Over the past 30 years, Europe has stepped up policies to improve air quality. From 2019 to 2020, the three European cities with the best air quality were Umeå in Sweden, Tampere in Finland and Funchal in Portugal. While those with the most polluted air were Nowy Sacz in Poland, Cremona in Italy and Slavonski Brod in Croatia.
The European city air quality viewer includes 323 cities, but in only 127 cities the air quality is good. However, the European Economic Area (EEA) in 2018 concluded that exposure to the finest particulates was the cause of 417,000 premature deaths in 41 European countries in 2018. A significant part of the European urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have a significant impact on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. This results in economic costs, avoidable deaths, increased healthcare costs and reduced productivity due to lost work days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. Although very slowly we are becoming aware that the air we breathe, the increases in temperatures not only in our days, the melting of the ice have a common denominator: climate change, that is, the long-term variations of temperatures and meteorological patterns. There are natural variations, but since the 19th century, we have evidence that human activities were the main factor behind climate change.
The use of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil and gas) and their combustion leads to the production of greenhouse gases that retain heat and increase the temperature of the planet. The world, also thanks to the impetus given by young people with the Fridays for future movement, begins to move. COP 26, the conference of the parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, held its 26th meeting in November last year hosted by the United Kingdom in partnership with Italy. The objectives are to eliminate net emissions globally by 2050 and aim to limit the increase in temperatures to 1.5 ° C, with the escape from fossil fuels, reducing deforestation, focusing on electric mobility and investing in renewables.
Europe wants to do its part by allocating 30% of its funds to the fight against climate change. Sardinia is in a position to accelerate this change. In recent history we have accepted polluting productions in exchange for jobs. Now we must be the ones who write and dictate the rules for the industries, or rather, the companies that want to produce electricity from renewable sources in our territory. We have the sun shining on uncultivated land that produces nothing and can produce the gold of tomorrow and then we have the wind that blows around our island, east and west. The combination of photovoltaics and wind power is an inestimable wealth that will make our environment unique. Then investors are welcome but we will determine what the initial costs will be for the exploitation of these riches, in detail. How much of the energy produced must be made available to Sardinia. How much must be the cost for the light and wind used, the royalties to be paid to our region annually for the entire duration of the contract of use. We are the masters of the sun and the wind. Sardinia can become an example for everyone. The environment, our lives and our economy will gain from it.
Antonio Barracca