Early March, EFA participated in a stakeholder consultation "The Future of EU Clean Air policy in the framework of the zero-pollution ambition" to inform the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) to the European Commission plans on the zero pollution ambition.
The zero pollution ambition will translate into EU landmark legislation that will be crucial for people living with allergy, asthma and COPD.
During the meeting, organised by the Opinion rapporteur Mr János Ádám Karácsony (HU/EPP) Member of the CoR Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE), EFA Director of Policy and Communications exposed several issues that in our views should be reflected in the zero air pollution pollution ambition.
Improve and expand air quality monitoring stations
On the one hand, EFA highlighted the need to improve and expand air quality monitoring stations and information to the public. The EU could set localised air quality measurements in Europe to be communicated real-time, with transparency, in an accessible way and tailored messages to the population, taking the example of the Canadian Air Quality Health Index. This health protection tool has been proved to help people at risk take decisions and to raise awareness about the quality of the air we all breathe.
Establish a public aerobiological network
On the other hand, the European Union so far has not adopted any legislation or initiative covering biological components of ambient air (pollen “emissions”). EU citizens have the right to know the quality of the air they breathe, independently of the sector producing the emissions. The European Union could establish a public aerobiological network to provide EU citizens with a real-time pollen monitoring system.
More information on the Committee of the Regions Opinion can be found here.