Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona - Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020
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Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020
Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020
Presentation
Contents 1. Air pollution and its effects 4
For many years now, the World Health Organization has been telling
us something that none of us can afford to ignore: the quality of the air
we breathe has a direct effect on our health. It is a fact to which this Go
2. The air we breathe in Catalonia 14 vernment has devoted considerable attention and, as part of this ongoing
effort, on 27 September 2014 it approved the Air Quality Action Plan in
Special Atmospheric Environment Protection Areas (AQAP), horizon 2020.
3. Air quality action Plan 22 In general terms, the ambient air quality in Catalonia is good. There are
sporadic, localised exceptions that are being monitored and which are
being addressed jointly by government and enterprises with a view to im
4. Sectors and actions of the Plan 28 plementing measures that can provide a permanent solution.
However, as is the case of most urban agglomerations, the pollutants emi
5. Appendices 54 tted in the Barcelona conurbation by transport, industry, power generation,
Assumpta large logistics infrastructures and domestic activity have for many years ex
appendix 1. List of actions by the Government of Catalonia 55 Farran i Poca ceeded the limits established for two pollutants in particular: nitrogen di
and municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants oxide and suspended particulate matter, although the latest data available
in the AQAP Phisics of the Air and
Geophisics
indicate that the levels of the latter pollutant are improving considerably.
appendix 2. Barcelona Declaration on air quality, noise 56 Director-General for Unlike other environmental vectors, only preventive measures are effec
reduction and improvements in health in large urban Environmental Quality tive in improving air quality. In the case of water, for example, any short
agglomerations falls in prevention targets can be made up for with water treatment plants.
But in the case of air, there are no ‘end-of-pipe’ measures for removing
pollutants; we can only apply preventive measures, that is, emitting fewer
pollutants into the atmosphere; otherwise, the only alternative is to wait
Management: Coordination: for the wind and rain to blow them away.
Assumpta Farran Isabel Hernandez
Director-General for Deputy Director-General for Air Air quality is not something that we can leave to chance. Accordingly, the
Environmental Quality Pollution Prevention and Control Air Quality Action Plan in Special Atmospheric Environment Protection
Areas, sponsored by this Ministry, reflects a proactive approach taken by
the Government, local authorities, companies and citizens and includes a
Technical input: Editorial staff: This document outlines the main features of the battery of structural actions intended to act on the sources of atmospheric
Expert committee on air Document coordination: Air Quality Action Plan in Special Atmospheric pollution in the Barcelona region and guarantee the Plan’s continuity and
quality Xavier Mateu Environment Protection Areas which is the
instrument that the Government of Catalonia applicability.
CREAL Technical coordination: is implementing to improve air quality in the
Air Network EU Xavier Guinart, Albert Garcia, agglomeration of Barcelona The measures included in the Plan are not easily implemented, because
European Commission. DG Meritxell Margarit, Gemma
Environment Tello, Susana Gil i Laura Díaz As background information, the present status of they impact on important economic aspects and also daily routines; but
Barcelona Port
the ambient air both in Catalonia in general and in they are not arbitrary and address carefully studied needs. That is why one
the special protection area, the air pollution process,
Metropolitan Transport Photographs: the main pollutants, how they are distributed in the of the strategic pillars must be communication: citizens need to under
Authority (ATM) Subdirectorate General for territory and how they may affect people’s health stand that air pollution will not improve without an active commitment.
AENA. Barcelona Airport Air Pollution Prevention and and ecosystems are also explained.
Directorate-General for Control, AENA, Barcelona Finally, appendix incorporate Barcelona Declaration The Plan is an opportunity to move the economy forward towards a new
Environmental Quality Port, Metropolitan Transport
Authority (ATM), Catalonia
on air quality, noise reduction and improvements in model of city and country where innovation is not only at the service of
Subdirectorate General for health in large urban agglomerations adopted at
Environmental Qualification housing agency, Granollers City the Symposium of the same title that took place in economic activity but also of the goal we explain in this document: im
and Intervention Council, FGC, CSIC-IDAEA Barcelona on 5 June 2015, the World Environment
Day.
prove the air we breathe and reduce the noise around us. And within this
goal, we are working to ensure that the growth of the port and the airport,
the improved efficiency of public transport, the promotion of electric vehi
The contents of this cles and industrial progress are compatible with a smarter and cleaner city
D.L.: B 23207-2015 publication may be
Graphic design and layout: Faino, s.l. reprinted as long as the and country.
source is cited
Printing: Agpograf Impressors
2 3
Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 1. Air pollution and its effects
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020
The air we breathe is a common good that is necessary for life, and every
one of us has the right to use and enjoy it. Breathing polluted air may affect
people’s health, so it is important to preserve its quality.
1. Air pollution and its effects
Air is composed mostly of nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2); these two gases a
ccount for 99% of its mass. While the former gas enters and leaves our lungs
virtually without any interaction, the latter is essential for life. The remaining
1% is composed of other compounds, some of which are pollutants and may
have harmful effects on people’s health or the environment.
Air pollution is a process that starts with the emission of pollutants into the
atmosphere, where these substances may undergo different transport and/or
transformation effects. As a result of these processes, there is always a certain
pollution concentration at any given time and place; this is what is known as
immission or air quality levels.
Pollutants originate from human activities or natural processes. We can act on
the former, while the latter are phenomena that are intrinsic to the planet’s
dynamics and, therefore, are impossible to control. The anthropogenic sources
consist above all of different types of combustion, whether in industrial or
energy processes or in domestic or transport activities, although they may have
other origins, such as major construction work or mining activities.
Once they are in the atmosphere, the pollutants are affected by weather con
ditions, that is, they are transported horizontally and vertically and are diluted
in the cleaner air surrounding them. They can also undergo other phenomena,
such as chemical reactions that turn them into other compounds, or they may
be swept along by the rain, joined with other substances or fragmented, etc.
