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There is sufficient evidence to indicate that reducing emissions of major air pollutants leads to reduced levels of particulate air pollution, population exposure and adverse health effects.
In October 2007 the European Commission proposed an ambitious strategy for achieving further significant improvements in air quality across Europe as announced already in a 2005 press release EC press release. For more information, see the following links: EC air quality directive final adoption, EC directive on air quality standards, EC proposal for a directive on ambient air quality and EC directive on ambient air quality The directive is published in the EU's Official Journal in May 2008 alongside a Commission declaration on progress in developing and adopting further measures that address emissions from various sources..
This 'Thematic Strategy on air pollution' aims to cut the annual number of premature deaths from air pollution-related diseases by almost 40% from the 2000 level by 2020. The Strategy aims to reduce the number of premature deaths related to fine particulate matter and ozone from 370,000 a year in 2000 to 230,000 in 2020.
| Based on current predictions, as given in the CAFE (Clean Air For Europe) programme, there would still be over 290,000 premature deaths a year in 2020 if no action is taken. It is estimated that the Strategy will deliver health benefits worth at least €42 billion per year through for example fewer premature deaths, less sickness, fewer hospital admissions, improved labour productivity. This is more than five times higher than the cost of implementing the Strategy, which is estimated to cost around €7.1 billion per annum, or about 0.05% of EU-25 GDP in 2020.
Full details of the Strategy and the CAFE programme available on the European Commission’s website, and on the background document on  the CAFE programme.
Also relevant are the strategies to improve environmental factors in relation to health with a special focus on children called the Children's Environment and Health Action Plans (CEHAPE). For more details see ENHIS CEHAPE.
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