Final conference of COST 356 – EST “Towards the definition of a measurable environmentally sustainable transport” WHAT TO MEASURE WITH INDICATORS: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF TRANSPORT Prof. Gerassimos Arapis Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010

Is the environment under threat? Transport can have a negative effect on: The non-biotic parts of the environment (air, soil, water…), including human monuments/dwellings The biotic parts of the environment (humans, fauna, flora, microbes…) The interactions between biotic and non-biotic (biological functions, ecosystem services…) Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010

We need to measure in an accurate way the negatif effects of transport on the environment This is a complicate task, because we must evaluate: All possible effects on the elements of interest The degree of exposure of these elements to the threats due to transport The uncertainty of methodology used Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece What needs to be done?

Risk assessment principle IER = Impact = ? Exposure Compare IER = Uncertainty If IER > = Uncertainty (low risk) If IER < Uncertainty (high risk and consider further)

Through the use of DPSIR-approach On Cost 356 we focus on the “Impacts” We also need to consider “Pressures” and “State” Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece How can we do this?

Pathology, Immunodeficiency and Physiological Disturbance Population Decline, Loss of Biodiversity, Habitat Destruction Ecosystem Pollutant or Stressor Molecular & Cellular TissueOrgans Individual Animal Long Term Short Term Uncertainty Biological Complexity, Time Ecological Significance Impacts at what level ? Impacts at what level ?

Why it is important? Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece With the measurement of the Impacts (often taking into account the Pressures and the State of the environment) and the application of different alternatives or countermeasures (as Responses), we help to protect and/or to improve not only the environment but also broader sustainability and human welfare

Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece COST 356, Final Conference and Final MC Meeting Paris, March, 2010 COST 356, Final Conference and Final MC Meeting Paris, March, 2010 Typology of the targets of the impacts on the environment TargetsPseudo-target Nature Resources Earth: Covers all the targets: the three previous targets (ecosystems, humans and man made heritage) and physical environments such as the atmosphere and the oceans Ecosystems: Nature understood as ecosystems, i.e. the association between a physicochemical and abiotic (the biotope) environment and a living community characteristic of the latter (the biocenosis) Humans: Humankind which we extract from nature and focus on its health as defined by the WHO Human health: In a restricted meaning Human well-being Man-made heritage: With a distinction is made between common and historic buildings

A clear distinction has to be made between impacts, on the one hand, and indicators on the other hand Impacts are criteria to be considered An environmental impact indicator is a variable based on measurements, representing an impact of human activity on the environment, as accurately as possible and necessary Therefore an indicator is the tool for measuring an impact The tool “environmental impact indicators” Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

The concept of chain of causalities The aim was to use a systemic approach to environmental issues, encompassing all the environmental impacts and all the potential objectives of an environmental policy In order to do this, the “pressure-state-impact” structure has been enlarged to the concept of chain of causalities 49 chains are distinguished when taking into account differentiation in the last steps of the process corresponding to the different final targets (nature, humans, man made heritage, earth) Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Hierarchy of the chains of causalities Noise and vibrations Accidents Air pollution Soil and water pollution Impacts on land Non-renewable resource use and waste handling Greenhouse effect Other impacts Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Noise and vibrations Disappearance of quiet areas Annoyance and sleep disturbance to people Effects on human health of noise Noise and wildlife Vibrations Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Accidents Effect of traffic accidents on human health Animal collision: Animal fatalities Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Air pollution (1) Sensitive air pollution Odours Soiling Visibility Direct toxicity of air pollutants Direct restricted effects on human health Direct ecotoxicity on fauna and flora Photochemical pollution Health effects of photochemical pollution Loss of crop productivity due to photochemical pollution Ecotoxicity on fauna and flora Loss of cultural heritage Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Air pollution (2) Acidification Decrease of ecosystem health, loss of biodiversity Deterioration of historical buildings and other cultural assets Eutrophication Dimming Ozone depletion Health effects of stratospheric ozone depletion Ecotoxicity on fauna and flora Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Soil and water pollution – Hydrolic risks Pollution of soil, surface waters, groundwater and seas Effects on ecosystem health of pollution Health effects of pollution Recreational areas forbidden due to the pollution Hydraulic changes and risks Hydraulic changes Hydraulic risk Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Impacts on land and habitats Land take Loss of natural habitats due to land take Degradation of ecosystems due to land take Modification of outdoor recreation areas, due to land take Loss of cultural heritage due to land take Habitat fragmentation Loss of ecosystem health, loss of biodiversity, due to habitat fragmentation Reduction of living areas of people, due to fragmentation Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Soil-Landscape degradation Soil erosion Visual qualities of landscape / townscape Non-renewable resource use and waste handling Non-renewable resource use Non-recyclable waste Direct waste from vehicles Climate change Greenhouse effect Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Other impacts Electromagnetic - light pollution Health effects of electromagnetic pollution Effects on ecosystem health of electromagnetic pollution Light pollution Hazards Introduction of invasive alien species Introduction of illnesses Fire risk Technological hazards Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Agregation of chains of causalities Due to the complexity, agregation is needed Various ways of agregation are possible: Hierarchy of chains Top – down description of environmental pilar of sustainability (resources use, quality of life, present and future generations) Geographical scale (local, global) and time scale (short / long-term) Reversible – ireversible character Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Example chains and indicators Direct toxicity of air pollutants  Natural habitat fragmentation Non-renewable resource Use  Loss of cultural heritage due to land take  Noise – annoyance to humans  Greenhouse effect Waste Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Conclusions The most important environmental impacts are taken into account Various indicators have being evaluated and/or created trough the example chains of causalities The concept of chains of causalities is a useful methodology and gives us new tools in order to evaluate the impacts of transport on the natural environment, on humans (heath and well being), on man made heritage and more globaly on the climate change of the Earth Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece