News & Updates
The new WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines: a game changer for clean air in Europe!
On September 22, The World Health Organization (WHO) updated its global air quality guidelines. This important document recommends air quality limits as well as interim targets for key pollutants. It also provides clear evidence of the damage air pollution inflicts on...
Healthy Air, Healthy Planet: #WorldCleanAirDay, an opportunity to highlight the climate crisis
On 7 September, we celebrate the 2nd International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. This day, initiated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is an opportunity to further raise awareness of the health benefits of cleaner air as well as to call for bold...
The Euro 7 standard: why it matters for cities
There are no safe levels of air pollution, and cities, with their high population density and intense mobility patterns, are facing particular challenges in reducing the levels of harmful emissions. European emission standards are one of the tools that cities have at...
“Recovery plans should not ignore public health risks”
Dr. Agostino Di Ciaula, Doctor, International Society of Doctors for Environment (ISDE) - Italy Why is clean air important for our health? According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is responsible for about 13 million premature deaths worldwide. In 80%...
“Having cleaner air is in our hands”
By Olaia Bronte Moreno, Pulmonology, Spain Why is clean air important? Let’s put numbers to the problem: Air pollution is the main environmental cause of premature sickness and death across the world. It is estimated that air pollution causes 3,7 million premature...
National Governments ask for a phase-out date for the sale of petrol and diesel cars
The Ambitious Nine Last month, nine member states of the European Union (EU) called on the European Commission to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, and the Netherlands wrote to the...
Why I believe clean air is important for our health
By Andrej Martin Vujkovac, MD, Slovenia Why is clean air important for our health? An average human takes roughly 20.000 breaths a day. The main reason for human breathing is, of course, to receive oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide in the body- both of which are...
New EU air quality rules can protect public health says the European Public Health Alliance
The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) has called on the European Commission to take the necessary action to improve public health as it starts the process to revise air quality standards by the end of 2022, as part of the implementation of the European Green...
All I want for Christmas is Clean Air
Air pollution, health and COVID-19 Maria Viegas, Public Health Director European Medical Students' Association (EMSA), Medical student and healthcare helper in a Portuguese hospital during the COVID-19 crisis writes why she has joined #medics4cleanair The world's and...
New poll finds Europeans do not want to go back to pre-Covid air pollution levels
11 June 2020, Brussels A new opinion poll from YouGov in 21 European cities finds a majority of urban residents across Europe do not want to see air pollution return to pre-Covid-19 levels and support profound changes in transport to protect clean air. When countries...