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 18.09.2024

How good is the air we breathe? How much noise do we make? Air quality directly affects our health

This week, city councils and local authorities are carrying out a variety of activities to raise awareness of the importance of reducing the number of vehicles in cities and improving air quality.

Cities and areas close to motorways and expressways with heavy road traffic often have poor air quality. Constant exposure to air pollution has negative effects on the health, especially respiratory and cognitive health, of younger and older people.

Measures to breathe cleaner air are urgently needed. The challenge requires implementing public policies on non-polluting transport and means of communication, favouring non-combustion travel systems, as well as creating green urban infrastructure such as parks and wooded areas that connect spaces within the city.

Incorporating changes into daily life and work activity requires individual efforts. All city dwellers should try to travel in clean vehicles; ride-share; group personal or work purchases together to reduce travel; choose low-carbon options for weekends, holidays and business conferences; and save energy at home.

Reducing exposure to polluted air as well as reducing traffic noise has a direct impact on health, quality of life and emotional well-being. Our direct actions and indirect pressure on authorities will improve the air in cities. Our health is at stake!