Greta Jimenez
Cities are major contributors to air pollution, with over 80% of people in urban areas exposed to air pollution levels that exceed the World Health Organization's guidelines. As air pollution is a silent killer, claiming 13 lives per minute, cities worldwide are taking action to reduce it. From London's Ultra Low Emission Zone to Bogota's air quality microsensors, cities are implementing innovative strategies to improve air quality and protect the health and well-being of their residents. These initiatives range from restricting vehicle access and electrifying public transport to creating green spaces and urban gardens. With global coalitions like the C40 Clean Air Accelerator, cities are collaborating to tackle air pollution and create healthier, more sustainable urban environments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Joining coalitions | C40 Clean Air Accelerator, Green and Healthy Streets Accelerator |
| Monitoring air quality | Bogotá's air quality microsensors, Quezon City's non-reference sensors |
| Reducing vehicle emissions | London's Ultra Low Emission Zone, electrification of public bus fleets |
| Restricting polluting vehicles | |
| Electrifying mass transit | Electric buses in Bengaluru and Delhi |
| Phasing out fossil fuels | Warsaw's ban on burning coal, emissions standards for boilers in Seoul and Washington D.C. |
| Nature-based solutions | Green spaces, urban gardens, green walls, vegetation cover |
| Photocatalytic paint | 25% reduction in NO, 23% in NOx, 19% in NO2 |
| Public awareness campaigns | London's visual campaigns |
| Smart traffic management | Adaptive traffic signal system in Taipei |
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What You'll Learn
Restricting vehicle access
One example of this is the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London, which prohibits vehicles that do not meet certain emission standards from entering specific zones in the city. If these vehicles do enter the ULEZ, they must pay a daily charge. This has been successful in significantly decreasing the number of older, more polluting vehicles in the city and reducing air pollution exposure levels. Since its implementation, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in central London have decreased by almost 50% compared to a scenario without the ULEZ.
Another way to restrict vehicle access and reduce pollution is through the electrification of public transport. Cities like Delhi and Seoul are working to electrify a significant percentage of their bus fleets. This reduces emissions from public transportation, which is an essential part of encouraging residents to choose public transit over private vehicles.
In addition to these measures, cities can also implement regulations to reduce idling from vehicles, which pollutes the air and wastes fuel. Modern vehicles do not require "warming up" in the winter, so there is no need to turn on the engine until one is ready to drive. Reducing idling, especially from school buses, can prevent children from being exposed to diesel exhaust and improve overall air quality.
By implementing these restrictions on vehicle access and usage, cities can significantly reduce pollution and create healthier environments for their residents.
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Improving public transport
One effective approach is the expansion and electrification of mass transit systems. Cities like Bengaluru and Delhi in India are actively increasing their metro networks and transitioning to electric bus fleets. Delhi, for instance, already operates 300 electric buses and plans to introduce 8,000 more by 2025. Similarly, India as a whole aims to deploy 50,000 electric buses by 2030, with 20,000 already on their way. This shift to electric buses is crucial as the world's buses still predominantly run on diesel or other fossil fuels, which contribute significantly to air pollution and health risks, especially in low-income and disadvantaged communities.
Other cities are also making strides in electrifying their bus fleets. The EU's Clean Vehicles Directive mandates that 85% of buses within the EU must produce zero tailpipe emissions by 2030, and 100% by 2035. Latin American cities are also embracing this trend, with hundreds of e-buses already in operation and over 25,000 expected by 2030. These electric buses are much cleaner, emitting less than half as much carbon as gas-powered private cars per passenger-kilometer traveled.
In addition to electrification, cities can improve public transport by expanding their infrastructure and increasing funding. For example, new metro lines have been constructed in China, Ecuador, France, the United States, and several African countries, including Algeria, Nigeria, and Egypt. This expansion of rapid transit networks is vital to encourage a shift from private vehicle travel to public transport, helping to reduce emissions and congestion.
To further incentivize the use of public transportation, cities can implement measures such as restricting polluting vehicles from entering certain areas or the entire city, following London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) model. London's ULEZ has resulted in a nearly 50% decline in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in central London, with over 95% of vehicles now compliant with ULEZ emissions standards. Additionally, London introduced a £270 million scrappage scheme, enabling Londoners, businesses, and charities to replace or retrofit older, polluting vehicles with cleaner alternatives.
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Using nature-based solutions
Urbanisation is placing increasing pressure on the ecosphere, but it also presents an opportunity to reimagine the built environment and our civilisation. Nature-based solutions (NbS) can help cities realise this opportunity by fostering sustainable urban development, meeting climate adaptation and mitigation goals, and improving the quality of life for residents.
NbS can help biodiversity to thrive and human habitats to become more resilient. For example, incorporating nature in cities improves their livability, particularly for vulnerable populations, by reducing temperatures, filtering water, and cleaning the air. Urban forests, rain gardens, parks, and wetlands can be integrated into sustainable city planning to bring nature’s benefits to urban residents. Green city designs like permeable surfaces and rain gardens can manage stormwater while providing health benefits and reducing pollution in rivers.
