In the courses Environmental Protection and Norms and Quality Assurance, an exceptionally significant lecture was held on the topic of Air Quality in the EU. The guest lecturer was Vanda Jakir, Master of Laws, who works as a Policy Officer in the Clean Air and Urban Policy Unit of the Directorate-General for Environment at the European Commission.
Policy and Legislation of the European Union for Air Quality
Mrs. Jakir began her lecture by presenting the current EU policy and legislation aimed at improving air quality. She emphasized that different pollutants originate from various sources. For example, fine particulate matter mainly comes from households (heating), energy production, and industry, while nitrogen dioxide is often associated with traffic (conventional vehicles). Ammonia, which can lead to the formation of particulate matter, is almost exclusively emitted through agricultural activities (fertilizers).
Effectiveness of Current EU Policies and Regulations
Jakir highlighted that air quality in the EU has significantly improved over the past 20 years, with emissions of most pollutants decreasing despite the concurrent rise in GDP. This is the result of cooperation at all levels – member states, EU legislation, and international collaboration. However, challenges remain. According to data from the European Environment Agency, 96% of the EU’s urban population is exposed to unsafe concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) above the levels recommended by the World Health Organization. The new EU air quality standards, which are to be met by 2030, are more ambitious than the current ones.
Health Problems Associated with Air Pollution
Air pollution is the largest environmental health risk in Europe, causing and exacerbating respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Heart disease and stroke are the most common causes of premature death linked to air pollution, followed by lung diseases and lung cancer. Additionally, people live with diseases related to exposure to polluted air, which leads to a reduced quality of life and increased costs for the healthcare sector.
Mrs. Jakir emphasized that personal choices can significantly reduce emissions. Using a bicycle instead of a car or installing efficient low-emission heating systems are just a few examples. Additionally, informing citizens and encouraging structural changes through appropriate infrastructure and support are key to long-term air quality improvement. Citizens can also reduce the impact of polluted air on their own health by using the “European Air Quality Index” application, which provides reliable information on the current air quality at a selected location, including health advice in Croatian.
In conclusion, Mrs. Jakir told the students of the University of Applied Sciences in Security and Safety: “We cannot live without air for more than a few minutes, which is why it is important that we work to make it cleaner!”
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