• The BreatheLife campaign was presented on Monday as part of the Climate Change Conference held in the German city ofBonn

• This initiative will complement the actions being carried out by the Catalan government to improve air quality and provide status updates, primarily in the metropolitan area ofBarcelona

• The traffic restrictions in Barcelona and 39 surrounding municipalities subject to high pollution levels will enter into force next month whenever an air pollution episode isdeclared

On Monday, as part of the Climate Change Conference (COP 23) held in Bonn, Germany, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Ibrahim Thiaw presented a list of the first supporters, among which is Catalonia, of BreatheLife, a worldwide campaign to improve air quality. This is a joint

campaign run by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) that aims to mobilize cities and residents in order to protect people’s health and the planet from the effects of air pollution. The goal is to cut the number of pollution-related deaths in half by 2030.

Other regions that have joined the campaign include members of the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development (nrg4SD), which includes, in addition to Catalonia, the Basque Country, Lombardy, Jalisco, Azuay, Campeche, Chaco, Gossas and Plateau. The signatory states and regions have undertaken to join forces to tackle this issue on a global level, and to exchange experiences and good practices.

Ongoing International Presence

Since 2011, Catalonia has been part of the AIR-Quality Initiative of Regions, which consists of 13 regions in seven EU member countries that represent 22% of GDP and 18% of the population (about 88 million inhabitants). The network includes many of the most densely populated and industrialized areas of seven countries, including Milan, Turin, Bologna, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Cologne, London and Barcelona. These members share a common concern for air pollution and aim to influence European air-quality improvement policies. Like other regions, they are still struggling to achieve some of the value limits set out in the European Air Quality Directive, despite their efforts thus far.

Pollution in Urban Centres

In Catalonia, the levels of the majority of pollutants evaluated meet the objectives, as they are far below the maximum levels permitted. However, two pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter, exceed the legislated limits, primarily in the metropolitan area of Barcelona. This phenomenon is linked to large built-up industrial areas and is largely due to emissions from the land-based passenger and goods transport. In the case of the metropolitan area of Barcelona, other factors are also involved, such as emissions generated by the port and airport, and the industrial activities related to power generation and cement, steel and glass manufacturing. The Catalan government therefore launched the Horizon 2020 Action Plan for the Improvement of Air Quality, which sets out a series of measures aimed at reducing emissions from different origins.

In the case of land-based transport, the main actions consist of improving the conditions of urban mobility, promoting more rational mobility and encouraging the use of public transport and clean mobility. When high air pollution levels are expected to persist, the Catalan government declares an air pollution episode. This automatically triggers a series of measures to reduce emissions.

Traffic Restrictions and Increased Public Transport

As of 1 December 2017, as part of the Agreement for Air Quality Improvement in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona signed in March, whenever an air pollution episode is declared due to high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), traffic restrictions will come into force in the city of Barcelona and 39 surrounding municipalities subject to high pollution levels. During these periods, traffic will be restricted for vans registered

before 1 October 1994 and cars registered before 1 September 1997 on roads under the Catalan government’s authority. In such situations, public transport service will be increased to provide maximum operational capacity.

Whenever the Catalan government declares an air pollution episode due to high nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona and the local authorities will activate traffic restrictions in the low emissions zone in Barcelona’s ring road area, where cars without an environmental badge from the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) will not be allowed to drive. Exceptions will include emergency service vehicles, vehicles for people with reduced mobility and vehicles providing essential services. Temporary exceptions will also be in place between winter of 2017 and spring of 2018 for Euro 1, Euro 2 and Euro 3 motorcycles, trucks, coaches, buses and vans.

These restrictions will remain in force between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., from Monday to Friday, starting on the day the episode is declared and ending when the episode is over, and are set to become permanent after January 2019.