Air quality
In 2020 alone, air pollution led to 311,000 premature deaths in the EU’s 27 Member States (EU-27), making this the number one environmental health risk in Europe. The reduction of transport emissions is one of the key objectives of the European Commission which, on 12 May 2021, adopted the Zero Pollution Action Plan, a key component of the European Green Deal. The zero pollution vision for 2050 is for air, water, and soil pollution to be reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to health and natural ecosystems.
A large part of transport-related polluting activities is concentrated in urban areas. Local and regional authorities can therefore play a pivotal role in reducing emissions. Measures that cities and regions can take to curb emissions include the promotion of walking and wheeling, cycling and use of public transport, the development of a sustainable urban mobility strategy and adoption of a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, the implementation of low and zero-emission zones, the transition to less polluting vehicles and investment in charging infrastructure to support the deployment of electric vehicles, and the development of clean procurement practices.
POLIS Working Group on Clean Vehicles and Air Quality
POLIS actively supports its members in the deployment of innovative solutions for a better air quality in urban areas derived from road transport. It does so via a dedicated Working Group on Clean Vehicles and Air Quality, which is currently co-chaired by the City of Amsterdam and the Flanders Region. It meets regularly and allows members to exchange best practices and be updated on the most recent developments concerning air quality standards at the EU level, including the revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives to better align the EU requirements for cleaner air with the most recent WHO guidelines. But to achieve these objectives, cities need enabling conditions and a proper policy framework from the European and National levels.
As the major European network of cities and regions on transport issues, POLIS facilitates the dialogue between its members and industry stakeholders on the measures that are needed to reduce air pollution in urban areas, such as the introduction of Urban Vehicle Access Regulation schemes (UVARs).
Topical read
Joint POLIS/Eurocities report 'Why the new Euro 7 standards are crucial to delivering cleaner air in cities'
In September 2023, POLIS and EUROCITIES, two leading networks of cities and regions for sustainable mobility, launched a joint brief explaining why an ambitious Euro 7 standards were needed to limit road transport-related emissions, improve air quality, and safeguard citizens’ well-being.
Adoption of new EU Ambient Air Quality Rules means good news (and challenges) for cities and regions
POLIS hosts largest cross-cutting Working Group on urban mobility solutions
Madrid’s sustainable mobility at a crossroads, but there is hope
POLIS members feature in IMD Smart City Index
SOLUTIONSplus publishes new policy brief!
POLIS publishes fourth edition of Cities in motion magazine
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POLIS welcomes the European Parliament’s vote for stricter CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles
GREEN-LOG co-creation workshops bring about insights on last-mile logistics
POLIS welcomes new EU deal to strengthen Air Quality standards
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Brussels Low Emission Zone credited with improving local air quality
eCharge4Drivers leaves its mark at the Global Mobility Call!
Digital Twins for Urban Logistics: LEAD Policy Recommendations launched
New study reviewing mitigation measures to reduce tire and road wear particles has been published
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POLIS and EUROCITIES call for strong Euro 7 standards to improve air quality
POLIS welcomes the European Parliament’s vote for stricter air quality standards
SOLUTIONSplus met in Madrid for an exciting study tour!
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Subscribe to ESCALATE’s newsletter!
POLIS publishes second volume of magazine Cities in motion!
SAVE THE DATE for the POLIS x TU/ecomotive event!
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Regions and Air Quality Working Groups head to Gelderland
ICCT publishes new findings Euro 7 benefits for heavy-duty vehicles
Learn about Digital Twins and Urban Logistics in new e-course!
Madrid meets European air quality standards for first time in history
Registrations now open for the Just Transition Webinar series!
Madrid becomes first major European city with a 100% clean bus fleet!
Press release: Introducing LENS, a new Horizon Europe project on noise and air pollution
POLIS unveils its brand-new magazine ‘Cities in motion’!
POLIS and Eurocities comment on Euro 7 proposal: positive steps, with much room for improvement
European Commission adopts the Zero Pollution Package
POLIS calls on COP27 to take decisive action and listen to cities
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EC acknowledges cities and regions efforts for a more ambitious EURO 7 without delay
Joint call for Euro 7 air quality standards without delay
Registration for the Annual POLIS Conference 2022 is now open!
All hands on deck at POLIS’ Glasgow Leadership Summit!
POLIS advocates for ambitious EURO 7 standard
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Registrations for Urban Mobility Days 2022 are now open
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SURF Final Report gives insights on sustainable urban freight
POLIS calls on EP to push for more ambitious CO2 targets
Join the event “E-bus deployment worldwide: an exchange with SOLUTIONSPlus experts”
POLIS and Eurocities subscribe letter to European Commission about EURO 7/VII
Join us in Brussels to discuss sustainable mobility solutions for a greener Mediterranean
Save the date for the Urban Mobility Days 2022!
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POLIS calls for tighter van CO2 limits in order to drive electrification
Brussels and Paris to establish largely car-free city centres
SAVE THE DATE for the Annual POLIS Conference 2022
Join the SOLUTIONSplus e-course on the Electrification of buses and integration in cities’ public transport systems and our kick-off webinar!
Tempo 30 project in Berlin leads to better air quality
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Open letter: Global coalition calls on governments at COP26 to boost cycling levels to reduce carbon emissions and reach climate goals quickly and effectively
Improving air quality now: it’s Europe’s time to act!
