How to improve air quality in cities
According to the UN, polluted air is a "silent killer." 9 out of 10 people breathe polluted air, which causes about seven million premature deaths a year worldwide, of which 600,000 are children. In a context in which 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 those with high incomes.
Inefficient transport, inefficient boilers and heaters, waste burning, and industrial activities are some of the main sources of urban pollution. Low-quality air 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 the main Spanish urban centers there is a high degree of pollution. Moreover, levels like those prior to the COVID-19 lockdown were reached in 2021.
What are the air quality strategies in Spain?
The regulations on air quality are made up of Law 34/2007 of 15 November, on air quality and the protection of the atmosphere, and Royal Decree 102/2011 of 28 January, on the improvement of air quality. The latter confers on local authorities the competence to draw up air quality plans and short-term action plans where there is a risk that the level of pollutants will exceed one or more alert thresholds. In that case, the municipality will have to present and/or draw up the air quality plans and action plans in a short period of time.
For its part, the Sectoral Conference on the Environment approved in June 2021 the Short-term Framework Plan for Action in case of episodes of high pollution by air particles below 10 microns (PM10), particles less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). It establishes values and actions for all administrations, with the aim that the responses to pollution alerts and the measures taken are similar in all parts of the geography.
Likewise, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge puts at the service of citizens the National Air Quality Index (ICA) to check in real time the air quality according to the measurement stations of the national monitoring network.
How to achieve cleaner air in cities?
Based on the UN advice to improve air quality in urban environments in Caloryfrio.com we have developed our own list of ideas to achieve healthy air:
Commitment to renewable energies
Government support for renewable energy is key to reducing the use of polluting fuels, such as coal or oil. Also, in homes we can use clean energy sources such as biomass or aerothermy or choose photovoltaic self-consumption. In this way, it would be possible to reduce energy consumption in the residential sector, which concentrates a high energy expenditure.
Reduce energy consumption
Energy efficiency is the best tool to reduce consumption and emissions. Investing in the thermal insulation of buildings can reduce up to 20% the emissions of buildings, responsible for a good part of the polluting particles that we breathe in cities. It is also advisable to use clean lighting technologies (solar lamps, LEDs) and manage waste and recycle it effectively.
Choosing sustainable mobility
The change in the model of urban transport must involve promoting the use of public transport and bicycles, in addition to facilitating the realization of journeys on foot. Stricter standards for vehicle emissions should also be promoted and switched to improved and more sustainable models, such as the electric vehicle. 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 employment and economic growth, but also the way to reduce air pollution in cities and make them healthier and more resilient places in the face of climate change.
