A sweeping new study published today by InnoEnergy, Europe's driving force behind renewable energy and supported by the EIT, reveals that EU citizens could save €183 billion by implementing innovative smog-reducing technologies over the next seven years.
A sweeping new study published today by InnoEnergy, Europe's driving force behind renewable energy and supported by the EIT, reveals that EU citizens could save €183 billion by implementing innovative smog-reducing technologies over the next seven years.
The report, entitled Clean Air Challenge and produced in collaboration with Deloitte, is in response to the European Commission's conclusions that smog may be responsible for 1 in 10 cases of people dying prematurely worldwide and that smog will cost the EU a staggering €475 billion between 2018 and 2025.
Benefit
Launched at a meeting of leading politicians and policymakers in Brussels, the report takes an in-depth look at the issue of air quality across the European continent. It also highlights concrete, innovative transport and heating solutions to protect European citizens from pollution and its impact on health.
Speaker at the meeting Jerzy Buzek, chairman of the EP Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and former president of the European Parliament, says: "Smog is one of the most critical public health problems of the century and responsible for the premature death of 1 in 10 people worldwide and 400,000 people a year in Europe. The Clean Air Challenge report offers practical solutions that can help improve the health of our citizens and benefit society as a whole. We need to start implementing them across the EU without delay."
Calling a halt
Diego Pavia, CEO at InnoEnergy, says: "It is shocking that smog still poses such a health risk in our communities in this day and age. Apart from the huge economic cost, with the technology at our disposal, there is no reason why citizens cannot breathe clean air. At InnoEnergy, we like to tackle problems head-on and this is no exception. Not only do we make further research available to better understand the problem and identify practical solutions, but we also actively seek opportunities to provide investment opportunities and broader support to ambitious companies with passion and a plan to stop smog."
Irena Pichola, partner and manager of Sustainability Consulting Central Europe at Deloitte, explains, "We have to remember that people are harmed by poor air quality in different ways. For example, there are huge regional differences in the causes and effects of smog, with most smog in western Europe coming from transport and pollution in the east from heating. But as mentioned in the report, wherever you look, young people are most affected. The increase of 100 units of particulate matter (PM) means a reduction in average life expectancy of 2-3 years for children aged 5. We are proud to work with InnoEnergy to find solutions to this immensely important problem."
Hardt, a Dutch start-up, is developing Europe's first solar-powered hyperloop; a high-capacity transport system that connects cities and countries and can carry passengers and goods. Once implemented, hyperloops may be able to replace part of air and ground transport. InnoEnery is one of Hardt's investors.
Source: InnoEnergy
