Overview of air quality measures aiming to reduce emissions from road traffic and mitigate health impact in Belgium

Poor air quality is the number one environmental cause of premature death across the EU. Although great efforts have been made in the last decade to reduce air pollution levels in Belgium, a considerable part of the population is still exposed to concentration levels exceeding the WHO Air Quality Guidelines. Therefore, identifying and quantifying the effectiveness of policies that further reduce those levels is becoming particularly important in supporting policymaking. The aim of this research is to inventory the air quality measures aiming to reduce emissions from road traffic and mitigate health impact in Belgium. This report does not claim to be exhaustive but aims to provide an extensive overview of the current situation in Belgium regarding air quality measures and the various stakeholders involved in combating road-traffic air pollution in Belgium. Its purpose is to serve as a guide for stakeholders engaged in managing air quality and functions as a practical tool aiding the design of effective measures for reducing air pollutant emissions, ultimately safeguarding health of the Belgian population. This report is divided into three parts: • An overview of the landscape of stakeholders engaged in addressing air pollution in Belgium, including governmental and non-governmental entities at various levels: regional, federal, and European • An overview of existing air quality measures implemented at regional, federal, and European levels, including legislative measures, strategic action plans, campaigns, and citizen-driven initiatives • An examination of the scientific literature on the effectiveness of traffic-related air quality measures in Belgium, assessing their impact on concentration levels and improved public health outcomes This study is part of the broader "BELAIR-POL project" which aim to assess the potential benefits of hypothetical air pollution reduction policies on non-communicable diseases, multi-morbidity, and mortality in Belgium. Further information about the project can be found on the Sciensano website: https://www.sciensano.be/en/projects/assessing-benefits-air-pollution-reduction-interventions-multimorbidity-and-mortality-belgiu