As EU member states, regional and local authorities prepare to implement the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), this briefing by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) argues that decision-makers and authorities should pay particular attention to addressing socio-economic inequalities in their clean air efforts. The swift transposition and implementation of the new rules, with strengthened administrative collaboration and the full utilisation of financial support schemes, promise significant progress towards cleaner air across Europe. Improved air quality will be beneficial to everyone and contribute to preventing health inequalities for those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.
On the occasion of the 2023 #WorldCleanAirDay, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the Institute for Health and Environment Slovenia organised a virtual exchange on Building health bridges for clean air.
Air pollution is the top environmental threat to people’s health across Europe, a major risk factor for heart and lung disease, cancer and other health impacts. The number of organisations and individuals from the health sector active for clean air is at an all time high, responding to the urgent need to reduce the large health burden and prevent further ill-health. The aim of this webinar was to bring together decision-makers and civil society representatives from the East and West, North and South, for a conversation on clean air efforts and good practice to build on, in order to achieve clean air everywhere, for everyone.
During this webinar, attendees heard about the latest science on air pollution as well as insights on best practices from various EU countries, listening to presentations from Prof. Zorana Andersen (European Respiratory Society), Dr Andreja Kukec (University of Ljubjana, Slovenia), Dr Alexander Simidchiev (Member of Parliament and Director of Air4Health, Bulgaria), Weronika Michalak (HEAL Poland Director), and Irene Bernal (Advocacy and Research Manager, Salud por Derecho, Spain).
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