Abstract
This paper presents the first outcomes of the “FAIRMODE pilot” activity, aiming at improving the way in which air quality models are used in the frame of the European “Air Quality Directive”. Member States may use modelling, combined with measurements, to “assess” current levels of air quality and estimate future air quality under different scenarios. In case of current and potential exceedances of the Directive limit values, it is also requested that they “plan” and implement emission reductions measures to avoid future exceedances. In both “assessment” and “planning”, air quality models can and should be used; but to do so, the used modelling chain has to be fit-for-purpose and properly checked and verified. FAIRMODE has developed in the recent years a suite of methodologies and tools to check if emission inventories, model performance, source apportionment techniques and planning activities are fit-for-purpose. Within the “FAIRMODE pilot”, these tools are used and tested by regional/local authorities, with the two-fold objective of improving management practices at regional/local scale, and providing valuable feedback to the FAIRMODE community. Results and lessons learnt from this activity are presented in this paper, as a showcase that can potentially benefit other authorities in charge of air quality assessment and planning.
Highlights
As stated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Environmental Agency (EEA), air pollution is the biggest environmental risk to health in the European Union (EU), causing more than 400.000 premature death in Europe every year
This paper presents the first outcomes of the “FAIRMODE pilot” activity, aiming at improving the way in which air quality models are used in the frame of the European “Air Quality Directive”
As EU wide benchmarks the emission inventories provided by EMEP (officially reported emissions to the Convention for Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP; http://www.unece. org/env/lrtap/welcome.html), CAMS/MACC and the JRC are included
Summary
As stated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Environmental Agency (EEA), air pollution is the biggest environmental risk to health in the European Union (EU), causing more than 400.000 premature death in Europe every year. From the legislative point of view, the 2004 and 2008 Air Quality Directives (2004/107/EC and 2008/50/EC) regulate air quality in Europe They set standards for concentrations of pollutants in the air, while the 2008 Air Quality Directive requires Member States to assess air quality and design and implement plans in case of exceedances of limit values. To address the issue of the Air Quality Directive compliance, and to support the regional/local authorities in the improvement of their air quality assessment and management practices, the FAIRMODE ‘pilot initiative’ was launched. To provide a live tutorial/training to interested regional/local authorities on harmonized methodologies and tools to be applied to improve their emission inventories, air quality modelling assessment and subsequently their air quality plans preparation; 2. As an illustrative example, we will show how a city or region can apply the proposed FAIRMODE set of tools to benchmark and improve its modelling application
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