Air pollution is a major concern for all citizens due to its direct impact on health and well-being. According to one of the latest reports released by the World Health Organisation, air pollution is one of the main environment-related risks to our health, causing 3.7 million premature deaths around the world in 2012.

Furthermore, according to researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, prenatal exposure to a particular component of air pollution raises the odds of behaviour problems associated with ADHD.

This means that we need to urgently improve policies aimed at reducing air pollution. Such policies will eventually lessen the risk of major health problems such as lung cancer and heart diseases.

I was recently chosen by the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament to act as their spokesperson on a report aimed at reducing pollutant emissions from vehicles. In turn, this will eventually help us improve air quality.

Let me start off by stating that I strongly agree with the conclusions of several scientific studies which state that although air quality in the EU has improved over the past decade, there are still significant problems leading to a number of serious health issues.

It is a well-known fact that a significant component of air pollution stems from exhaust emissions from vehicles containing nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. In previous legislations, the EU has set limit values for the maximum amount of air pollution citizens should breathe, but urban populations are still exposed to levels of NO2 and Particulate Matter that are well above these limits.

For example, according to the European Environmental Agency, road transport is accountable for 42 per cent of NOx emissions in the EU. NOx emissions are small particles which can penetrate deeply into sensitive lung tissue and damage it. In Malta, traffic fumes make up 32 per cent of these NOx emissions.

The European Environmental Agency also estimates that vehicle emissions on a European level between 1990 and 2011 have increased by 36 per cent. Over the same period Malta experienced a spike of 61.9 per cent in vehicle emissions.

The Commission has called for a reduction of EU transport emissions by 60 per cent from 1990 levels by 2050 (a decrease of 70 per cent from today’s emissions).

The EU should take the initiative and strive for a global effort to reduce air pollutions

EU legislation also requires car manufacturers to ensure that by 2021 the average CO₂ emissions of sold cars are capped at a fleet-average of 95g per kilometre. Furthermore, the European Commission has boldly declared that traditional combustion-engine vehicles should disappear from city centres by 2050.

Some may consider these targets as ambitious but it is absolutely essential to have realistic targets to get us close to such lofty ideals. And here the main question is: are such targets achievable? I would say yes if we would be open to new technologies and if we are ready to change the way we have done things so far.

There are a plethora of areas of innovation that can help us achieve a reduction in CO₂ emissions starting from new generation vehicle batteries which are more environmentally friendly, stop-start systems which turn off the engine whenever the car is stationary and better design of tyres.

These are all technological developments that help reduce CO₂ emissions. Another way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is through alternative fuels such as LP gas or better still by promoting electric and hybrid cars.

The report I am currently working on focuses on amending two important regulations with respect to the reduction of pollutant emissions from road vehicles. It includes a number of technical issues such as the revision of tailpipe emissions of light duty vehicles at cold temperatures, the inclusion of methane emissions in the calculations of CO₂ emissions as well as a proposal on fuel consumption meters and gearshift indicators. All in all, I can state that it is a good effort to increase European air quality standards while amending regulations intended to reduce pollutant emissions from road vehicles.

I strongly believe that such an effort needs to be exported beyond the EU’s borders. In fact the EU should take the initiative and strive for a global effort to reduce air pollution.

We need to establish a collective effort that brings policy-makers, governments and citizens together. Real changes will not materialise simply because of rules imposed to cut emissions. Everyone needs to realise that they can make a contribution through small changes in our everyday habits.

We need to raise the bar when it comes to action related to air pollution since such efforts will have a lasting effect on global health while making the world a better place for future generations.

Miriam Dalli is a Labour MEP.