In recent decades, the industries that were in the historic centres of cities
have moved out to the edges or to industrial parks; furthermore, significant
improvements have been made in production processes, reducing the effect
of their emissions on the population. However, with urban growth, residential
areas are still being built too close to industrial zones, with the result that even
today, large-scale industrial activities take place alongside populated areas.
During the same period, however, the number of motor vehicles on the roads
has grown enormously. As a result, the origin of the pollution problems has
changed in recent years and this forces us to look for new solutions.
Even though our cities share many of the atmospheric pollution problems that
exist in Europe, they also have specific problems that do not exist in other Eu
View of Barcelona a day when the weather situation hinders the dispersion of pollutants. ropean cities, related in particular to the high density of population and vehi
This situation favors the formation of a layer with high levels of pollution concentration
cles, and the height of the buildings, which prevents pollutant dispersion, but
and low visibility
also to the relative lack of rainfall, which prolongs the persistence of pollutants,
and the intense solar radiation, which is the source of photochemical processes
such as the formation of tropospheric ozone.
4 5
Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 1. Air pollution and its effects
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020
Basic definitions
Air quality legislation
The law regulating how air quality is to be meas
ured and assessed is Royal Decree 102/2011,
of 28 January, concerning air quality improve
ment, which transposes European Directive
2008/50/EC. This legislation also defines air
quality objectives for each pollutant. There are
different types of objectives, which require diffe
rent actions:
Long-term objective: a quality level to be
attained in the long term and maintained, if
possible, through proportionate measures,
with the aim of guaranteeing effective protec
tion of human health and ecosystems.
Target value: a level to be attained, if possi
ble, over a given period, with the aim of avoid
ing, preventing or reducing harmful effects on The special atmospheric environment protection area covers an area of 725km2 and are 40
human health or the environment as a whole. municipalities where 4.3 million people live there. Granollers is the easternmost town
Limit value: a level to be attained, fixed on the
basis of scientific knowledge and not to be ex the population as a whole or a risk of environ Air quality zones (AQZ): areas with similar lonia approve an action plan that includes the
ceeded, with the aim of avoiding, preventing mental degradation, rendering it necessary to features as regards air quality; they include actions required to restore the area’s air quality.
or reducing harmful effects on human health take immediate steps. orography, climate, population density, the
Environmental pollution episode: Decla
or the environment as a whole. volume of industrial and transport emissions.
Limits fixed by the European Union with ration of such episodes is a preventive tool of
Catalonia is structured in 15 air quality zones
Information threshold: a level beyond respect to the limits of the World Health air quality management. An episode starts
(AQZ).
which there is a risk to human health from when the hourly limit value of 200 µg/m3 for
Organization (WHO): the goal of the legisla
brief exposure for particularly sensitive sec Special atmospheric environment pro- nitrogen dioxide is exceeded or it is predicted
tion enacted by the EU is to achieve air quality
tection areas (SPA): These are areas in that it may be exceeded at a certain number
tions of the population. This situation means targets with an acceptable social and economic
which the permissible air quality limit values are of stations of the Air Pollution Monitoring and
that targeted information and recommenda cost, and they are mandatory. The air quality exceeded and medium and long-term mea Forecasting Network, or, exceptionally, when
tions must be disseminated immediately in objectives determined by the WHO are based sures are required to restore air quality. The at another situation requires this. It is usually
order to reduce certain emissions. solely on health criteria and they are more de mospheric environment protection regulations concurrent with adverse meteorological con
Alert threshold: a level beyond which there is manding. They are not enforceable but are sim require that these areas be declared special pro ditions for air quality such as the presence of
a risk to human health from brief exposure for ply recommendations to be taken into account. tection areas and that the Government of Cata anticyclonic subsidence.
6 7
Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 1. Air pollution and its effects
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020
Health impacts of air pollution
Effects of pollution on people’s health
Air pollutants can have a serious impact on human health. Children and the elderly are especially
vulnerable.
Irritation of eyes, nose and throat
General aspects Breathing problems (O3, PM, NO2, SO2, BaP)
Headache and anxiety (SO2)
Ninety per cent of the urban population of the Impacts on the central nervous
EU is exposed to concentrations of certain at system (PM) Impacts on the respiratory system:
mospheric pollutants that the WHO considers Irritation, inflammations and infections
harmful for health. According to the WHO, in Asthma and reduced lung function
2008, 270 urban areas in 21 European states Chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (PM)
exceeded the permitted levels of NO2.
Lung cancer (PM, BaP)
Pollutants’ effects on health may be episodic or
chronic. They are episodic when an individual is Cardiovascular
diseases
exposed to high concentrations of pollutants for
(PM, O3, SO2) Impacts on liver,
a brief period, a few hours or days, due to occu
rrence of an exceptional situation. On the other spleen and blood (NO2)
hand, the effects are chronic when the indivi sulphur dioxide (SO2) and suspended particulate
dual is exposed continously to lower concentra matter (PM10).
tions of pollutants. Atmospheric pollutants also have a harmful
In the Government’s prevention policies, envi effect on the surrounding environment, which
ronmental episodes are defined as anomalous can be buildings, ecosystems or crops.
concentrations of certain substances in the at Impacts on the reproductive
mosphere, some of which exceed certain levels system (PM)
close to the air quality objectives. The health Pollution may reach people by three dif-
effects caused by such episodes are felt particu ferent routes:
Source: EEA, WHO, Eurobarometer
larly by the risk population, and such effects are • The respiratory route, which is the main en
significant, even though they only persist for a try route for airborne pollutants. Particulate matter (PM) are particles that are Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) originates from incomplete
few days a year. However, the quality of the air suspended in the air. Sea salt, black carbon, dust and
• The digestive route; pollutants present in combustion of fuels. Main sources include wood and
we breathe every day is more important, be condensed particles from certain chemicals can be
the atmosphere settle on the water, soil or waste burning, coke and steel production and motor
cause it has a continued effect on the health classed as a PM pollutant.
vegetables, which are then eaten by people. vehicles’ engines.
of the entire population, all year round; these
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is formed mainly by
effects, which may become chronic, favour the • The cutaneous route; this is marginal and combustion processes such as those occurring in car
persistence or aggravation of certain diseases may only become significant for the toxic in engines and power plants.
and cause an excess mortality or a decrease in gredients contained in certain insecticides. 97% of Europeans are exposed to O3 concentrations above
the population’s life expectancy. Ground level ozone (O2) is formed by chemical
the World Healt Organisation recommendations.
