Poor air quality is still a major health hazard in Europe. Noise pollution is a growing problem that seems difficult to tackle. We continue to produce and consume large amounts of chemicals, some of which harm the environment or our health. And the consequences of climate change are becoming more and more severe, causing water scarcity, heat waves, large forest fires and floods. These hazards disproportionately hit the most vulnerable people in our societies, including children, the elderly and people with little money or ill health.
The European Green Deal and its zero pollution agenda set ambitious goals to safeguard nature, the climate and people’s health. Reducing and preventing pollution improves quality of life and prevents illness. Some would argue that this is too costly. But it is done to protect ecosystems that our societies depend on and to protect our own health. Both in the case of ecosystem health and people’s health, it is far cheaper and much more effective to prevent damage than to repair it. It is simply a good investment for the future – and something that the polluters should pay for.
