INTEGAIRE case study submission form

1. Topic
		Informing the public

2. Introduction
		The majority of urban air quality monitoring in European Cities is carried out by local, regional or/and national government. In some cases other organisations supplement this by taking part in their own studies or in conjunction with local authorities. These organisations range from universities/institutes down to community groups and schools using the data from air quality monitoring and using it in a wide variety of applications, such as health studies, development planning, transport planning, environmental impact assessments, etc. Most of the studies have been carried out by experts in their particular field, and often the complex and technical monitoring data they produce is not accessible directly to the public. The new challenge for those involved in air quality management is to make this data available and understandable by the general public, so that it may form the basis of correct decisions which benefit air quality.

3. Discussion

The question of how to disseminate air quality information to the public is currently being carried out or considered in almost all member states.

How to inform the public about air quality?
It is important to define who, what, when, how, and why the information is to be used:
Who needs to be involved?
Media (press, radio, television), central and local organisations, government as well as non-government administration and other information sources.
What is the information being used for?
Experts for air quality improvements?
Current air pollution state?
Report on air quality and contribution of individual sources and pollution during recent period, e.g., last year?
Plan for smog and control systems?
When is the data needed?
Regular information about activities in the region and about current air quality state. Immediately at emergency situation.
Irregularly - in case of need and possibility.
How will the data be issued?
By the spoken word: in radio, telephone information line, Fax, e-mail, picture information - TV, during weather forecast, Internet services.
Printed information - newspapers, advertisements, bill/boards, annual reports.
By signs: sirens and other acoustic signals.
Where will the data be available?
Public places: road borders (VMS), parking lots, enterprises, workplaces, schools, hospitals, airports, railway and bus station halls, sport grounds, department stores, Cultural facilities, squares etc.
What are the objectives!
Information about current air pollution, specific health problems, raising environmental awareness among population, mobilising general public for taking actions for air quality improvement etc?

4. Recommendation / Conclusion

Many organisations monitor air quality. Data obtained from this monitoring is available in various forms, and with varying degrees of accessibility. Those involved in air quality management should utilise this data and package it so that it becomes information on which organisations, communities and individuals can make decisions regarding their actions. National strategies and European Directives are aiding the provision of air quality information by placing mandatory minimum requirements on types and amounts of information issued by governments of member states, and local authorities.

There is a need for increased resources to instigate and research the effectiveness of air quality information strategies. In particular small local authorities cannot achieve the demands of rapid information dissemination, and realised that national governments must carry out this aspect of air quality management.

Perceptions of air pollution in the minds of the public, commercial and trade organisations and local politicians and in the writings of the local press are a major obstacle to overcome. Methods of changing perceptions can include:

Establishing a working relationship with the media so that they are aware of air quality management issues, not simply of air pollution episodes.
Examining which organisation should provide air quality information, as the public are in general more likely to trust health processionals than local or national government "experts".
Promoting involvement in air quality initiatives so that it is considered as a positive attribute when trying to attract new investment to the city/town.

Air quality information is the important first step in any public awareness and education campaigns. The next stage for the local authority is to involve communities in examining why air pollution exists and crucially what is being done to relieve it.