Brussels Meeting on Air Pollution and Health: Taking stock of the proposed revision to the Ambient Air Quality Directive.

Chairs of the workshop: Zorana J Andersen and Barbara Hoffmann, European Respiratory Society (ERS), Hanna Boogaard, Health Effects Institute (HEI) and International Society of Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) Europe.
    
Opening address - Virginijus Sinkevicius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries (video address)
Opening address - Maria Neira, WHO Geneva (video address)
Opening address - Javi Lopez, EU Parliament, Rapporteur for the AAQD (video address)

Chairs: Michal Krzyzanowski (Imperial College London) and Ebba Malmqvist (Lund University)

The session gives an overview of the recently proposed revisions of the EU AAQD, and other concurrent European air quality and climate actions, against the backdrop of the European Green Deal. The proposal will set new limit values that are aligned more closely with the 2021 WHO Air Quality Guidelines, and is currently considered by the European Parliament and the Council. The session also gives overview of the latest data on air pollution levels, estimates of related health buden in Europe, and prospects for 2030 and beyond.

Chairs: Hanna Boogaard (HEI and ISEE) and Klea Katsouyanni (Imperial College London) 

The session will review the latest science on ambient air pollution and health from Europe and beyond as a essential reference for evaluating the proposed AAQD. It will present findings from recent key studies on air pollution and an array of adverse health effects including asthma, cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, and dementia. Those studies report associations with health effects at levels below current and proposed EU limit values, pointing to the need for even more ambitious standards. 

Moderator: Margherita Tolotto, European Environmental Bureau (EEB)

Panel: Francesco Forastiere, Imperial College London; Paul Dendale, European Society of Cardiology (ESC); Richard Price, European Cancer Organization (ECO); Ole Bakke, Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME); Sibylle Reichert, International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM).

Chairs: Gerard Hoek (Utrecht University) and Göran Pershagen (Karolinska Institutet).

The session will present findings regarding the health effects of pollutants of “emerging concern” including ultrafine particles and “natural” source contributions, such as wildfires, which are only expected to increase due to climate change. It will explore additional policy options and discuss how citizen science may contribute to clean air. 

Chairs: Evi Samoli (University of Athens) and Iana Markevych (Jagiellonian University).

This session discusses actions at national and local level towards meeting the current and proposed limit values, and beyond. The session will discuss experiences, obstacles and opportunities towards clean air in Europe. Cities in particular are at the forefront of innovation and transformation, leading the way for bold climate and air quality action towards a more sustainable future. 

Moderator: Mark Nieuwenhuijsen (ISGlobal and ISEE)

Panel: Francois Wakenhut or Thomas Henrichs, European Commission, Directorate General Environment; Jason Sacks (US Environmental Protection Agency; Alex Simidchiev (Bulgarian National Assembly (Parliament); Kjeld Hansen (European Lung Foundation); Thomas Lymes (Eurocities); Anne Stauffer (Health and Environment Alliance); Jacob Hagberg (Swedish Presidency)