The atmospheric pollutants’ health effects vary reactions (triggered by sunlight) involving pollutants
The most common effects of air pollution are depending on whether they are gases or parti emitted into the air, including those by transport, natural EUR 220-300 is how much air pollution from the 10.000
irritation of the mucous membranes (eyes, nose cles, the size (in the case of particulate matter gas extraction, landfills and household chemicals.
largest polluting facilities in Europe cost each EU citizen in
and oesophagus), respiratory symptoms (irri depending on their diameter, they penetrate to Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is emitted when sulphur 2009.
tation, inflammation, asthma, impaired lung a greater or lesser depth in the respiratory and containing fuels are burned for heating, power
function...) and cardiovascular symptoms (vaso circulatory system), the chemical composition generation and transport. Volcanoes also emit SO2 into 63% of Europeans say they reduced their car use in the last
constriction, heart rhythm disorders...) caused and the dose inhaled. Also influence people’s the atmosphere. two years in order to improve air quality.
mainly by ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), age, state of health, sex and customs.
8 9
Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 1. Air pollution and its effects
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020 Dates de referència
Some background information in protection of the
atmospheric environment in Catalonia
1983 1986 1989 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012 2015
1996 2015 2008 2011 2013
1983. Atmospheric The European Directives
Environment Protection Les directives europees
Law 22/1983 Having joined the European Union, The Directive 2008/50/EC of 21 May on am- In December 2013, the Euro
in the year 2000, Spain imple bient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, pean Commission approved the
With this Law, atmospheric pollution mented the European environmen was approved. It revised the most important aspects Clean Air for Europe (CAFE)
was regulated for the first time tal regulations, which were much of the previous directives, becoming the new regula Programme, which is the new
in Catalonia. The enactment of more advanced than those enact tory framework for air quality in Europe, and provi European strategy for improving
this Law led to the creation of the ed in Spain. During the 1990s and ded for the possibility of postponing the deadline for air quality, requiring compliance
Air Pollution Monitoring and the first years of the new millen compliance with the air quality limit values for three with the current air quality limit
Forecasting Network in Catalonia nium, the European Commission years for suspended particulate matter with a dia values by 2020 at the latest and
(XVPCA), which is the tool we use to had approved Council Directive meter less than 10 microns (PM10) and five years for setting new goals for 2030. At
assess air quality. The Atmospheric 96/62/EC of 27 September nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and benzene. The air quality the same time, the proposal to
Environment Protection Law lays 1996 on ambient air quali- improvement plans associated with these postpon revise the Directive on national
down the actions that are to be ty assessment and manage- ement applications must meet certain conditions emission ceilings, establishing
carried out when the established ment, and the 4 ‘daughter’ Direc that must be assessed by the European Commission. stricter values for 6 critical pollu
air quality levels are exceeded and tives that established limit values Also during the period 2000-2010, the Commission tants for each of the European
provides for the declaration of special for different pollutants and other updated other air quality-related directives, such as large Union Member States, and the
protection and special attention Directives on information and data combustion, waste incineration and co-incineration proposed medium combustion
areas. exchange. plants, limiting pollution transfer to the atmosphere. plants Directive were submitted.
2011. Royal Decree 102/2011, concerning air quality improvement
This is the framework law for the basic regu lates air quality assessment, maintenance and im
lations in Spain concerning air quality, which provement. It also establishes common criteria and
transposes Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient methods for determining the concentrations of the
air quality and cleaner air for Europe, and par regulated substances, how the public and the Eu
tially develops Spanish Law 34/2007 concer ropean Commission must be informed about the
ning air quality and protection of the atmospheric pollutants’ concentrations and compliance with the
environment. air quality targets and improvement plans, with the
goal of avoiding, preventing and reducing the harm
This Royal Decree defines the air quality tar ful effects of pollution on human health and the en
gets for a number of pollutants, and regu vironment as a whole.
10 11
Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 1. Air pollution and its effects
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020 Dates de referència
2006 2009 2012 2015 2018 2020 2021
2007 2014 2014 2020
2007-2014. The first Air Quality Action Plan in Special Atmospheric 2014-2020. Air Quality Action Plan in Special Atmospheric
Environment Protection Areas, 2007-2010 Environment Protection Areas (AQAP), with horizon 2020
In May 2006, the Government of Catalonia, The implementation of the measures of the On 23 September 2014, the Air by industry and the tax on electricity
considering the evolution of the air quality data, 2007-2010 Plan, its extension and the new Quality Action Plan in Special production by nuclear power plants.
declared forty municipalities in the conurba measures that have been implemented have Atmospheric Environment Pro- The taxes created by this Law perform,
tion of Barcelona to be special atmospheric brought about a significant improvement tection Areas (AQAP) was approved on one hand, a no fiscal function in
environment protection areas for the pollutant in the levels of suspended particulate ma by means of Government Agreement guiding the behaviour of the economic
particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 tter (PM10), detectable from 2008 onwards. 127/2014; the measures included in actors concerned, but are also an eco
microns (PM10); 16 of these municipalities were However, the improvement of the average this Plan encompass key areas such as nomic policy instrument that will ge
also declared special protection areas for the annual levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has vehicle traffic, the port and the airport, nerate additional revenues to finance,
pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2). In July 2012, been much slower. In both cases, the im citizen awareness or taxation, among in part, public spending and investments
the Government declared all areas for both provement detected in air quality has been others, and establish responsibilities, intended to improve air quality.
