פורסם: 30 בינו׳ 2015, 13:25 על ידי: Sustainability Org
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עודכן 30 בינו׳ 2015, 13:26
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Chloe Mispelson, ECF, 28/1/2015

Press Release
For Immediate Release
Brussels, Belgium – 28th January 2015
Brand new study published today shows achievable and realistic way
to cut air pollution from transport is getting more people out of cars
and onto bicycles.
The study commissioned by ECF and done by RICARDO-AEA calculates the
reduction in typical transport pollutants NOx, NO2 and PM10, focusing on
5 European cities: Antwerp, London, Nantes, Seville and Thessaloniki.
ECF’s main conclusion from this study is that the bolder the
measures taken by the authorities, the better the results for air
quality. City authorities who want to protect their citizens
from health risks due to bad air quality, have to act thoroughly.
Secretary General of ECF, Dr Bernhard Ensink, explains:
“Transport systems in European cities need to be transformed
drastically. Motorised traffic has to be reduced. We recommend cities to
invest in large scale and high quality cycling networks and extensive
car-free zones. Keep your city vibrant, by switching from motorized
transport to cycling.”
The health benefits for citizens kick off immediately.
Even with the smallest improvement in air quality, the potential years
of life lost due to premature death and years of healthy life lost due
to poor health or disability decrease[1].
In addition, climate change, noise, access to mobility and economic
benefits should be taken into account when authorities discuss cycling
investments from the point of view of air pollution.
Technical measures[2]
such as Euro standard emission norms for vehicles, which have been in
place for over 20 years didn’t succeed in decreasing the air pollution
from the transport sector sufficiently. Many Member States & cities
are still not complying with EU limit values[3]. Vehicles are still polluting more than expected[4],
motorized traffic has increased and there is a higher share of diesel
cars. The scenarios proposed in the study measure the impact of
non-technical measures, such as increasing cycling and car-free-zones,
to improve air quality. They are realistic and achievable by many cities in a short time. The stronger these measures are, the better the results for air quality.
For ECF the city of Seville is an example of what can be done. Seville’s
cycling mode share increased from 0.5% to 7% in a few years, thanks to
serious investments in cycling and substantial measures to reduce
motorised traffic, which allowed the city to comply with the EU Limit
Values for air pollution. This example and similar actions taken by
cities like Milan, Paris, Basel, Munich, Hamburg, Helsinki and Ghent
show the lead for other European cities.
Benedicte Swennen, ECF’s Urban Mobility Policy Officer,
adds: “We want to point out that this battle should not be left to
cities alone. Air pollution travels freely across city and state borders
and cities do need support from Member States and Europe.” Cities are actually asking for more ambitious national and European policies to support their local actions for cleaner air.[5]
Together with the cities, our members and partners, ECF asks the
European Commission to continue the work on the Clean Air Package and to
make Euro standards more effective. The EU especially needs to
encourage cities to improve urban air quality by reducing motorized
traffic and increasing cycling.
-----ENDS----
Notes to the editor:
[2] Technical
measures related to air quality are usually technological improvements
on vehicles. Non-technical measures are focusing on structural and
behavioural changes (cycling infrastructure, public bike share, LEZ,
congestion charging, car-free zones, etc.).
Link to the full study:
http://www.ecf.com/wp-content/uploads/150119-Cycling-and-Urban-Air-Quality-A-study-of-European-Experiences_web.pdf Source: ecf.com
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