Better air quality monitoring needed amid rising air pollution from ports and airports – European Environment Agency (EEA)

Report on Air Quality Degradation at European Transportation Hubs and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing indicates that rising air pollutant emissions from the shipping and aviation sectors present a growing threat to public health and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report outlines the key findings, focusing on the urgent need for improved air quality monitoring at ports and airports, which are identified as pollution hotspots. The analysis directly relates to several SDGs, particularly those concerning health, sustainable cities, and resilient infrastructure.

• Rising emissions from maritime and aviation transport are a primary concern.
• Current air quality monitoring networks around these hubs are inadequate for assessing the full impact on human health and the environment.
• Elevated pollutant levels directly challenge the progress towards key Sustainable Development Goals.
• The revised EU Ambient Air Quality Directive necessitates targeted monitoring and action in these hotspot areas.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The increasing air pollution from transportation hubs has significant implications for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The failure to mitigate these emissions directly impedes progress on the following goals:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Air pollution is Europe’s foremost environmental health risk. Increased concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) undermine Target 3.9, which aims to substantially reduce deaths and illnesses from air pollution.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The degradation of air quality in and around ports and airports negatively affects the quality of life in nearby urban areas, conflicting with Target 11.6 to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, especially concerning air quality.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The report highlights the need to develop sustainable and resilient transportation infrastructure (Target 9.1) that minimizes negative environmental and social externalities.

Analysis of Pollutant Levels and Monitoring Gaps

The EEA briefing, which assessed air quality across 18 European countries, reveals critical data on pollutant concentrations and monitoring effectiveness.

1. Monitoring Deficiencies: The current placement and number of sampling points around many ports and airports are insufficient to capture the true scale of pollution. This gap hinders the ability to protect public health and design effective mitigation strategies, which are essential for achieving SDG 3 and SDG 11.
2. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) Levels: NO₂ concentrations at transportation hubs were consistently higher than in surrounding regions. For half of the ports studied, levels were more than double those of adjacent areas. Notably, hubs like Piraeus port, Napoli port, and Milan Linate airport recorded levels exceeding the revised 2030 EU annual limit value.
3. Fine Particulate Matter (PM_2.5) Levels: While the direct attribution of PM_2.5 is more complex, a significant number of ports and airports registered levels above the 2030 EU annual limit. This widespread issue underscores the challenge to creating healthy urban environments as envisioned in SDG 11.

Projections and Strategic Imperatives

The long-term outlook requires immediate and strategic action to align the transport sector with sustainable development principles.

• Future Projections: By 2030, maritime transport is projected to become the leading source of transport-related air pollution in coastal cities, further jeopardizing urban health and sustainability.
• Regulatory Context: The revised EU Ambient Air Quality Directive, which aligns more closely with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, correctly identifies ports and airports as “air quality hotspots” requiring targeted action.
• Recommendations: To advance the SDGs, it is imperative to enhance monitoring networks around these hubs and implement measures to reduce air pollution, thereby protecting citizens and ensuring the transport sector contributes positively to sustainable development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article directly connects air pollution from ports and airports to human health. It states, “Air pollutant emissions from shipping and aviation are rising, posing an increasing risk to human health,” and explicitly identifies air pollution as “Europe’s largest environmental health risk, with multiple impacts on human health.” This establishes a clear link to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The focus on air quality in and around ports and airports, which are referred to as “air quality hotspots,” relates directly to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The article discusses the need to monitor and manage pollution in these specific urban and peri-urban areas, mentioning that “maritime transport is projected to become the main source of transport-related air pollution in coastal cities by 2030.”

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • Ports and airports are critical components of transportation infrastructure. The article highlights that emissions from these hubs are rising, which points to a challenge in the sustainability of this infrastructure. The discussion on emissions from “maritime transport” and “aviation” addresses the environmental impact of industrial and infrastructural activities, implying a need for more sustainable operations.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

   • The article’s central theme is the health threat posed by specific air pollutants. It focuses on “fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)” and their impact on human health, aligning perfectly with the goal of reducing illnesses caused by air pollution.

2. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

   • The article calls for “improved monitoring of air pollution in and around these key transportation hubs” and assesses “air quality levels in and around major ports and airports.” This directly addresses the need to pay special attention to air quality within urban environments to mitigate adverse impacts. The identification of ports and airports as “air quality hotspots” further reinforces this connection.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

   • The article explicitly names these pollutants as the focus of its assessment: “…focusing on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollutants.” It provides concrete data, stating that NO2 levels at some hubs “were above the revised 2030 EU annual limit value” and that a “significant number of ports and airports [were] above the revised 2030 EU annual limit value” for PM2.5. These measurements are direct indicators of air quality.

2. Adequacy of air quality monitoring networks.

   • The article implies this indicator by highlighting a major deficiency. It states that “current monitoring around some of these transportation hubs is limited (number and location of sampling points) and does not fully capture their impact.” Therefore, progress can be measured by tracking the “number and location of sampling points” to ensure comprehensive monitoring of air quality hotspots, as called for in the briefing.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: europeantimes.news