“Bad air caused that 600 000 Europeans died prematurely.” – Sydsvenskan

But Europe should consider listen more and talk less when it comes to air pollution.

Air pollution is a growing problem in Europe. The World Health Organization has classified the bad air that continent’s single biggest environmental threat to the health of the population and calculate the steering wheel 90 percent of Europe’s population is exposed to outdoor air with compounds that exceed the WHO limit.

In 2010 caused poor air indoors and outdoors that 600 000 Europeans died prematurely. The cost is equivalent to nine percent of the EU countries’ total GDP.

London and Paris are particularly affected by severe air problems. Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in the air in some parts of London twice, three times more than the recommended values. In the UK, 29,000 people die each year because of bad air. Only smoking causes more deaths. Much evidence points to the situation in Paris is even worse. When in March was clear that the air quality was worse than in Shanghai imposed restrictions on the private car and free public transport.

Sadly it seems European policy makers do not adopt it challenge that results from air pollution.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has argued against the country to take the lead in combating climate change. “We will not save the planet by turning off our mills, our aluminum smelters and paper manufacturers,” he declared in 2011.

George Osborne is is not alone in his Setup, European politicians argue that environmental protection hurt the already faltering economy in the EU countries.

EU proposals on new limits for toxic emissions from coal mines are less strict than in China, reports Greenpeace. Despite this, European politicians have argued that further water down the proposals. Hungary wants to scrap the restrictions completely.

Air pollution in Asia is also very worrying. Here are nine of the most polluted countries according to “Air Quality Index” from Yale University. New Delhi is the most polluted city in the world, which has exceeded the limits sextiofallt. Foreign companies pay their employees in Beijing a “bonus to endure” of up to 30 percent of salary.

But policy makers in Asian countries have recognized the problems and have started to address them. China, for example, has declared “war against pollution” and Beijing has a budget equivalent to 121 billion US dollars to fight air pollution until 2017.

China’s key action is the improved public transport, green commerce and a new energy mix. The government has decided to build bus stops 500 meters apart in city centers, lower the duty to five percent or less of the 54 listed environmental goods and liquidate many old and inefficient coal plants. The share of fossil fuels in energy production is expected to increase to 20 percent by 2030. Most likely this will all be carried out with great care since it has the support of the country’s top political leadership.

The Indian states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu has decided to introduce the world’s first system of trading of emission allowances for particles that pollute the air. Supreme Court of India has even proposed a surcharge for private diesel vehicles in Delhi.

While other Asian countries acting to improve air quality . Vietnam plans to build urban rail at eight sites in the coming years. In Bangkok, which has worked against air pollution since the 1990s, has 400 000 trees planted. Japan provides subsidies for hydrogen-powered cars and building areas solely for pedestrians.

Europe, as one of the world’s richest regions, should be in the forefront of encouraging sustainable development. And instead of preaching to others, should European policy makers focus on solving their own problems with air pollution.

Asit K Biswas

Julian Kirchherr

Translation: Maria Elisson

Project Syndicate