Description
Under the project, a comprehensive evaluation of the access of citizens to information on air pollution and its health effects will be performed. The project covers 4 regions with the poorest quality of air: Małopolska, Górny Śląsk, Dolny Śląsk and Łódzkie. The project includes quantitative surveys among local inhabitants, analysis of informational activities of authorities on the quality of air, and a review of good practices. We will identify barriers in informing citizens on the quality of air. We will develop standards of information on the quality of air for big and small localities, to be presented to the Ministry of Environment for recommending. The project will be implemented in partnership with the Association Eko-Unia. The partner will support the applicant in implementation of the project in Górny Śląsk and Dolny Śląsk. The long-term objective of the project is to guarantee general access to information on the quality of air.
Summary of project results
Poland has the most polluted air of all the EU countries. This leads to 43 000 premature deaths a year. Breathing heavily polluted air increases the risk of serious diseases. Unfortunately, public awareness of the problem is low. The objective of the project was to identify obstacles for proliferation of information about air pollution, and to develop recommendations on improving access to such information. The project was implemented in the regions where air pollution is the highest in Poland. The project led to new, improved systems of informing citizens about air pollution (provided by the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Region and the Kraków Magistrate). In January 2016 Sejmik of Małopolska Voivodeship passed the antismog resolution. Cooperation was established with institutions responsible for providing information about air quality. The media, noticed the need to inform about the problem. The project included informative actions in the communities where air monitoring stations are located. An analysis was conducted of the activity of regional and district emergency management centres, marshal’s offices, regional inspectorates of environmental protection, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Health. On the basis of a survey of 1000 residents, the report “What do we know about smog?” was prepared, describing ways of informing about air pollution and the recommended changes. The report (along with its abridged version) was presented during a seminar attended by representatives of the institutions responsible for information about air pollution. It was also delivered to all the interested parties. An appeal to public media was issued, asking them to proliferate information about air quality. A brochure “Iron lungs” (informing about the differences in informing and alarming about the level of PM10 in Poland and other EU countries) was distributed. The beneficiaries of the actions were the marshal’s offices, emergency management centres, communities, and inspectorates of environmental protection in the regions of Małopolska, Silesia, Lower Silesia and Łódź, as well as residents of Poland. The project’s partner assisted with implementation and promotion of the project in Upper and Lower Silesia.
Summary of bilateral results