Air pollution is a major concern for all citizens because of 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 the University of Columbia’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 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 spokeswoman 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 that state that, although air quality in the EU has improved over the past decade, there are still significant problems, which lead 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 that citizens should breathe but urban populations are still exposed to levels of NO2 and particulate matter that are well above these limits.

We need to raise the bar when it comes to action related to air pollution

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

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

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 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 goals 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 that 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 cut 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 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 release in the calculations of CO₂ emissions as well as a proposal on fuel consumption meters and gearshift indicators.

All in all, I can safely declare 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 policymakers, governments and citizens together. Real changes will not materialize simply because of rules are imposed to cut emissions.

Everyone needs to realize 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 futute generations.

Miriam Dalli is a Labour MEP.