European cities fight deadly air pollution and economic costs
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Air pollution caused nearly eight million deaths globally in 2023 and cost the world an estimated $8.1 trillion (€7.05 trillion) that year, about six percent of global GDP.
Dr. María Neira, former director at the World Health Organization, explained that pollutants affect every organ in the body and can contribute to cognitive decline and diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and dementia.
Olympic runner Paula Radcliffe experienced headaches, nausea, and vision impairment while running in polluted Beijing, and noted that poor air quality impacts children’s development and learning. Several European cities are taking steps to improve air quality. London reduced deaths linked to polluted air by around 40 percent after implementing its Ultra Low Emission Zone and other clean air policies.
In Sofia, Bulgaria, a class action lawsuit led to a low emission zone restricting traffic and upgrading heating systems, with early signs of decreasing pollution. Despite these successes, challenges remain. Sofia’s low emission zone currently operates for only three months each year, a limitation Ivaylo Hlebarov attributes to political decisions. Bulgaria experiences high rates of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancer, conditions linked to air pollution.
Breathe Cities, a global initiative, is expanding its work to more communities, building on the progress made in cities like London and Sofia, but political will, not technology, remains the biggest hurdle.
