Brussels, 01/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the Commission launched a public consultation to fuel its new "Clean Air for Europe" campaign, which it is putting together in order to reduce air pollution. To put the final touches to the plan, anticipated for mid-2005, the Commission intends to collect contributions from a wide range of interested parties, as the measures it proposes will have a direct impact on the life of the citizens, and it needs them to get behind it.
Scientific data available on atmospheric pollution justify this new Commission initiative. They reveal, amongst other things, that the poor quality of air reduces each European citizen's life expectancy by around nine months, that levels of low-level ozone (the bad kind) cause 22,000 people to die early every year, that particulate pollution reduces life expectancy by between three and fourteen months, that acid rains threaten 23% of Europe's forests, and excessive concentrations of nitrogen deposition threatens 63% of Europe's ecosystems.
In a press release, Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner for the Environment, states: "The facts about the impact of air pollution on the human organism are disturbing. To react properly, we need to understand more about causes and effects. There are things we can do to improve air quality and we have to start now".
The consultation will close on 31 January 2005, and its results will be published in March. Anyone who would like to take part is invited to fill in a questionnaire available on the Commission's Europa site at the following address:
http: //europa.eu.int/yourvoice/formsdispatch?form=356&lang=EN. The most up-to-date studies on air quality can be found at http: //europa.eu.int/comm/environment/air/café/index.htm).