pollutants, NO2 and PM10. positively influenced by the decrease in acti indicators and implementation time
In July 2007, the Government of Catalonia vity and mobility caused by the severe econo lines that imply a phased application, This same Law amends the 1983 At
approved the Air Quality Action Plan in mic crisis, but also by enactment of the Euro- such that full attainment of its objec mospheric Environment Protection
Special Atmospheric Environment Protec- pean Directive on integrated pollution tives will take place in 2020, according Law, thereby modifying, adapting to
tion Areas 2007-2010, which set forth 73 prevention and control (IPPC) and the to the guidelines of the Clean Air for current needs and putting into ope
measures that had to be adopted to improve Directive on large combustion plants, which, Europe Programme. ration, for the first time, the Atmo
the air quality in the municipalities that had in November 2010, were consolidated in the spheric Environment Protection
been declared special protection areas. This new Directive on industrial emissions (IED), In its implementation of the Plan, the Fund, which is used to fund public
Plan, which expired in December 2010, was and the ‘Euro’ Directives, which regulate the Catalan Parliament approved Law spending and investment on protec
extended by the Government until a new pollutant emission levels allowed for motor 12/2014, of 10 October, concerning ting the atmospheric environment and
plan to replace it was approved. vehicles in the European Union. the tax on nitrogen oxide emissions improving noise quality and, in general,
into the atmosphere by commercial the policies for improving atmosphe
aviation, the tax on gas and particulate ric quality and preventing atmospheric
matter emissions into the atmosphere pollution.
Air Quality Action Plan
in Special Atmospheric
Environment Protection Areas
12 13
Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 2. The air we breathe in Catalonia
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020
2. The air we breathe in Catalonia
is a secondary pollutant, that is, it is formed from the combination of
several precursor pollutants in certain atmospheric conditions—is not
responding to the measures to control it.
With respect to this part of the territory, the industrial concentration
of El Camp de Tarragona should be highlighted, with Spain’s largest
petrochemical complex. Here, volatile organic compounds and other
pollutants originating from the production processes used by the va
rious petrochemical industries, from oil refining to basic chemistry, are
kept under special surveillance and control.
• On the other hand, there is the area composed of Barcelona and
another 39 municipalities around it; while they account for only 2.3%
of Catalonia’s total area, their population totals 4.3 million inhabitants
(60% of the population of Catalonia). It is one of the most powerful
urban areas in the Mediterranean, with logistics and communication
infrastructures. These municipalities, which have been declared spe
cial atmospheric environment protection areas, have persistently ex
ceeded the thresholds stipulated by the EU for two pollutants: nitrogen
dioxide (NO2) and suspended particulate matter (PM10), although the
levels of PM10 in 2014 have been below the limits.
Of the 16 pollutants assessed, 11 met the air quality targets in all areas,
and in most of them the levels were considerably below the maximum
permitted values. There are only 4 pollutants that do not meet the air
quality targets for 2014: nitrogen dioxide (NO2), tropospheric ozone
(O3), hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and suspended particulate matter PM.
Amongst the pollutants that deviate from their targets, nitrogen di-
The Air Pollution Monitoring and Forecasting Network in Catalonia (XVPCA) is the tool that allows oxide (NO2) stands out in particular, having exceeded the annual limit
us to know with rigor the quality of the air in Catalonia. It currently has 127 measuring points value (aLV) in AQZ 1 (Barcelona Area) and AQZ 2 (Vallès-Baix Llobregat).
It is a phenomenon associated with large urban agglomerations and
which is caused, to a large extent, by the land transport that is cha
racteristic of these population agglomerations and associated with the
A dual reality in air quality movement of people and goods.
Two realities coexist in Catalonia with respect to ambient air quality:
In the case of the conurbation of Barcelona, this is compounded by the
• On the one hand, there is a part of Catalonia, very large in territory terms emissions generated by the port and airport, in addition to industrial
(97.7% of the country) and includes to slightly less than half the popula activities related to electricity generation and cement, steel and glass
tion (40%), where the air quality is good or very good, with only sporadic manufacture. It is further aggravated by the type of urban development,
incidents originating from specific locations, and where currently work is particularly the very high population density and mobility, with narrow,
in progress on developing solutions. Only tropospheric ozone O3—which traffic-packed streets lined by relatively high buildings.
14 15
Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 2. The air we breathe in Catalonia
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020
Map of air quality incidents in Catalonia by air quality zone (AQZ). 2014
Another pollutant that has given values above
the air quality targets is tropospheric ozone
(O3).
Excessively high values for this parameter are a
phenomenon that is often related to rural areas,
as the ozone usually attains higher values lee
ward side of the major urban agglomerations,
where the main precursor of tropospheric
AQZ limits ozone, NO2, concentrates, blown by the wind
from the metropolitan areas, combining with
natural biogenic emissions of volatile com
pounds (VOCs), together with anthropogenic Structure of the nitrogen dioxide molecule (NO2)
emissions associated with the use of fuels and
chemical manufacture and use. On the other
hand, in the cities, the high levels of nitrogen
oxides, together with the reduction in volatile
organic compounds, lead to lower ozone con
centrations. This behaviour and these excessi
vely high values are common to all Southern
Europe.
This was the first year, since measurements of
this pollutant began in the year 2000, that the
levels of suspended particulate matter Structure of the ozone molecule (O3)
with a diameter of less than 10 microns
(PM10) meet all their targets in air quality zones
1 (Barcelona Area) and 2 (Vallès-Baix Llobre
gat). During previous years, both the annual
limit value and the daily limit value had been
O3 Metals exceeded.
