Unequal exposure and unequal impacts: social vulnerability to air pollution, noise and extreme temperatures in Europe

Aleksandra Kazmierczak, European Environment Agency

Key messages

Disadvantaged and vulnerable groups tend to be the worst affected by

environmental hazards.

Stark regional differences occur across Europe in both socio-economic

conditions and environmental quality.

EU policy acknowledges the need to protect the exposure of vulnerable

groups – to an extent.

Addressing both social and environmental inequalities requires

recognition in policy across governance levels.

Disadvantaged and vulnerable people are affected the most

Source: EEA, 2019

Source: EEA, 2019

Disadvantaged and vulnerable people are affected the most

Mixed SES

Source: EEA, 2019

Air pollution

Regions with lower GDP per

capita tend to have higher

average concentrations of

PM2.5 and PM10

Regional differences in vulnerability and exposure across Europe

Source: EEA, 2019

Air pollution

Wealthier regions tend to

have higher average

concentrations of NO2

But within those regions

poorer areas are more

exposed

Regional differences in vulnerability and exposure across Europe

Regional differences in vulnerability and exposure across Europe

Source: EEA, 2019

Extreme temperatures

High temperatures coincide

with regions of high

unemployment and high

proportion of the elderly

Proportion of the population living in a dwelling not

comfortably cool during summer (2012) varies

among countries and income levels

Regional differences in vulnerability and exposure across Europe

Source: EEA, 2019 based on Eurostat, 2016

Policy Focus on vulnerable groups

7th EAP (2013)

• Need for action in areas (e.g. cities) where particularly sensitive or

vulnerable groups of society are exposed to pollution.

• Transition to an inclusive green economy requires giving proper

consideration to the interplay between socioeconomic and

environmental factors.

EU Strategy on Adaptation to

Climate Change (2013)

• Climate change impacts are expected to widen social differences

• Attention to social groups and regions which are most exposed and

already disadvantaged through poor health, low income, inadequate

housing, lack of mobility

Air Quality Directive (2008)• Refers to sensitive population groups, including children and older

people

Environmental Noise Directive

(2002)

• Specific dose-effect relations for vulnerable groups

• Assessment of the number of schools and hospitals exposed to certain

noise levels

Commission reflection paper –

towards a sustainable Europe by

2030 (2019 )

• Ensuring a socially fair transition

EU policy acknowledges the need to protect vulnerable groups

However, action is needed to target persistent inequalities

• Opportunity areas include:

– Improved data and reporting

– Enhanced policy coherence

– Review of key policies (EU adaptation strategy)

• Importance of cross-cutting measures

Thank you

For more information contact:

aleksandra.kazmierczak@eea.europa.eu