Almere air pollution: is the environmental zone coming?
The idyllic city of Almere is known for its picturesque landscape and modern architecture. But behind this idyllic façade lies a less pleasant truth: the air quality in Almere is far from healthy standards. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the air in Almere contains up to twice as much nitrogen dioxide as is still considered healthy.
Nitrogen dioxide, along with particulate matter and ozone, is known to be harmful and can cause serious health problems, including asthma, lung cancer and strokes in children. Despite these alarming facts, the city of Almere fulfils the current EU standards for these substances, which raises questions about the adequacy of these standards.
The European Union has announced that it will tighten its standards, but even these stricter regulations are still far from the WHO recommendations. Applying the WHO standards, 66 of the 66 districts in Almere were categorised as excessively polluted.
Traffic is the biggest source of air pollution in Almere, accounting for 60 to 65 per cent. In areas with high traffic volumes, the average annual nitrogen dioxide concentration can be compared to passively smoking almost five cigarettes a day. This fact is shocking and shows the urgency of the situation.
In view of these alarming facts, the question arises as to what the city of Almere is doing to improve the situation. There are plans for a more efficient and sustainable transport system. With the 'Mobility Vision Almere 2020-2030', the city wants to improve air quality by reducing traffic. An air monitoring station is also being set up to continuously monitor air quality.
One possible solution for Almere could be the introduction of an environmental zone in which only vehicles with low emissions are allowed to drive. Such a zone could help to reduce the amount of nitrogen dioxide in the air and improve the health of residents. The model for such a zone could be modelled on existing low emission zones in other cities, with clearly defined boundaries and strict rules for vehicles allowed to enter the zone.
The benefits of such a low emission zone are manifold. It would not only improve air quality and thus protect the health of local residents, but could also incentivise the purchase of environmentally friendly vehicles. It could also promote public transport and help the city on its way to a more sustainable future.
More data on air quality in Almere is expected in a fortnight' time. Until then, it is to be hoped that the city will take the necessary measures to protect the health of its inhabitants and combat the alarming air pollution.