HCl Hg The progressive fall in suspended particulate
Colour of each
matter has also been detected in other re
pollutant if the air gions of Europe and is attributed to the en
Cl2 Benzene
quality targets are vironmentally beneficial effects of application
met of the European Directives that enforce use
of cleaner technologies in industrial activi
H 2S CO ties and vehicles. The economic crisis, which
has led to a reduction in industrial activity
and mobility, together with implementation
PM10 SO2 of some of the measures contained in the air Real image, obtained with the electron micros-
Colour of each pollutant if quality improvement plan, has also contribu cope, of suspended particulate matter with a
any of the air quality targets
NOx ted to reducing emissions. diameter of less than 10 microns (PM10)
are not met PM2,5
BaP
16 17
Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 2. The air we breathe in Catalonia
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020
However, in spite of this, PM10 thresholds were The air we breathe in the conurbation
exceeded in Manlleu (AQZ 6, La Plana de Vic), of Barcelona
with the combustion of fossil fuels and biomass
With its concentration of population, economic have a high population and vehicle density, con
as the main cause, and in Alcanar (AQZ 15, Les
activity and mobility, and the presence of large centrating pollutant emissions in a small area,
Terres de l’Ebre), attributable to industrial acti
logistics infrastructures, together with certain unlike the non-Mediterranean regions, where a
vity. In both cases, corrective measures are being
constraints of orography, climate and urban more extensive land-use model predominates,
developed.
structure, the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and with abundant urban green spaces, giving a
The last pollutant that does not meet some of its suspended particulate matter (PM10) regularly ex much lower density of inhabitants and vehicles,
air quality targets is hydrogen sulphide (H2S), ceed some of the thresholds legislated by the EU which means that the associated emissions are
which has recorded values above the half-hourly in the conurbation of Barcelona. Although the distributed over a much larger area.
target in AQZ 5 (Central Catalonia). This is a very PM10 have remained below the limits in recent
The other factor that complicates the pollution
isolated phenomenon that affects part of the years, the NO2 levels continue to exceed them.
problem in Barcelona and its surroundings is the
town of Igualada and is associated with faulty
A specific feature of the agglomeration of Bar type of inner-city urban development, with na
operation of a wastewater treatment plant.
celona, which impacts on air quality, is its land- rrow streets and relatively high buildings, making
Equipment for measuring suspended particulate use model and street and building typologies. it more difficult for pollutants to be dispersed by
matter The city of Barcelona and the surrounding towns the wind and natural air currents.
Roof level wind
Background pollution
Recirculating air
Leeward side Windward side
Direct plume
Tall and compact buildings hinder the dispersion of pollutants emitted by urban traffic Viewing the concentration of NOx in the streets of the Eixample in Barcelona
18 19Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 2. The air we breathe in Catalonia
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020
Inventory of pollutant emissions in the special atmos- Trends in the air quality levels in air quality zones 1 and 2
pheric environment protection area In recent years, the average annual levels of NO2 have remained fairly
The Inventory, created in 2011, provides the necessary information to identify stable, with no significant reductions. On the other hand, the PM10 le
emissions of the main pollutants disaggregated by pollutant and by sector in vels showed a substantial drop starting in 2008 and a further sharp fall
the SPA, and highlights that road transport generates almost half of the NOx after 2012. This can be attributed to three factors: the implementation
and PM10 emissions, industry and energy account for 24% of NOx and 21% of of measures to reduce atmospheric emissions, the economic crisis and
PM10, while sea transport generates 14% of NOx and 23% of PM10. favourable weather conditions.
Emissions NOx 2011
Evolution of the annual average values for NO2
6% Aerial transport
ALV Maximum AQZ 1 and 2 Annual average AQZ 1 and 2 Minimum AQZ 1 and 2
100
14%
21%
Maritime transport
Industry
80
5% 3%
Domestic Power plants
60
40
51%
20
Road transport
0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Evolution of the annual average values for PM10
Emissions PM10 2011
ALV Maximum AQZ 1 and 2 Annual average AQZ 1 and 2 Minimum AQZ 1 and 2
1% Aerial transport 100
23%
Maritime transport 19% 80
Industry
2% 60
2%
Domestic
Power plants
40
20
53%
Road transport 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
20 21Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 3. Air Quality Action Plan
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020
The Air Quality Action Plan in Special Atmospheric Environ-
3. Air Quality Action Plan
ment Protection Areas approved in September 2014, is the new
instrument for planning, fostering and regulating actions aimed at im
proving air quality in the special atmospheric environment protection
area consisting of Barcelona and another 39 municipalities comprising
its agglomeration, and whose purpose is to guarantee compliance with
the European air quality directives. The Plan defines the timelines for im
plementing the various actions, the indicators and monitoring mecha
nisms, the agents responsible for implementation and the stakeholders,
and provides for a series of tax measures which will be pooled into a fund
to finance air quality improvement actions and, in particular, actions to
improve public transport. It also provides guidelines for the municipali
ties included in the Plan, particularly for those with more than 100,000
inhabitants.
The new Plan takes over from the previous improvement Plan (2007-
2010, extended until September 2014), which completed its term
without having achieved all of the objectives that had been proposed.
It offers a new approach to the essential aspects:
• It is a realistic plan, and all the actions contained in it are technically
and financially feasible, if there is sufficient social and political will.
• It proposes integrated mobility management, addressing both infras
tructures and mobility services, and promotes a change of model based
on public transport and active mobility (walking and cycling).
• It advocates clean fuels and electric vehicles in private daily mobility.
