According to the UN, polluted air is a "silent killer". 9 out of 10 people breathe polluted airwhich causes about seven million premature deaths a year worldwide, of which 600,000 are children. In a context where more than half of the population lives in cities, the WHO warns that most of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, but also affect high-income countries.
Inefficient transport, inefficient boilers and heating, waste burning and industrial activities are some of the main sources of urban pollution. Poor air quality is one of the causes of serious chronic diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular problems and lung cancer.
Pollution in Spanish cities
According to the Sustainability Observatory, Madrid and Barcelona top the list of cities with the most polluted air in our country. In its analysis it evaluates the amount of N02, PM10 and PM2.5, the three key pollutants, in the 80 largest cities in the country, where about 40% of the Spanish population lives.
It concludes that in Spain's main urban centres there is a high degree of pollution. What's more, emissions in 2021 reached levels similar to those prior to COVID-19 confinement.
What are the air quality strategies in Spain?
The air quality regulations are composed of the Law 34/2007 of 15 Novemberon air quality and the protection of the atmosphere, and the Royal Decree 102/2011 of 28 Januaryon the improvement of air quality. The latter gives local authorities the competence to draw up air quality plans and short-term action plans when there is a risk that the level of pollutants exceeds one or more alert thresholds. In this case, local councils will have to submit and/or draw up air quality plans and action plans within a short period of time.
For its part, in June 2021 the Environment Sectoral Conference approved the Short-term Framework Action Plan in case of high pollution events emissions from airborne particles smaller than 10 microns (PM10), particles smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). It establishes values and actions for all administrations, with the aim of ensuring that responses to pollution alerts and the measures taken are similar in all parts of the country.
Likewise, the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge provides citizens with the National Air Quality Index (AQI) to check air quality in real time according to the measuring stations of the national monitoring network.
How to achieve cleaner air in cities?
Based on the UN's advice for improving air quality in urban environments, we at Caloryfrio.com have compiled our own list of ideas for healthy air:
Commitment to renewable energies
The support of the administrations to the renewable energies is key to reducing the use of polluting fuels such as coal or oil. In households, we can also use clean energy sources such as biomass or the aerothermia or choose the photovoltaic self-consumption. This would reduce energy consumption in the energy-intensive residential sector.
Reducing energy consumption
The energy efficiency is the best tool to reduce consumption and emissions. Investing in the thermal insulation emissions from buildings, which are responsible for a large part of the particulate pollutants we breathe in cities, can be reduced by up to 20%. It is also advisable to use clean lighting technologies (solar lamps, LEDs) and to manage waste and recycle it efficiently.
Choosing sustainable mobility
The change in the urban transport model must involve encouraging the use of public transport and cycling, as well as facilitating walking. Also, stricter standards for vehicle emissions should be promoted and a switch to improved and more sustainable models, such as the electric vehicle, should be made. It should not be forgotten that road transport generates almost 20 % of total GHG emissions in Spain.
Implementing sustainable measures is not only a source of jobs and economic growth, it is also the way to reduce air pollution in cities and make them healthier and more resilient to climate change.
