Health is both a deeply private matter and a subject of great public importance. When asked about the most important thing in their lives, people around the world name their own health and the health of their loved ones. In politics, healthcare is a topic of fierce debate and consumes a large share of public budgets. Yet despite these achievements, we cannot be really satisfied. More than one out of 10 premature deaths in the EU are related to pollution. In addition, many citizens are not able to live full lives as they struggle to cope with pollution-related illnesses such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
