LIFE CityTRAQ: together for better local air quality
In the LIFE CityTRAQ project, we are working together with 5 partners on data from traffic monitoring and air quality measurements.
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CityTRAQ: what and why?
According to the WHO, air pollution is the biggest environmental health risk in Europe. Air quality limits are often exceeded, exposing a large portion of the population to air pollution. Several initiatives to measure air quality already exist in Europe and Flanders, often with different approaches or methodologies. As a result, policy-makers face the challenge of aligning these different datasets to inform science-based air and mobility policies.
Purpose of the project
The project aims to give local authorities a better understanding of what measurements they need to assess air quality. This is done through the development of:
- Screening tool: policy-makers can identify locations with poor air quality (hotspots).
- Scenario tool: a local government can calculate the impact of certain measures (e.g. a car-free street) on air quality.
The screening and scenario tools will help local governments develop measures that help improve local air quality to create a better living environment for residents. Local governments will be encouraged to shape their policy choices in an air policy plan.
Pilot projects
The participating cities (Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges) are putting this into practice and are exploring ways to strengthen local air quality policies throughout Flanders. Dutch and Croatian partners are involved as well. They provide help in finding the most appropriate solutions and demonstrate that our approach can work elsewhere in Europe too.
The pilot projects work at different levels of the policy cycle.
- Antwerp: freight route network & emission-free city logistics
- Bruges: evolution of air quality throughout the city
- Ghent: school street and evaluation of circulation plans
- Zagreb: air quality projects are being launched and lessons learned from previous pilot projects in Flanders are being incorporated
For further information on the Flemish pilot projects, please see www.life-citytraq.eu/en/
CityTRAQ in Europe
LIFE CityTRAQ is being carried out on behalf of the European Commission within the LIFE programme led by the VMM.
- Belgium
- Flanders Environment Agency
- City of Antwerp
- City of Bruges
- City of Ghent
- The Netherlands
- Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM)
- Croatia
- Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service
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