• It urges the Catalan automotive industry to lead to the manufac
ture of alternative-drive, low-emission vehicles, following the exam
ple of the Federal Government of Baden-Württemberg, the German
region that is European leader in vehicle manufacture.
• It supports the use of the best available technologies (BATs) to re
duce industrial emissions.
• It strengthens continuous emissions monitoring at the main emi
tting sites within the SPA (thermal power stations, cement, glass and
steel production facilities, etc.).
• It enables effective measures to be activated during pollution episodes,
with restrictions on private vehicle traffic to discourage their use, while
providing incentives to use public transport and non-polluting vehicles. In
these cases, preventive measures are implemented so that certain levels of
pollution are not attained, by means of declarations of pollution episodes,
The plan provides for 37 municipal actions; of these, five are specific to municipalities with public information and implementation of the other associated measures.
more than 100,000 inhabitants. In the photo, Terrassa, northern edge of the SPA
22 23Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 3. Air Quality Action Plan
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020
• It includes new environmental taxation The Plan is structured in eight areas, subdivi The local authorities play a leading role in the
Municipalities that have been declared
measures tied to the emissions of nitrogen ded into 14 objectives that contain 46 general development of some of the Plan’s basic measu special atmospheric environment
oxides, particulate matter and other atmos actions and another five to be implemented res. On the one hand, the municipalities with protection areas
pheric pollutants generated by commercial avi if an environmental pollution episode is de more than 100,000 inhabitants are required
to implement certain mandatory measures but, Badalona Montmeló
ation, industry and vehicle traffic in the special clared. Thirty-two measures are proposed to Badia del Vallès Montornès del Vallès
protection area, and which will be used primar the local authorities and five to the munici above all, they have the opportunity to voluntari
Barberà del Vallès Pallejà
ily to improve public transport, and it endows palities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, ly take extra steps to improve the quality of life of Barcelona Parets del Vallès
the Atmospheric Environment Protection of which three are compulsory. It demands a their citizens and of the conurbation as a whole. Castellbisbal Ripollet
Fund. The agreement made with the Network of Ci Castelldefels Rubí
higher level of commitment from all areas of Cerdanyola del Vallès Sabadell
ties and Towns for Sustainability for Cleaner
• It aligns with the Catalan Public Health Plan government and stipulates co-responsibility of Cornellà de Llobregat Sant Adrià de Besòs
Air is an example of this commitment. The Plan
(PINSAP), giving priority to prevention over all stakeholders in its implementation (Govern El Papiol Sant Andreu de la Barca
also takes on board some of the measures in El Prat de Llobregat Sant Cugat del Vallès
intervention and also with the European ment of Catalonia, local authorities, compa cluded in the Spanish Government’s Air Plan. Esplugues de Llobregat Sant Feliu de Llobregat
Union’s Cleaner Air for Europe Programme. nies and private citizens). Gavà Sant Fost de Campsentelles
The timeline of the Air Quality Action Plan in Granollers Sant Joan Despí
Special Atmospheric Environment Protection L’Hospitalet de Llobregat Sant Just Desvern
Areas, horizon 2020, provides for implemen La Llagosta Sant Quirze del Vallès
Municipalities in the special atmospheric environment protection areas
tation of the actions in the short and medium Martorell Sant Vicenç dels Horts
term, with the goal of creating the necessary Martorelles Santa Coloma de Gramenet
Molins de Rei Santa Perpètua de Mogoda
conditions so that continuing compliance with Mollet del Vallès Terrassa
the legislated air quality levels can be assured by Montcada i Reixac Viladecans
2020, as stated in the guidelines of the new Eu
Granollers ropean programme Clean Air for Europe.
Terrassa
Parets
eló
d. Vallès
Sabadell Institutional transversality of the Plan
ntm
Mollet Montornès
Mo
Santa d. Vallès d. Vallès
Sant Perpètua
Quirze d. Martorelles
Barberà de Mogoda
Vallès Air quality
Rubí
Badia
d. Vallès La Llagosta Sant Fost de
EU directives
d. Vallès Ripollet Campsentelles
Castellbisbal Cerdanyola
Montcada
i Reixach
Catalonia
Martorell
Sant Cugat del Vallès
Badalona
Sant Andreu
El
del Vallès
Santa Coloma 1st AQ Plan
de la Barca
Papiol de Gramenet
2007-2010
Pallejà Molins Sant Adrià Air Quality Action Plan Spain
SPA de Rei del Besòs
Sant Vicenç
Sant Just Barcelona in Special Atmospheric Air Plan
Desvern
Sant Feliu de
County limits
dels Horts
Llobregat Esplugues
Local Environment
de Llobregat
Sant Joan Despi
l’Hospitalet Catalonia Protection Areas
Cornellà de Llobregat • 8 areas
de Llobregat UMP
• 14 objectives
Viladecans • 46 general actions
El Prat de
Gavà Llobregat • 5 actions, in environmental
pollution episodes
Castelldefels • 37 actions by local bodies,
The area of the Plan
in Catalonia including 5 for municipalities
> 100.000 inhabitants
24 25Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 3. Air Quality Action Plan
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020
Governance of the Plan Public information and
participation process in
preparation of the Plan
Citizen participation (2011):
• Participation of local authorities
• Creation of the Expert Committee
• Dialogue with industry representatives
• Interdepartmental coordination
Public information (November 2013):
• Local authorities
• Employers’ associations, companies and trade unions
• Environmental organisations
• Political parties
• Other departments and bodies in the Catalan Government
In order to guarantee implementation of the Ministry of the Environment. It is chaired by the Of the 295 allegations submitted by 25 bodies:
Plan, the Government of Catalonia has created Director-General and its main functions are to • 274 (93%) have been accepted
three bodies that perform complementary func evaluate the follow-up reports, report on the
tions: measures applied, and suggest and give its opi • 21 (7%) have been rejected
nion regarding technical proposals.
