Chapter 6
Conclusions: A Way Forward
G. Guariso and M. Volta
Despite a general improvement expected for the next decade in EU, some urban
areas and some regions will still struggle with severe air quality problems and
related health effects. These areas are often characterized by specific environmental
and anthropogenic factors and will require ad hoc additional local actions to
complement medium and long-term national and EU-wide strategies to reach EU air
quality objectives. These urban areas are also among the territories where most
energy is consumed and most greenhouse gases (GHGs) are emitted.
So far, abatement strategies for air pollution and GHGs have mostly been treated
separately. However, increasing scientific evidence shows that air pollution and
climate change policies must be integrated to achieve sustainable development and
a low carbon (LC) society. Combined efforts to deal with air pollution and climate
issues at the urban level will be particularly important because here is where most
people are exposed to air pollution, and 75 % of global GHG emissions are generated (Schmale et al. 2014; UNEP and WMO 2011). Urban air pollution and
climate change simultaneously posing a serious threat to citizen longevity and
quality of life: reducing and mitigating the corresponding impacts is vital. Such
integration may exploit known synergies and would lead to substantial cost savings
and important benefits for human health and the environment.
A widespread application of classical end-of-pipe measures, such as various types
of filters and catalysts, may provide only a moderate improvement to the air quality
in cities and regions and will not reduce their GHG emissions. Until now, however,
the modelling and analysis underpinning the development of abatement strategies in
the EU and in the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
(CLRTAP) has focussed on technical measures. In the future, non-technical meaG. Guariso
Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
M. Volta (&)
Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
e-mail: marialuisa.volta@unibs.it
© The Author(s) 2017
G. Guariso and M. Volta (eds.), Air Quality Integrated Assessment,
PoliMI SpringerBriefs, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-33349-6_6
105
Conclusions: A Way Forward
G. Guariso and M. Volta
Despite a general improvement expected for the next decade in EU, some urban
areas and some regions will still struggle with severe air quality problems and
related health effects. These areas are often characterized by specific environmental
and anthropogenic factors and will require ad hoc additional local actions to
complement medium and long-term national and EU-wide strategies to reach EU air
quality objectives. These urban areas are also among the territories where most
energy is consumed and most greenhouse gases (GHGs) are emitted.
So far, abatement strategies for air pollution and GHGs have mostly been treated
separately. However, increasing scientific evidence shows that air pollution and
climate change policies must be integrated to achieve sustainable development and
a low carbon (LC) society. Combined efforts to deal with air pollution and climate
issues at the urban level will be particularly important because here is where most
people are exposed to air pollution, and 75 % of global GHG emissions are generated (Schmale et al. 2014; UNEP and WMO 2011). Urban air pollution and
climate change simultaneously posing a serious threat to citizen longevity and
quality of life: reducing and mitigating the corresponding impacts is vital. Such
integration may exploit known synergies and would lead to substantial cost savings
and important benefits for human health and the environment.
A widespread application of classical end-of-pipe measures, such as various types
of filters and catalysts, may provide only a moderate improvement to the air quality
in cities and regions and will not reduce their GHG emissions. Until now, however,
the modelling and analysis underpinning the development of abatement strategies in
the EU and in the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
(CLRTAP) has focussed on technical measures. In the future, non-technical meaG. Guariso
Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
M. Volta (&)
Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
e-mail: marialuisa.volta@unibs.it
© The Author(s) 2017
G. Guariso and M. Volta (eds.), Air Quality Integrated Assessment,
PoliMI SpringerBriefs, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-33349-6_6
105