23 November 2016: The European Environment Agency (EEA) released a report finding that, despite improvements in air quality, air pollution remains the largest single environmental health hazard in Europe, contributing to an estimated 467,000 premature deaths annually.

Titled ‘Air quality in Europe: 2016 report,’ the publication provides an updated analysis of air quality in Europe from 2000 to 2014. The report finds that air quality has improved over time, with average particulate material falling in 75% of monitored locations between 2000 to 2014. At the same time, the report suggests that these improvements have not been sufficient to avoid damage to both human health and the environment. For instance, the report finds that 85% of the EU urban population has been exposed to fine particulate matters at levels the World Health Organization (WHO) finds harmful to health. The most harmful air pollutants in Europe are particulate matters, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.

“Emission reductions have led to improvements in air quality in Europe, but not enough to avoid unacceptable damage to human health and the environment,” said EEA Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx. He called for tackling the root causes of air pollution through “a fundamental and innovative transformation of our mobility, energy and food systems,” stressing that such a transformation will require action from everyone.

The European Parliament is expected to vote on a revised National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive by the end of 2016. The legislative proposal will establish new national emissions reduction commitments for sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, non-methane volatile organic compounds, amonia and other chemicals to help EU member States improve their air quality.

Also on air quality, the environment and health, ministers and senior officials committed to reduce deaths from environmental pollution in the Declaration for Health, Environment and Climate Change at the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which convened in Marrakech, Morocco. The Declaration recognizes that policies to protect the environment will also reduce the global burden of disease attributed to the environment and encourages the environment and health sectors to exchange experiences and technical expertise to protect the environment and enhance health. The Declaration calls on the UNFCCC Secretariat and UN agencies to work with countries, environment and health ministries and other stakeholders to identify and recommend effective mechanisms “to promote better management of environmental and climate risks to health and low-carbon, climate resilient, sustainable and inclusive development aimed at ensuring good health and well-being.”

The Indian Government declared an emergency on 6 November when toxic pollutants reached severe levels, according to UN Environment. In a report titled, ‘Breathing Cleaner Air,’ a task force of Indian and international scientists and air pollution experts calls on the government of India to support a ten-point plan to improve its air quality. The report recommends: preventing agricultural burning; providing cleaner fuels and biomass stoves with an efficiency of 50% or more; switching to low sulfur fuel; and introducing a street cleaning program to limit road dust emissions, among other steps. [EEA Press Release] [UNEP Press Release on Ministerial Declaration] [Ministerial Declaration] [UNEP Press Release on Indian Air Quality]