*[Enwl-eng] The air we breathe
ENWLine
|
In many places in Europe, the air is so bad that it is literally unhealthy to breathe. But because of how the EU defines "clean" air, we think our air is clean when it isn't. Next week, the EU Parliament will talk about this and it could be a game-changer. |
Hi,
In one of the schools in Warsaw, there is a big red dot on a board next to the entrance. It tells the kids whether they can play outdoors. On many days they don’t: the air is so polluted that playing outside is too much of a health risk.
Air pollution causes asthma, childhood cancers, and chronic diseases in children. [1] And it leads to hundreds of thousands of deaths in Europe every year. [2]
The EU has standards for air quality that are meant to protect us. But because they aren’t 100% based on science, the alarm levels are set far too high. [2] This makes us think our air is clean when it is not.
Next week, the EU Parliament will discuss how to review air quality standards. And whatever they decide could be a serious game-changer for the air we breathe. [3]
Before the vote, MEPs who don’t know about the issue will have to learn about it, and those on the fence will need convincing. To do it, we have to put our names together to show how many Europeans care about the air they breathe. Add yours now!
|
It is really simple: if the air is polluted, it is not safe. [4] But over a decade ago, the alarm levels of pollution were set much higher than suggested by science. So ‘officially’ most people in Europe are breathing acceptable air, and politicians don’t have to do anything to protect our health.
However, if we use the World Health Organisation’s definition of clean air, the picture changes abruptly: 75% of people living in cities across the EU breathe health-threatening air. [5] We have to show the EU Parliament and the politicians in all EU institutions that we know about the air we breathe and that we won't turn a blind eye to it.
Right now, we have a chance to let all children breathe safely. We can make our cities green and our air fresh. Sign and ask the EU for better air quality in Europe.
|
For the health of the kids,
David (London), Marta (Warsaw) and the
entire WeMove team
PS: Air pollution is not only dangerous for kids, but is a huge risk to us all. It has been proven that its linked to heart and lung disease as well as a rise in obesity and Alzheimer’s. [6] Make sure we are all protected: Sign the petition!
References:
[1]
https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/air/health-impacts-of-air-pollution
[2]
https://www.env-health.org/issues/air-quality/
[3]
https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2020-report
[4]
https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/189051/Health-effects-of-particulate-matter-final-Eng.pdf
[5]
About 4% of the EU-28 urban population was exposed to health-harming levels of
PM 2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less) above the EU limit
value in 2018. However, checked against WHO air quality guidelines for PM2.5,
the share increases to
74%
https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2020-report
[6]
https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/air/health-impacts-of-air-pollution
WeMove Europe is an independent and values-based organisation that seeks to build people power to transform Europe in the name of our community, future generations and the planet.
WeMove Europe is funded by donations from our community across Europe. Can you chip in with a few euros a month and help make sure we can move fast to win the campaigns that matter to all of us? Donate
Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook | Subscribe on Youtube
WeMove Europe SCE mbH | Planufer 91 Berlin | www.wemove.eu | Privacy policy
------------- * ENWL * ------------
Ecological North West Line * St. Petersburg, Russia
Independent Environmental Net Service
Russian: ENWL (North West), ENWL-inf (FSU), ENWL-misc (any topics)
English: ENWL-eng (world information)
Send information to en...@lew.spb.org, enwl...@lew.spb.org, en...@lew.spb.org, en...@lew.spb.org
Subscription, Moderator: vf...@lew.spb.org or en...@enw.net.ru
Archive: http://groups.google.com/group/enwl/
Additionally: http://www.enwl.net.ru/
(C) Please refer to exclusive articles of ENWL
-------------------------------------