1. Noise in Europe | 24 April 2017 | Brussels
The network of major European cities
NOISE POLLUTION
THE WAY FORWARD FROM CITIES’S PERSPECTIVE
Noise in Europe | 24 April 2017 | Brussels
Filipe Araújo

2. Founded in 1986, representing cities of over 250,000 inhabitants
135 members and 40+ partners from 38 countries, representing 130 million city-dwellers
45 associated partners
Most European capitals are members

4. Main purpose
Expose Noise impact in cities and share cities casestudies
Environmental Noise Directive's entry in "pre- adolescent phase" – good time to evaluate it
Overall policy impact of the END and Remarks and ideas for taking END to the next level

5. 1 Million ‘healthy life years’ are lost every year !
Noise impacts in cities and examples of how cities are tackling noise
DALYs for tinnitus
DALYs for sleep disturbance
1 Million ‘healthy life years’ are lost every year !
DALYs for annoyance
DALYs for ischaemic heart diseas
DALYs for cognitive impairment
1 DALY (“Disability-adjusted life years”) = 1 year of "healthy" life lost
Source: WHO (2011)

6. Noise impacts in cities and examples of how cities are tackling noise
Berlin
Rotterdam
Porto

8. > 120 bars/pubs/disco within a 2 Km2 area
Thousands of people socializing in open space
Insecurity, waste, savage car parking, ilegal street trading of drinks and food, disrespect for opening/closing hours…
15 families exposed
Extraordinary positive impact on local economy = huge noise impact on a minority
Impossible noise input individualization

9. 80 sound limiters installed and permanent monitored
99% of bares are working with sound control and a minority demands local inspections
Zero noise complains
Indoor noise controlled

10. END's main achievements
positive aspects and how they empowered local action
Noise Maps and Actions Plans dissemination – how it motivated cities to take action.
Member state empowerment on noise action plans' effectiveness
Awareness raise on noise issues

11. Cities need a more compelling END towards EU source policies
END's critical balance
what cities need?

12. END's critical balance what cities need?
Competent bodies to actually reduce noise levels
Paradigm shift needed among transport stakeholders and consumers
Room for improvement on: Public Engagement process, Citizen Science, Data collecting and modelling and subsequent Comparability between Member States

13. END's critical balance what cities need?
Noise mitigation should focus on eliminating over exposition rather than "reduction to a certain level“
Structural funds pointed to noise mitigation
Actions plans should set "SMART" objectives and target oriented with a clear time frame
Urgent need for clarifying definitions (such as "Quiet Areas", "Agglomerations", "Harmful effects”) + standardization of accounting for exposed population

14. Remarks and clues to the future
Reflect at the EU level on noise limit targets for actions plans, eventually considering alternative modalities >>> a la CO2 emission reduction