The WWF has developed a report featuring eight successful NbS implemented in cities around the world, demonstrating how nature can deliver multiple benefits to tackle biodiversity loss and the climate crisis in cities. For instance, the City of Tshwane in South Africa has developed extensive climate action plans to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions and make it more resilient to future climate shocks. Similarly, New York City has embraced tree-planting as a powerful tool for improving urban life and tackling climate change.
The IUCN is also supporting cities across the world to harness the power of nature-based solutions with tools and frameworks such as the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, IUCN Urban Nature Indices, and PANORAMA Cities. Through projects like GrowGreen and NetworkNature, IUCN is helping cities to build healthy, functioning, and resilient ecosystems that lay the foundation for sustainable economic development, food and water security, disaster risk reduction, and climate action.
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Educating residents
Another aspect of educating residents is providing information about best practices and individual actions that can contribute to reducing pollution. This includes encouraging the use of energy-efficient appliances and heating systems, as well as promoting the use of electric or hand-powered lawn equipment instead of gas-powered engines, which often lack pollution control devices. Residents can also be directed towards programs that help reduce air pollution and increase sustainability, such as the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program in Minnesota, which assists businesses in reducing waste, emissions, and regulatory obligations.
In addition to individual actions, residents can be educated about the broader initiatives and goals of the city in tackling pollution. For example, many cities are investing in green spaces and nature-based solutions, such as urban gardens and living plant walls, to combat air pollution. These initiatives not only help absorb pollutants and release oxygen, but also mitigate the urban heat island effect, reducing energy costs and improving overall air quality. Residents can be encouraged to support and participate in these city-wide efforts to create healthier and more sustainable urban environments.
Furthermore, educating residents about the impact of transportation on air pollution is crucial. Cities are taking various approaches to reduce vehicle emissions, such as restricting polluting vehicles from certain areas, electrifying public bus fleets, and implementing smart traffic management systems. By informing residents about these initiatives and encouraging the use of public transportation or cleaner modes of transport, cities can empower individuals to make informed choices that contribute to pollution reduction.
Lastly, providing residents with access to real-time data and information about air quality is an important aspect of education. Cities like Bogotá have implemented air quality monitoring networks with microsensors to collect and communicate data about the air residents breathe. This information empowers residents to make informed decisions about their health and well-being, such as limiting outdoor activities or taking necessary precautions during periods of elevated pollution levels. Overall, educating residents plays a crucial role in reducing pollution and creating a collective sense of responsibility for the environment.
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Reducing waste
Cities are taking various approaches to reduce waste and pollution. One of the most effective ways to reduce waste is to increase recycling and composting initiatives. For example, the city of Osaka focused on tighter regulation of industrial emissions, health protection, and creating green urban spaces. As a result, Osaka saw a steady decline in industrial air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. The city also implemented a subway system and improved sewage coverage, which helped clean up the rivers. Additionally, by increasing recycling, Osaka reduced the volume of waste sent for disposal by more than half between 1991 and 2014.
Ljubljana, the first European capital to aim for zero waste, has also prioritized recycling and waste reduction. The city collects separated waste directly from people's homes, with biodegradable and recyclable waste collected more frequently. As a result, Ljubljana has one of the highest rates for the separate collection and recycling of waste in Europe, at over 60%.
Penang is another city that has successfully reduced waste by requiring all residents to separate their organic waste for composting. This has helped reduce the pressure on the city's limited landfill space and address the problem of methane emissions.
Bogotá has implemented a similar initiative, with about 350 tons of organic waste being collected for composting in specially supplied green buckets. This waste is then used for vermiculture, creating a rich compost that local residents use as an organic fertilizer.
In addition to recycling and composting, cities are also tackling waste reduction through public-private financing approaches and waste-to-value initiatives. For example, waste management companies are tapping into the carbon credit market and platforms like IFC's Circularity Plus provide investment and advisory solutions to accelerate the waste-to-value approach.
On an individual level, there are also many ways to reduce waste. Switching from printed materials to digital formats can significantly reduce carbon emissions. Planning meals ahead of time to purchase only what is needed and adopting a plant-based diet can help reduce food waste and lower carbon footprints. Composting food scraps, whether at home or through community composting initiatives, is another effective way to reduce waste. Finally, sharing waste-reducing efforts on social media can inspire and influence others to follow suit.
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Frequently asked questions
Cities can reduce pollution by investing in green spaces. This is effective because vegetation absorbs pollutants and releases oxygen, helping to improve air quality.
Cities can implement stricter measures such as restricting polluting vehicles from entering certain areas, or expanding and electrifying public transport.
London recently expanded its Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to cover the Greater London area, creating the largest global clean air zone. Since ULEZ, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels have declined by almost 50% in central London.
Cities can also reduce pollution by using smart traffic management to reduce vehicle emissions, limiting backyard fires, and using hand-powered or electric lawn equipment.
Cities can expand their air quality monitoring networks by using low-cost sensors and microsensors to collect, analyse and communicate data about the air.
