Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-07-04-Speech-1-152"
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"en.20050704.20.1-152"2
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".
Mr President, I am most grateful for the opportunity to inform you about the thematic strategy on air pollution. This thematic strategy is the first in a series of seven strategies which represent a new way of preparing coordinated environmental policy. The strategy on air pollution is now in the final stages of preparation, having passed through the extensive consultation procedure in which the European Parliament was actively involved.
It is a known fact that air pollution has very harmful consequences on human health: respiratory problems, bronchitis, lung cancer and premature death in both young and elderly people. Nowadays, approximately 350 000 premature deaths a year are linked to air pollution. Even and when the present policies and current legislation have been fully applied, we shall still have over 270 000 premature deaths in 2020.
Air pollution has an adverse effect on the environment and on ecosystems. Thus, up to 1 million square kilometres of natural ecosystems will continue to be at serious risk. In short, the damage to health and the environment is so acute – over EUR 200 billion a year in repercussions on health alone – that we need to step up our action. We need to bear in mind that well prepared environmental policies can make a positive contribution to competitiveness and to the creation of high quality jobs. Air pollution has serious adverse financial repercussions. The health problems which it causes and the poor quality of the air that we breathe lead to the loss of 150 000 million working days a year, to losses in productivity and, as a result, to serious health spending. The agricultural sector loses 2.5 billion a year from the damage caused by ozone.
Nor should we forget that the environment is an issue which attracts constant support from European citizens. In addition, European citizens themselves judge that, in the environmental sector, Community action performs better, providing and creating added value.
Action such as this in connection with air pollution will have direct benefits for European citizens. It will bring about an important improvement in the quality of air that we breathe. It is something we owe European citizens. I trust I can count on your support at this new stage of environmental policy now starting and I hope soon to be able to present the strategy on air pollution."@en1
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