Tackling climate change delivers better air quality for Europe

Tackling climate change will improve Europe's air quality, cut premature deaths and could save 12 billion EUR annually in air pollution control costs by 2030, a new EEA report says. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, by burning smaller amounts of fossil fuels, will mean less air pollution. As a result the cost of tackling air pollution will be cut significantly.

The upcoming report, 'Air quality and ancillary benefits from climate change policies' states that stringent EU climate change policies (aimed at limiting temperature rise to 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2030) will offer extra or 'ancillary' benefits. Not only will tougher climate change policies help clean up Europe's air quality, they will also reduce the annual number of premature deaths caused by air pollution. The report acknowledges that specific air pollution policy will still be needed.

See report:
EEA Technical report 4/2006 - Air quality and ancillary benefits of climate change policies

See briefing:
EEA Briefing 2/2006 - Air quality and ancillary benefits of climate change policies