The Governing Committee: its members
are representatives from the Government of The Expert Committee, chaired by the Se The Plan’s guidance document was initially approved by the Govern
Catalonia and Barcelona City Council, who are cretary of Environment and Sustainability, is ment of Catalonia in September 2011 but, as it was not accepted by
responsible for managing the Plan’s measures. composed of acknowledged experts in the fields the European Union, it was completely rewritten; as a result of this pro
It is chaired by the Director-General for Envi related to atmospheric pollution, health and in cess, an intense process of debate and dialogue was undertaken with
ronmental Quality. Its main functions are to dustrial technologies and mobility. It is the Go the EU’s services, Barcelona Provincial Council’s Network of Municipa
approve the technical criteria for implementing vernment’s advisory body for implementing the lities, neighbourhood associations, trade unions, associations and
the Plan, report on the actions that have been Plan and may make proposals and suggestions, companies operating in the automotive and manufacturing industries,
implemented, evaluate the follow-up report, evaluate reports and report on the results of re also including the proposals of Parliament Motion 72/X, concerning
assess any proposals that may be made and pro search in related fields. actions on industry, mobility and environmental taxation. Finally, the
pose amendments of the Plan to the Minister. Plan has been validated by the Expert Committee, before being appro
ved by the Government of Catalonia.
The Barcelona conurbation air quali-
ty Forum includes representatives from lo The review process has lasted 3 years. During this period, a large num
cal government, road, sea and air transport ber of the measures forming part of the draft Plan have been put into
associations, managers who apply the Plan’s practice, experimentally or definitively, even though the Plan has not
measures and representatives from the Spanish yet been finally approved.
26 27Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 4. Sectors and actions of the Plan
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020
4. Sectors and actions
of the Plan
28 29Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 4. Sectors and actions of the Plan
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020 Transport and mobility
Road traffic is the main source of pollution by nitrogen oxides and
Transport and mobility
suspended particulate matter in the SPA. The main causes are the high
volume of traffic, the growth in the number of vehicles and the growing
proportion of diesel vehicles.
The road transport sector and mobility in the SPA accounted for (2011):
• 51% of NOx emissions
• 53% of PM10 emissions
Percentage of NOx road transport emissions
51%
Road transport
49%
Other
sectors
Percentage of PM10 road transport emissions
53%
Road transport
47%
Other
sectors
Between 2004 and 2011, the number of diesel-engined passenger
cars increased by 40.9% while that of petrol-engined cars decreased
by 7.3%.
30 31Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 4. Sectors and actions of the Plan
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020 Transport and mobility
Highlighted actions: Map of annual NOx emissions by road transport in the special protection area (2011)
Improve urban mobility conditions and
support more rational mobility Granollers
Terrassa
Parets
Sabadell
d. Vallès
Promote public transport
eló
ntm
Mollet
Mo
An attractive collective public transport system d. Vallès Montornès
d. Vallès
(bus, metro, tram and rail) that guarantees fre Sant Santa Perpètua
Martorelles
Quirze d. de Mogoda
quent service, commercial speed and an exten Vallès Barberà
Badia d. Vallès
sive interurban distribution network with good The T-Mobility project and the availability of d. Vallès La Llagosta
Sant Fost de
urban connections, is the best alternative to subsidised travel cards are instruments that Rubí
Ripollet
Campsentelles
Castellbisbal
the mobility model currently prevailing in urban enable prices to be discounted and adjusted to
Cerdanyola Montcada
agglomerations for both urban and interurban the specific needs of each regular user to in Martorell
del Vallès i Reixac
routes. Accordingly, the Plan gives priority to this crease the share of public transport in overall
Santa Coloma
transport system and, on the one hand, corrects mobility. T-Mobility must provide the means for Sant Cugat de Gramenet
Badalona
Sant Andreu del Vallès
structural elements to guarantee financial vi adapting the mobility pricing system to the le de la Barca El
ability and, on the other, works to improve the vels of pollution, particularly during declarations Papiol
Molins
service to attract more users. of environmental episodes. de Rei Sant Adrià
Pallejà
del Besòs
Sant Just
Sant Feliu de Desvern Barcelona
Sant Vicenç Llobregat
dels Horts
Esplugues
de Llobregat
NOX 2011
Cornellà de
Llobregat (t/(0,5km x 0,5km))
l’Hospitalet de 50
32 33Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 4. Sectors and actions of the Plan
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020 Transport and mobility
Air protection urban areas (APUA) Encouraging walking or cycling for
daily mobility
The town councils have a vital role to play in plementation of the Workbike (using bicycles to Active mobility systems, that is, walking or cy
improving the quality of the air we breathe. The commute to work as a variable pay criterion), cling, must regain the importance they once
local authorities are key agents in urban mo awareness-raising campaigns to turn off vehi had in urban mobility, adapting to user and trip
bility, because of both their exclusive jurisdiction cles that are stopped for more than 1 minute type.
in local traffic and their powers in road impro (similar to a manual start-stop technology), ins
The AQAP, horizon 2020, seeks to calm down
vements and town planning. The AQAP, horizon pect exhaust emissions of vehicles that some
traffic, create continuous infrastructures for
2020, incorporates the precept of the Spanish times are above those permitted, linking them to
safe daily mobility by walking or cycling, and
Air Quality Law and requires the local councils of the implementation of two mandatory actions:
promote the use of bicycles by planning an ur
towns with more than 100,000 inhabitants to
• Municipal taxation of blue and green ban cycling network connected to the interur
draw up their respective municipal plans for im
parking zones, with positive discrimina ban network, secure bike parks, and generali
proving air quality which, under no circumstan
tion of low-emission vehicles, in accordance zing use of the bicycle to commute to work as a
ces, may go against the Catalan Government’s
with the criteria defined by the AQAP, horizon flexible salary item for all workers, as some com
AQAP, horizon 2020 or lower the requirements
2020, and accredited by means of a sticker panies are already doing, with car-type vehicles
of the mandatory measures stipulated in the
obtained via the Ecovia’t portal operated by for certain workers. The Ministry of Territory and
Plan. For municipalities with fewer inhabitants,
the Ministry of Territory and Sustainability. Sustainability has implemented the Workbike,
a broad spectrum of measures is proposed to be
“More bike, less pollution” project. It is a
applied as required by the specific features of • Reduce pollution in school zones, gi
demonstration service which provides bicycles
each municipality. ving priority to the APUAs where there are
and support to government employees to en
schools, so that all local traffic is move away
The creation of urban areas with pro- courage use of the bicycle for daily mobility bet
for more than 50 m from classrooms.
