RI-URBANS

Urban areas face increasing challenges related to air pollution, impacting public health and quality of life. The ‘Air Quality in Europe 2021’ report estimates that approximately 307,000 premature deaths in 2019 were linked to long-term exposure to fine particulate matter. Although the European Air Quality Directive (NAQD) has successfully helped to decrease these numbers over recent decades, poor air quality remains to pose serious health concerns in urban, industrial, and rural regions. 

RI-URBANS project- co-led by CSIC and University of Helsinki, involving the former AXA Postdoctoral Fellow Fulvio Amato, with the support of the European Commission and the AXA Research Fund, t links the scientific expertise from Aerosols, Clouds and Trace gases Research InfraStructure (ACTRIS), with the urban air quality monitoring capabilities of the regulatory air quality networks. within the framework of the new European Air Quality Directive 2024/2881/CE (published on 20 November 2024), the project aims to adapt and enhance advanced Service Tools (STs) from atmospheric Research Infrastructures to better address the air quality challenges in European cities, industrial sites, harbours, airports, and traffic hotspots while striving to respond to the urgent need to reduce air pollution and its health impacts across the EU. 

To achieve these goals, RI-URBANS focuses on measuring novel air quality metrics and contributions from diverse sources, assessing their health impacts and mapping the urban exposure, developing updated emission inventories and models, and testing these Service Tools in nine pilot cities—Athens, Barcelona, Birmingham, Bucharest, Milan, Paris, Rotterdam-Amsterdam, Helsinki, and Zurich.  

The project ensures that the tools are not only scientifically advanced but also practical and scalable. STs will be deployed across monitoring networks and agencies, with continuous improvement through feedback from both authorities and citizens. Additionally, RI-URBANS incorporates robust communication, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement strategies, ensuring its solutions are practical, cost-effective, and widely applicable. With the involvement of 27 partners from 13 EU countries, RI-URBANS is progressing as a highly interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging expertise from atmospheric scientists, health researchers, and air quality experts. 

The ultimate goal of RI-URBANS is to transform how air quality is monitored and managed in European urban areas, paving the way for more effective and integrated air quality policies. Beyond improving public health, RI-URBANS also supports the growth of local and European companies specializing in the air quality sector, fostering innovation and economic development. With its focus on sustainability, citizen engagement, and cutting-edge science, RI-URBANS is poised to make a lasting impact on urban air quality management, ensuring cleaner air and healthier lives for generations to come.

Now in its final stage, the RI-URBANS project is preparing to share its key findings and outcomes. For more information about RI-URBANS and to stay informed on their latest initiatives, visit their website and explore their instructional videos below.

RI-URBANS: Advancing Urban Air Quality Across Europe

For detailed insights into their results, access their publication here.