VMM launches screening tool for local air quality
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Developing a local air quality plan
Air pollution is the greatest environmental health risk in Europe. It causes serious health problems for humans and has negative effects on our living environment and nature. Across Flanders, there are still many locations with high concentrations or air pollutants, usually due to a local source of pollution such as traffic, industry, agriculture, households, etc.
To address these challenges and bottlenecks, it is crucial that local authorities take initiative. They play a key role in developing and implementing mobility plans, environmental zones, and initiatives to reduce wood burning. To support them, the VMM has developed a step-by-step plan for creating a local air quality policy. This begins with a thorough bottleneck analysis, for which the new screening tool is particularly useful.
Screening local air quality
Understanding local air quality is the first step. With the new screening tool, cities and municipalities can easily identify bottlenecks and policy priorities for pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, soot, and ammonia. This helps determine targeted measures to improve air quality.
The screening tool compiles and visualizes existing air quality data in an accessible way. This allows local authorities to assess where the most significant air quality issues are, which sources contribute to pollution, and what policy priorities they can set. With this information, municipalities and cities can make strategic and targeted decisions to improve local air quality.
The screening tool is currently only available in Dutch and for Flanders. The screening tool was developed within the European LIFE CityTRAQ project.