The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has issued a stark warning about the EU's slow progress in tackling air and noise pollution, highlighting the health risks these issues pose and the challenges facing major cities.

In a report released Wednesday, the ECA stated that reaching the tougher air pollution targets set by the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) for 2030 could be a 'long shot' without significant additional efforts.

The report examined cities such as Athens, Kraków, and Barcelona, which are struggling to address pollution due to ineffective enforcement, misuse of EU funds, and local opposition to measures like low-emission zones and green spaces.

'The EU and its member states must realise that ambitious targets cannot be achieved without considerable additional effort,' said Klaus-Heiner Lehne, an ECA member and author of the report.

The Health Toll of Air Pollution
According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), air pollution contributes to approximately three hundred fifty thousand deaths annually in Europe.

Nitrogen dioxide emissions from vehicles remain a major concern, with over ten member states exceeding EU limits in 2022. These emissions are linked to respiratory illnesses such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

While the European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against countries breaching air quality standards, auditors noted that these processes are often slow and ineffective.

Cases in Spain, Greece, and Poland were launched years after initial violations, with half of the one hundred six procedures since the AAQD's adoption already closed.

Pushback Against Urban Solutions
Efforts to reduce urban pollution, such as low-emission zones and green space initiatives, have faced legal and public resistance.

In Barcelona, the 'Superblock' model, designed to improve mental health and air quality, encountered lawsuits over claims of discrimination and restricted movement.

Katarzyna Radecka-Moroz, an environmental auditor, emphasized the need for 'holistic' solutions to prevent pollution displacement to adjacent areas.

Meanwhile, Thomas Lymes of the Eurocities network advocated for integrating low-emission zones with complementary measures like free public transport passes.

Noise Pollution: An Overlooked Threat
Noise pollution, largely caused by road traffic and airports, poses significant health risks, including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and cognitive impairments, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, the ECA noted gaps in strategic noise mapping and reporting across EU member states.

Unlike air quality, noise pollution lacks EU-wide reduction targets, relying instead on member states' action plans.

This lack of mandatory goals has hindered progress.

In Greece, for example, the latest noise pollution data is from 2014, though Athens has recently launched an EU-funded noise-tracking project.

Similarly, Polish authorities in Kraków cited budget constraints as a barrier to fully implementing a noise action plan.

Moving Forward
Advocacy groups like Eurocities are calling for a revision of EU noise legislation to include mandatory reduction targets.

The WHO's Europe branch has also launched a study on the health impacts of environmental noise, but its guidelines have not been updated since 2018.

As cities grapple with financial, legal, and political challenges, the report underscores the urgent need for coordinated and sustained action to meet the EU's environmental goals and protect public health.