducir las emisiones de NO2 en un promedio del 40%. Alrededor del 15% de reducción podría provenir de automóviles diésel de pasajeros, 13% de camiones y 6% de furgonetas. Los flujos de tráfico que emiten NOx se pueden reducir limitando el acceso de vehículos altamente contaminantes, principalmente automóviles diésel más antiguos, a las zonas interiores de las ciudades. El mismo resultado también se puede lograr fomentando los vehículos eléctricos y el uso del transporte público, las bicicletas y las caminatas. Estas medidas no solo mejorarían la calidad del aire; sino que también se traducirían en una disminución del ruido y los accidentes y la mejora de la calidad de vida.
JRC scientists estimate that, through reducing the flow of NOx-emitting traffic, cities could lower NO2 emissions by an average of 40%. Around 15% reduction could come from passenger diesel cars, 13% from trucks and 6% from vans. NOx-emitting traffic flows can be reduced by limiting the access of highly pollutant vehicles – primarily older diesel cars – to inner areas of cities. The same result can also be achieved by encouraging electric vehicles and fostering the use of public transport, bikes and walking. These measures would not only improve air quality; they would also mean less noise, fewer accidents and improved quality of life.
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