tected atmosphere (APUA) is a manda ween home and work. This project is also being
tory action for municipalities with more than Other municipal measures for reducing air pollu implemented at the Ministries of Health and the
100,000 inhabitants in the special protection tion are: improvement and hierarchization of Interior, with synergistic connotations between
area. It consists of delimiting densely populated the local road network, creation of a safe, con safety, pollution and health that are also inte
urban areas where the air quality is particular tinuous urban cycling network that extends to grated in the Catalan Government’s Interde
ly critical and applying measures to restrict use the interurban connections between the muni partmental Public Health Plan.
of the most polluting vehicles, stimulate use cipalities in the metropolitan area, programming
of clean vehicles and incorporate the cleanest traffic lights to give priority to public transport, The Workbike is a demonstration project to
creation of priority loading and unloading are encourage the use of bicycles in trip from home
public transport fleet. The creation of APUA
to work
areas should not suffer constraints arising from as for transport fleets with the environmental
regulatory inflexibility and the long periods for quality emblem, regulation of goods distribution
approving new plans, as all municipalities in the times and promotion of school routes, road
SPA have approved acoustic capacity maps. The safety education campaigns and promoting
areas with most traffic and highest population non-motorized means of transport. Dynamic speed management to reduce traffic congestion and pollution
densities are shown clearly on these maps and
there is no need to perform further studies that Depending on prevailing pollution levels and, in the level of pollution. Varying the speed limit de
could voluntarily or involuntarily delay their im particular, the persistence of environmental epi pending on the level of traffic congestion is the
plementation. sodes, the speed will be limited to 90 km/h and most effective measure for reducing pollution
An effort will be made to associate the creation the public will be informed that it is an environ during rush hour periods; this measure will be
of APUAs with other lines of action, such as im mental measure to prevent further increases in applied daily to reduce traffic-related pollution.
34 35Working for cleaner air in the agglomeration of Barcelona 4. Sectors and actions of the Plan
Air Quality Action Plan, horizon 2020 Transport and mobility
Greener vehicle fleet Discounts at tolls in the metropolitan
area for cleaner vehicles and access to
the BUS-VAO-ECO lane
The goal of this action is to provide an incen
tive to renew the vehicle fleet associated with
private commuter travel towards a less pollu
ting and less noisy fleet, giving clear signals
that avoid the environmental inconsistencies
or shortcomings associated with the fuel or ve
hicle registration taxes, for which no changes
Given the low occupancy of private vehicles for
are foreseen in the short term, in spite of the
commuter travel, where 4 out of every 5 vehi
warnings from the EU, the WHO and even the
cles have only one occupant, the driver, there is a
vehicle manufacturers and automobile clubs
need to implement measures that provide incen
about the pollution caused by a highly dieseli
tives for people to share cars to go to their place
zed, ageing vehicle population. of work or study. These incentives can focus on
Cleaner technologies such as electric vehicles, travel time and monetary cost. The BUS-VAO-
natural gas, small-engine hybrid vehicles, and ECO lane enables queue-free entry and exit from
Electric propulsion or alternative fuels such as natural gas in public transport networks is also low-emission vehicles can apply for dis the city of Barcelona, thereby shortening travel
essential to combat urban air pollution counts at the entry or exit tolls within the metro time. At the same time, vehicles with more than
politan area included in the special atmospheric 3 occupants can benefit from discounts up to
protection declaration. For local zero-emission 40% at the tolls in the metropolitan area.
Promote the modernization of pub- Emblem of Guarantee of Environ- vehicles, the discounts can be as much as 100%; To obtain entitlement to this measure, vehicles
lic vehicle fleets, applying green pro- mental Quality of vehicle fleets for the other vehicles, the discount should not must obtain Ecovia’T certification and registra
curement criteria This is a voluntary cer exceed 30%. These vehicles are entitled to use tion, which is provided by the Ministry of Terri
Renew public vehicle fleets applying the crite tification the obtaining the BUS-VAO-ECO lane. tory and Sustainability.
ria contained in the Green procurement guide of which is conditional
for vehicles, which includes greening guidelines upon compliance with
for vehicle contracting to be used by the Cata a series of environmen
lan Government’s departments and public sec tal criteria which must
tor companies. This Guide requires companies be accredited. Another
taking part in public procurement tenders to in requirement is that a
clude in the tender the undertaking that 30% of significant part of the
the vehicles will be driven by alternative power vehicles in the fleet, de
supplies and have low pollutant emissions, in pending on type (car,
accordance with the AQAP, horizon 2020, cri taxi, van, bus or lorry),
have low emissions of
teria for eligibility for the Emblem of Guarantee
atmospheric pollutants,
of Environmental Quality of vehicle fleets. These
using fleet and route management systems and
criteria are published in the Official Journal of the
the drivers have received training in efficient
Government of Catalonia.
driving. At present, 4,500 vehicles in Catalonia
The Plan also extends this condition to heavy belong to fleets accredited with the Emblem of
vehicle fleets that provide public services. Guarantee of Environmental Quality.
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