Still too much noise and dirty air in European cities

Air pollution and noise remain a major health threat for many residents of EU countries, according to a study by the European Court of Auditors (ECA). 

Despite improvements in recent years, European cities are still too noisy and air pollution has not decreased sufficiently. The auditors find this deficit worrying, as even stricter environmental requirements are planned for the coming years.

Three quarters of the population live in urban areas and are exposed to air and noise pollution. According to the European Environment Agency, at least 250,000 people die each year in Europe due to air pollution. In addition, long-term exposure to excessive noise levels can have negative health effects, such as sleep disturbances, anxiety, cognitive impairment and mental health problems. 

This results in 48,000 new cases of heart disease and 12,000 premature deaths in Europe each year. The EU has introduced regulations to protect its 450 million citizens from air and noise pollution. The European Commission has also allocated €46.4 billion for the period 2014-2020 and €185.5 billion for the period 2021-2027 to support clean air targets.

“Progress has been made in the fight against urban pollution. However, we still have a long way to go before we can rest on our laurels,” said Klaus-Heiner Lehne, the ECA member responsible for the audit. “The EU and its member states must recognise that these ambitious targets can only be achieved with significant additional efforts.”

The auditors acknowledge that air quality has generally improved. However, they warn that air pollution — particularly the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) caused by cars and trucks — remains a major problem. 

Noise is also a form of urban pollution, but it is often overlooked. The Court's researchers conclude that it is almost impossible to measure progress in reducing noise pollution. Noise monitoring in most Member States is poor and not up-to-date, so that no trend can be established. 

The fact is that cities struggle to effectively tackle air and noise pollution. There are various reasons for this: from poor coordination by authorities to questionable effectiveness of measures, not to mention local opposition to such measures.