Green transition and noise transition - Europe's first Living Lab on traffic noise

Abstract

Around Copenhagen, in the most noise emission plagued areas in Denmark, nine municipalities have joined forces to improve citizens' health and quality of life. Traffic noise is one of the largest environmental problems in our society. In Denmark, over 1.3 million people are estimated to be affected by traffic noise. Silent City works on several levels with political influence, opinion-making, competence development and the establishment of a Living Lab. Since the start in 2015, the partnership has managed to put traffic noise on the agenda, and on that basis implemented several concrete initiatives, including a public consultation at the Danish parliament, preparation of a white paper, targeted press efforts and concrete demonstration projects in a single Living Lab. Together we are stronger, and wiser. When municipalities, companies, citizens, regions, and research institutions work together to reduce traffic noise, promote citizens' quality of life. In the next couple of years, we will use the growing attention on traffic noise and continue to test and develop innovative solutions for combating traffic noise on a 1: 1 scale in natural urban environments.