Copenhagen wishes to increase knowledge about air quality
Yesterday, the Copenhagen City Council almost unanimously decided to adopt a proposal to increase the measurements of the city's air quality in addition to state standards. This will increase data usage so as to increase citizens' knowledge and having a better chance of dealing with pollution.
The content of the proposal
- An annual survey of the health consequences of air pollution in Copenhagen. This happens through cooperation between Health and Care Administration and Technical and Environmental Administration.
- Air pollution data must be available to the citizens of Copenhagen through a municipal website, with real-time measurements of NO2 particle gauges.
- The gauges must fulfil the air quality directive criteria for NO2 measurement and will be placed along H.C. Andersens Boulevard and other specially selected locations in Copenhagen, where pollution from (diesel) cars and other sources of pollution is considered to be particularly high and health harmful.
However, this requires that funds be allocated to this in the budget for 2019, so both the Technical and Environmental Administration and Health and Care Administration? will have to prepare budget notes.
Summary of the proposal can be read on www.kk.dk (in Danish)
Background for the proposal can be read in an artikel on www.dr.dk (in Danish)
How do other cities work with air pollution?
There are a number of examples from other cities working with air pollution data and how they publish them so that particularly interested and vulnerable groups can act based on the measurements. Below are a number of examples:
- Prohibition of diesel cars on days when weather forecasts show that there is a risk of increased air quality deterioration (Oslo, Norway and Düsseldorf / Stuttgart, Germany).
- Real-time air data publishing on an app so citizens can follow developments and avoid areas where the air quality is poor (Louisville Kentucky, USA and Santander, Spain).
- Citzens are encouraged to measure air quality that help raise awareness about the subject (Santander, Spain and Amsterdam, The Netherlands).
- Use of air quality data in connection with traffic data for model optimization of traffic systems (Rotterdam, The Netherlands).
- Air quality management in connection with new buildings and urban renewal projects (proposals presented in London, England).