- Polish cities are among the most polluted in Europe
- Thousands of deaths could be avoided
- Spanish cities have found ways to fight pollution
Polish cities' problems with air pollution are well known. A report by researchers from the Medical University of Bialystok highlights the harmful effects of air pollution on people's health, from asthma and cardiovascular disease to cancer.
The researchers calculated that if air pollution levels were reduced to WHO standards, 25 000 deaths could have been avoided over the past 10 years in eastern Poland alone.
Urgent need for action
Immediate action is needed, especially in cities, as no Polish city meets the WHO criteria for air quality. Traffic, which accounts for 25% of urban air pollution, is one of the key causes of the problem. This is becoming an increasingly important topic for local authorities, not only for environmental reasons, but also for public health reasons.
"The main source of particulate pollution in cities is motorised traffic," explains Maciej Zezyk, Sales Director at Kapsch TrafficCom. "Braking and tyre wear play a particularly important role here, so simply switching to electric vehicles is not the ultimate solution. It is about reducing the traffic load and better distributing the overall demand for mobility."
Learning from Spain's success
There are a number of technologies that have proven their effectiveness in reducing pollution in cities, and Spain is one of the pioneers in this field. Following the introduction of new emissions legislation in 2021, more and more Spanish cities are using Clean Air Zone (CAZ) solutions to improve air quality. Kapsch TrafficCom is currently supporting six cities to implement these solutions, enabling them to meet EU targets and access EU funds. More than three and a half million people benefit from these projects. The results are: less traffic congestion, better air and an overall higher quality of life.
Clean air zones are also bringing benefits in other European cities. In London, for example, CO2 pollution was reduced by 20 per cent, while in Milan a similar measure resulted in an 18 per cent drop in particulate matter.
Data as a key element
In Seville, Spain, traffic management is based on artificial intelligence and the intelligent use of data. Practical solutions such as real-time parking information, dynamic traffic control to avoid congestion or demand-based public transport management during major events are becoming a reality there thanks to advanced traffic management systems.
"It is crucial that cities implement these solutions thoughtfully and responsibly. Spanish cities have decades of experience in technology-based traffic management and are now taking the next step towards data-driven traffic management," explains Maciej Zezyk. "Powerful tools are available to improve air quality and reduce congestion. The impact of these systems is clear they benefit the community, the environment and public health."
More information:Press Kapsch TrafficCom
Kapsch TrafficCom is a globally renowned provider of transportation solutions for sustainable mobility with successful projects in more than 50 countries. Innovative solutions in the application fields of tolling, tolling services, traffic management and demand management contribute to a healthy world without congestion.
With one-stop-shop solutions, the company covers the entire value chain of customers, from components to design and implementation to the operation of systems.
Kapsch TrafficCom, headquartered in Vienna, has subsidiaries and branches in more than 25 countries and is listed in the Prime Market segment of the Vienna Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: KTCG). In its 2023/24 financial year, about 4,000 employees generated revenues of EUR 539 million.
Further information: www.kapsch.net
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Contacts:
Carolin Treichl
Executive Vice President Marketing Communications
Kapsch TrafficCom AG
Am Europlatz 2, 1120 Vienna, Austria
P +43 50 811 1710
carolin.treichl@kapsch.net
Sandra Bijelic
Head of Corporate Communications
Kapsch TrafficCom AG
Am Europlatz 2, 1120 Vienna, Austria
P +43 664 628 1720
sandra.bijelic@kapsch.net
