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Environment
  • Conferences and summits

Third EU Clean Air Forum (2021)

On 18 and 19 November 2021, the third EU Clean Air Forum took place in Madrid (Spain).

According to the latest findings of the European Environment Agency, more than 360,000 people died prematurely due to exposure to various sources of air pollution in the EU in 2019. This marks a decrease since the year 2005, and shows that clean air policies can deliver successes. Still, more than half of these deaths could have been avoided if EU Member States had reached the WHO’s new air quality guideline level of 5 µg/m3.

  • environmental protection | air pollution | air quality policy
  • Thursday 18 November 2021, 09:00 - Friday 19 November 2021, 13:00 (CET)
  • Madrid, Spain

Practical information

When
Thursday 18 November 2021, 09:00 - Friday 19 November 2021, 13:00 (CET)
Where
Auditorium Reina Sofia Museum
Madrid, Spain
Languages
English, Spanish

Description

Opening the Forum Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President responsible for the European Green Deal, said:

Air pollution is still the first environmental cause of premature death in Europe and in the world. It leaves the most vulnerable, those who cannot move away when air pollution spikes, at particularly high risk. The good news is that in most cases, climate action also helps to reduce air pollution. Vice versa, acting for clean air will help to speed up climate action.

Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, who participated in the Forum said: 

Over the past decades, EU Clean Air Policy has achieved some successes, but we need to do more to reach our zero-pollution ambition and provide EU citizens with clean air. The third EU Clean Air Forum offers an opportunity to discuss what and how with policymakers at the national, local and international level, as well as leading scientists in the field.

The Third EU Clean Air Forum addressed six topics in more detail (1) zero pollution: air quality & health; (2) engagement with cities and citizens; (3) linking clean air, climate and recovery; (4) air pollution, climate change and biodiversity; (5) access to justice and a right to clean air; and (6) air quality: revision of EU rules.

Brochure (including agenda) - EU Clean Air Forum 2021

List and biographies of speakers

Summary report - EU Clean Air Forum 2021 (EN and ES)

Recordings - EU Clean Air Forum 2021:

  • Opening and keynote speeches (30 minutes) (EN / ES)
  • Session 1: Zero pollution: air quality & health (75 minutes) (EN / ES)
  • Clean air and modern society (15 minutes) (EN / ES)
  • The European Air Quality Index (15 minutes) (EN / ES)
  • Session 2: Engagement with cities and citizens (75 minutes) (EN / ES)
  • Session 3: Linking clean air, climate and recovery (30 minutes) (EN / ES)
  • Session 4: Air pollution, climate change and biodiversity (60 minutes) (EN / ES)
  • Cultural performance (EN /ES)
  • Day 2 Keynote speeches (30 minutes) (EN / ES)
  • Session 5: Access to justice and a right to clean air? (90 minutes) (EN /ES)
  • Session 6: Air Quality: Revision of EU Rules (60 minutes) (EN / ES)

Check the discussion on Twitter using #CleanAirEU

Clean air forum
Clean Air Forum

Contacts

General contact

ENV Air Unit

Name
ENV Air Unit
Email
ENV-AIRatec [dot] europa [dot] eu