The Impact of City Air on Health and Green Urbanism
City air pollution has dire consequences for our health, leading to a wide range of diseases such as asthma and lung cancer. According to a report by the European Environment Agency, in 2019, polluted air resulted in 175,702 years lived with disability (YLDs) due to chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in 30 European countries. Additionally, fine particulate matter caused 238,000 premature deaths. Urban traffic and energy consumption contribute significantly to climate change, and the current infrastructure is not adequately equipped to handle the adverse effects of the climate crisis.
There is a growing conversation about the need to shift away from car-centered cities towards greener transportation options. However, this shift is met with resistance, as owning a car is often viewed as a status symbol and a symbol of class. Access to a vehicle has historically been a marker of status, with instances dating back to literature from the 19th century where characters needed carriages to maintain their social standing.
Throughout the 20th century, city planning prioritized individual drivers over public transport and communal spaces, leading to a call for change. Green Urbanism aims to place communities and the environment at the center of city design, creating livable spaces for both pedestrians and drivers. European cities have been gradually moving towards this approach, integrating greenery with urban architecture and promoting sustainable transportation methods.
Architects, scholars, activists, and artists are reimagining buildings as integral components of the urban ecosystem, impacting housing, traffic, work, and community life. While the journey towards Green Urbanism faces challenges such as financial constraints and legal barriers, the potential benefits, including cleaner air, clearer waters, and stronger communities, make it a worthwhile pursuit.
Meet the Guests
Jessica Furseth is a London-based freelance journalist exploring unique aspects of urban life.
Adél Csűrök represents From Streets to Homes, an NGO implementing the Housing First method in Hungary.
Lina Mosshammer is the Co-Founder & CEO of Punkt vor Strich and a Policy Officer at Verkehrsclub Österreich, leading initiatives in sustainable urban transportation.
We catch up with them at the Bikes and Rails Housing Project in Vienna.
Creative Team
Réka Kinga Papp, Editor-in-Chief
Merve Akyel, Art Director
Szilvia Pintér, Producer
Zsófia Gabriella Papp, Executive Producer
Margarita Lechner, Writer-Editor
Salma Shaka, Writer-Editor
Priyanka Hutschenreiter, Project Assistant
Management Team
Hermann Riessner, Managing Director
Judit Csikós, Project Manager
Csilla Nagyné Kardos, Office Administration
OKTO Crew
Senad Hergić, Producer
Leah Hochedlinger, Video Recording
Marlena Stolze, Video Recording
Clemens Schmiedbauer, Video Recording
Richard Brusek, Sound Recording
Postproduction Team
Nóra Ruszkai, Lead Video Editor
István Nagy, Video Editor
Milán Golovics, Conversation Editor
Art
Victor Maria Lima, Animation
Cornelia Frischauf, Theme Music
Captions and Subtitles
Julia Sobota, Closed Captions & Polish / French Subtitles
Farah Ayyash, Arabic Subtitles
Mia Belén Soriano, Spanish Subtitles
Marta Ferdebar, Croatian Subtitles
Lídia Nádori, German Subtitles
Katalin Szlukovényi, Hungarian Subtitles
Daniela Univazo, German Subtitles
Olena Yermakova, Ukrainian Subtitles
Aida Yermekbayeva, Russian Subtitles
Mars Zaslavsky, Italian Subtitles
Hosted by the Bikes and Rails Housing Project, Vienna.
Sources
Report: Health impacts of air pollution in Europe, 2022 by the European Environment Agency.
Disclosure
This talk show is a Display Europe production: a media platform rooted in public values. The programme is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union and the European Cultural Foundation.
The views expressed in this content are solely those of the authors and speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The European Union and EACEA cannot be held responsible for the views presented.