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On 5 May, the Danish Parliament officially approved a new law, allowing the country’s 98 municipalities to ban the use of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces produced before June 2008 in areas with district heating or natural gas. In doing so, the government hopes to significantly reduce air pollution and decrease the number of deaths caused by it.

"L’Eurométropole de Strasbourg se doit d’être un territoire exemplaire en matière de réduction de la pollution de l’air", complète François Schaetzel, vice-présidente. Qui rappelle qu’environ 500 décès prématurés sont déplorés chaque année en raison de la mauvaise qualité de l’air, sans compter les maladies chroniques qui impactent principalement les enfants.

The survival of gasoline- and diesel-powered cars is dividing the EU.
On Wednesday, a nine-country coalition led by the Netherlands and Denmark called on the European Commission to decide on a phaseout date for the internal combustion engine as part of efforts to curb emissions and put the bloc on track to meet its climate targets. Austria, Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Malta also signed up.

Some 52,000 premature deaths could be prevented each year if cities met recommended levels on air pollutants, study shows

The air in Skopje, North Macedonia, is one of the most polluted in the world because of the city’s natural position and people's reliance on fossil fuels. However, over recent years, many citizens have started demonstrating against this plague, pushing policymakers to follow their new will

Face aux grands enjeux que représentent la lutte contre la pollution, l’adaptation au changement climatique ainsi que la résolution des crises sanitaire et économique, Emmanuel Grégoire, Premier adjoint à la maire de Paris chargé de l’urbanisme et du Grand Paris, en appelle à l’accélération de la prise en charge de ces défis à l’échelle du Grand Paris.

The Belgian government is expected to release an exit strategy tomorrow for its lockdown, which began six weeks ago. The big question is what life will look like once people emerge from their homes. For residents of central Brussels, life may be a lot quieter, and the air may be a lot cleaner.
To facilitate social distancing, the city will give priority to pedestrians and cyclists within the city’s ring road, the heart of the city known as the ‘pentagon’.

The global coronavirus pandemic continues to unfold at a staggering pace, decimating lives, livelihoods and the normal functioning of society, as well as interrupting energy demand and CO2 emissions.

Dublin could see more of its road space allocated to walking, cycling and public transport as part of its pledge to improve air quality in the city.
On 17 February  2020, Dublin became the first Irish city to sign a commitment to meet World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guideline values by 2030.
In a joint pledge, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin and the mayors/cathaoirligh of the other three Dublin local authorities signed up to the BreatheLife campaign.
By signing up to the campaign, Dublin will be joining 76 cities, regions and countries around the globe in demonstrating a commitment to bring air quality to safe levels by 2030 and collaborating on clean air solutions.

Britain’s biggest city has almost ground to a halt, thanks to the rise of Uber, delivery drivers – and cycle lanes. Can anything be done to end the gridlock and pollution?

La métropole veut restreindre la circulation autour du Vieux-Port aux seuls résidents. Ce chantier de 7 milliards d'euros a démarré par la piétonnisation partielle de la Canebière.

Barcelona could cut deaths from air pollution and improve quality of life by implementing in full a plan to calm traffic and free up space for residents, researchers said on Monday.
The compact Spanish city is home to more than 1.6 million people and is plagued by contaminants and noise largely due to heavy density of traffic, as well as lacking greenery.
A study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), published in the journal Environment International, found the city of Barcelona could prevent 667 premature deaths every year if it created 503 "superblocks" as first proposed.

An assessment report on the effectiveness of Low Emission Zones between 2018 and 2020 found a sustained and significant reduction in emissions in the city
On Monday, the environment and energy administration in the Brussels-Capital region published the results of an assessment report on the effects of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) on the city’s air quality and the types of vehicles citizens prefer to operate.
Researchers link the zones to sustained improvements in the air quality, especially when it comes to pollutants like nitrogen, soot and fine dust particles, detrimental to physical and mental health. Furthermore, the zones prove an effective tool for reshaping the car habits of private citizens, promoting the usage of more efficient vehicles.

The upcoming review of the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) transport policy provides an opportunity to shift public spending away from high-carbon and polluting projects to more sustainable transport modes such as trains, public transport, and cycling, writes Clara Bourgin.

An analysis published today by Counter Balance examines EIB transport investments and proposes a real change of course.

What are Clean Air Zones and where are they happening?

Citizens of Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, which is regularly included in the list of the cities with the most polluted air in the world, are currently breathing air that is less polluted than in the previous years, according to state authorities. They say the outcome can be seen as a result of dedicated measures to reduce air pollution.

The city has published its 10-year plan for the greening of the city, prioritising pedestrians, residents and other street users over cars. At the heart of its radical public space policy are so-called “superblocks”.
The superblock scheme groups together nine city blocks and closes them to through traffic with plant pots and benches, introduces cycle lanes, play areas and green spaces, and eliminates most parking spaces. While cars aren’t banned, the superblocks are car-unfriendly.

Such a move would allow not only for social distancing to be respected but could also lead to a complete makeover of the Athens city centre. By turning towards pedestrianization, the city will not only become healthier and more active but would also significantly reduce its environmental footprint.

Milan is to introduce one of Europe’s most ambitious schemes reallocating street space from cars to cycling and walking, in response to the coronavirus crisis.
The northern Italian city and surrounding Lombardy region are among Europe’s most polluted, and have also been especially hard hit by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Under the nationwide lockdown, motor traffic congestion has dropped by 30-75%, and air pollution with it. City officials hope to fend off a resurgence in car use as residents return to work looking to avoid busy public transport.
The city has announced that 35km (22 miles) of streets will be transformed over the summer, with a rapid, experimental citywide expansion of cycling and walking space to protect residents as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Heating’s huge impact on the EU’s air quality and greenhouse gas emissions needs new focus and attention, according to policymakers and activists gathered in Bratislava on Thursday (28 November).