Fit for 55 package: What does it mean for local and regional authorities?
Public transport in Barcelona generates 2.4 bn per year, study shows
Brussels will phase-out diesel cars by 2030 and fuel vehicles by 2035
Amsterdam leads the way: integrated planning for charging infrastructure done right
The European City Air Quality viewer: a reminder of the road ahead
Promoting soft mobility in the Mediterranean: Policy Brief now available!
May’s Working Group meetings: It’s always sunny in sustainability
Flanders’ pioneering “green sensors” show vehicle emission worse than expected
Electrifying the Curb: POLIS discusses the future of EV charging
Clean Vehicles & Air Quality Working Group talk hydrogen!
April’s Working Group meetings: A spring in our step
Clean Vehicles and Air Quality Working Group joins BEUC and EPHA for collaborative webinar
POLIS members in action at AUTONOMY Digital 2.0
Brussels to extend bike parking network by 2030
Impacts of transport-related policy measures on air quality
POLIS launches SURF, a new project on Sustainable URban Freight
Air pollution hot spots revealed
European Commission launches survey to improve air quality monitoring
A neighbourhood in Budapest co-creates mobility solutions with its citizens
Amsterdam rolls out electric charging strategy
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POLIS and IRU pledge to enhance collective mobility in cities
Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators (SUMI) are now available
Brussels measures vehicle pollution in real time
POLIS call for new approach to post-Euro 6 vehicle emission standards
Barcelona tackles traffic around school districts
ITDP Tool provides Global Analysis of Walkability
Brussels relies on cargo bikes to improve air quality
Webinar recording available: latest developments of the European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO)
Dynaxibility4CE brings sustainable urban mobility to Eastern Central Europe
Post-Lockdown Mobility webinar report: Air pollution and COVID-19
EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK 2020 – Registration now open!
Contribute to the CoR opinion on the future of EU clean air policy
How to plan cargo bikes hubs for urban logistics?
Pollution plummets in Italy as COVID19 brings travel to standstill
TfL launches London FreightLab to innovate for freight and servicing
Polis leads COP25 workshop on the role of cities in combatting climate change
Scaling up the mass market for zero-emission freight vehicles
Polis supports call for clean trucks and vans sales targets
Baden-Württemberg: The LEZ of Stuttgart delivers good results
BuyZET cities publish Procurement Plans for zero-emission deliveries
Fleet owners worldwide call for more than a 100,000 zero emission freight vehicles, and counting!
Remote sensing of vehicle emissions is happening in Flanders
When London boroughs get inspired by Dutch cities
Interreg Europe peer review service is open until June 28
INTERREG Europe: Open call for peer reviews
10 YEARS OF ELENA – supporting investments in energy efficiency and sustainable transport
BuyZET final event: cities presenting they procurement strategies for zero emission transport
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AQUISS produces a simple and reliable 24-hour forecast of air quality for cities and urban agglomerations
NACTO Shared-Micromobility in 2018 Report is now available!
Join the Green Week partner event: Urban Vehicle Restrictions – How to achieve stakeholder support?
The eHUBS project kicks off
eHUBS, a project for shared electric mobility, is finally in the making
Milan launches Area B, Italy’s largest Low-Emission Zone
Cities discuss how to make urban transport “Zero-emission”
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Register now! BuyZET Final event, 14 May 2019
Upcoming Polis Working Group meetings in 2019
Call to join next round of SUMP Learning Programme extended to 31st January
European local and regional authorities urge the upcoming Romanian presidency of the EU to reach final agreement on the Revision of the Clean Vehicles Directive
Polis represents the EU-funded CIVITAS initiative at Transport Day 2018
Spanish capital city of Madrid is set to launch “Madrid Central”, new Low Emission Zone
European cities and logistics industry kick off strategic dialogue on urban freight solutions
Gothenburg wins Thinking Cities Award
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Polis WG on clean vehicles & air quality: Hydrogen discussed in Paris
Join the Transport Day 2018 at the COP24 in Katowice!
New World Health Organisation report: Air pollution and child health
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Draft programme of 2018 Polis Conference released
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EU Urban Freight Projects Find Common Ground
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Megacities institute launches a survey about urban air pollution
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Join the ClairCity Project Annual Conference – 25 April 2018
European cities and automobile manufacturers kick off dialogue on Urban Vehicle Access Regulations
Polis joins forces with other organisations on the type-approval directive
Paris leads the way to combat air pollution and launches GUAPO: Global Urban Air Pollution Observatory
New Health economic assessment tool (HEAT) for walking and cycling released!
Free webinar on the Health economic assessment tool (HEAT) for walking and cycling, 06 November 2017
The 2017 air quality report from the EEA is released and first Clean Air Forum to take place in Paris
Remote sensing: towards a more accurate analysis of traffic emissions
New Diesel testing Requirements for vehicles go into force as of 1st of September 2017
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Polis working group meeting on health and transport, 18-19 October 2017 in Paris
Polis member Brussels launches “BikeForBrussels”
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Polis member Leuven wins the European Green Leaf award for 2018
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“Save Lives – #SlowDown” is the campaign name of this week’s UN Global Road Safety Week
OddEven.com: the non-profit research and information portal on the global Odd-Even traffic restriction phenomenon
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