Air pollution remains a global challenge

Not long ago, the European Union Environment Agency issued a report warning that although the EU's atmospheric environment management has achieved certain results after years of efforts, air pollution is still the number one environmental health problem facing the EU. Globally, air pollution is a staggering problem, and there is a strong link between its occurrence and climate change.

One

In 2021, 97% of Europe's urban population was exposed to air that did not meet WHO recommendations, and nearly 400,000 deaths in Europe were linked to air pollution, according to the latest report released by the European Environment Agency. Among them, 293,000 were PM2.5 pollution-related deaths, 69,000 were nitrogen dioxide-related deaths, and 27,000 were short-term ozone exposure-related deaths.

For the first time, the report details the risks of air pollution to populations with different diseases. The report found that PM2.5 is particularly severe in patients with ischemic heart disease, with nitrogen dioxide being the most harmful to diabetic patients.

PM2.5 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, and it mainly comes from fossil fuel combustion, vehicle emissions, and livestock farming. PM2.5 can be inhaled into the body and enter the bloodstream. Nitrogen dioxide, which mainly comes from the transportation industry, can damage the lungs and increase the risk of diabetes. Ozone, on the other hand, can damage the respiratory tract and worsen lung diseases such as asthma.

In the early 90s of the 20th century, fine particulate matter caused nearly 1 million premature deaths per year in the European Union. According to the agency, by 2005, there were still 431,000 premature deaths due to air pollution across the EU.

In its report, the European Environment Agency noted that air pollution in Europe has improved since 2005 and that the EU is on track to achieve its goal of reducing premature deaths from air pollution by more than 50% by 2030 compared to 2005. Despite this, the report notes that air pollution remains the number one environmental health problem facing the EU.

Two

为解决空气污染问题，自20世纪80年代以来，欧盟陆续推出One系列改善空气质量的举措，设立了12种空气污染物标准，规定应监测、评估、通报空气质量，并在欧盟范围内建立了由4000多个空气质量监测站组成的网络，以便提供更准确及时的空气质量信息。

In 2022, the European Commission revised the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive and set a mid-term target for 2030. Specific measures include regular assessment of air quality standards, lowering annual limits for fine particulate matter, a major air pollutant, strengthening air quality monitoring and information disclosure, and protecting the rights and interests of pollution victims through effective penalties. Targets include a 55 per cent reduction in premature deaths from exposure to fine particulate matter by 2030 compared to 2005 and a reduction in the annual limit for fine particulate matter from the current 25 μg/m3 to 10 μg/m3.

世界卫生组织在2021年收紧了空气质量指标的数值，比如将PM2.5的浓度上限规定为5微克/立方米。当前欧盟层面的空气质量标准仍低于世卫组织。今年9月，欧洲议会投票同意将空气质量指标与世卫组织看齐，但是将这One目标实现的日期推迟到2035年。

道路交通造成的Two氧化氮超标排放是导致欧洲地区空气污染的主要原因之One，六成以上的欧洲城市中心和主要道路周边存在Two氧化氮超标问题。

为解决道路交通导致的空气污染问题，欧盟不断提升机动车排放标准，One些欧盟国家也采取了针对性举措。2019年通过的欧盟汽车和货车Two氧化碳排放新标准规定，从2030年起，欧盟境内新型汽车平均Two氧化碳排放量将比2021年减少37.5%，货车减少31%。不少欧盟国家推出禁售燃油车时间表，让新能源车成为交通工具的主体。

Three

空气污染问题并不局限于欧洲。根据One份分析了全球131个国家或地区的7323个城市数据的空气质量研究报告，截至2022年，在全球范围内，空气污染仍是最大的环境健康威胁。

Globally, few regions can meet WHO's guidance for PM2.5 concentration limits. The world's first study of PM2.5 in the daily environment of the world by Monash University in Australia found that only 0.18% of the world's land area and 0.001% of the global population are exposed to PM2.5 below the recommended safe level of the World Health Organization, and PM2.5 is the world's most important environmental health risk factor.

The World Health Organization says that 99% of the world's population breathes unhealthy air, and about 7 million deaths worldwide each year are linked to air pollution. Low- and middle-income countries account for the highest proportion of premature deaths due to air pollution, accounting for 91% of the total number of premature deaths related to outdoor air pollution globally.

空气污染和气候变化之间存在的紧密关系，也得到了大量研究证实。世界气象组织发布的《2023年空气质量和气候公报》指出，空气质量和气候相互关联，因为引起气候变化和空气质量下降的物质常常具有相同的排放来源，而且其中One方的变化不可避免地会引起另One方的变化。

“除了对人类健康的影响，空气污染物从大气沉降到地球表面也将影响生态系统”，世界气候组织秘书长塔拉斯表示，“气候变化和空气质量不应被分开对待，它们两者协同变化，因此必须One同应对，以打破这种恶性循环”。