La SCNAT et son réseau s'engagent pour une société et une science durables. Ils soutiennent la politique, l'administration et les entreprises avec des connaissances spécialisées et entretiennent un dialogue avec le public. Ils renforcent les échanges entre disciplines scientifiques et promeuvent les jeunes universitaires.

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Every breath we take

Improving air quality in Europe

As a result of an ever-growing body of scientific evidence, demands by the public and a series of legislation, Europe’s air quality has improved considerably in the last 60 years. The concentrations of many air pollutants have decreased significantly. Lead concentrations have dropped sharply below the limits set by legislation. But despite such achievements, Europe has not yet attained the air quality foreseen in its legislation or desired by its citizens.

Download EEA report: Every breath we take

Science shows that even very small improvements in air quality result in health gains as well as economic savings. These benefits include: higher quality of life for citizens who suffer less from pollution-related diseases; higher productivity due to fewer sick days; and lower medical costs for society. Science also tells us that taking action on air pollution can have multiple benefits. For example, some greenhouse gases are also common air pollutants.
We now face the challenge of how to continue translating our growing understanding of the air into better policy and health outcomes. What are the actions we can take to reduce air pollution’s impact on our health and the environment? What are the best options available? It is exactly at moments like these that the scientist, the policymaker and the citizen need to work hand-in-hand to address these questions, so that we can continue to improve air quality in Europe.

Source: Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Catégories

  • Causes
  • Causes du changement climatique
  • Ozone
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