During the workshops, the students did the following task:

Based on what you have learnt about the countries participating in the “Impossible Becomes Possible” project so far, prepare a presentation related to the SMOG issue answering the following questions: What are the causes of SMOG? What is done to prevent it? 

Use the ideas from the lecture in Warsaw University of Technology and Power Point presentations which can be found in: C1 VISIT IN POLAND Impossible folder as well as the information you have been given since the beginning of the meeting in Poland.

Name of Folder: C1 VISIT IN POLAND Impossible – TASKS - TASK 2 SMOG IMPACT AND POLICY or TASK 3 SMOG ALERT

 

 

DENMARK

GREECE

ITALY

POLAND

SPAIN

What are the causes of smog?

The causes of SMOG in Denmark is usually the factories. In Denmark they doesn’t use coalburning like in Poland.

Among other sources, nitrogen dioxide and other popllutants are produced by traffic, fossil fuels and wood smoke. Smog levels in many Greek cities have risen in recent years as a result of an increased dependance on fireplaces and wood-burning stoves as a cheaper alternative for heating homes. 

Air pollution is linked to the alteration of natural air conditions. This change depends on exhaust emissions from vehicles, boilers, power plants, incineration plants and factories.

The main problem with smog in Poland does not seem to be gasoline emissions from cars, but coal emissions. Over the years, the country has developed a robust coal industry, strategic for guaranteeing employment and energy of national production.

In Spain, the causes of SMOG are the vehicle combustibles and gas combustion, because the policies do not help people to buy electric vehicles or start using renewable energies. 

What is done to prevent it?

In Denmark the problem isn’t alarming, so they are doing small changes. Such as making people bike more and setting the prices of electric cars down

  • long-standing bans on diesel cars 
  • Retireement of old vehicles
  • Restriction of the free flow of cars
  • Expansion of the subway system
  • Abolishment of nuclear power plants 
  • Investmment in renewable energy sources  

An exemplary case regarding the attempt to reduce ennvironmental and atmospheric pollution comes from Rome, where a wall has been created that can capture smog.

Among the few anti-pollution operations, there is the initiative of the city of Krakow, which approved a regulation to ban the use of coal and wood to produce heat starting from 2019. To achieve this gopal we are replacing coal stoves wiuth modern electric boilers. 

Polititians are banning the entrance to the cities center with gas vehicles, promoting the public transport and bycicle or walking movements. 

 

 

DENMARK

GREECE

ITALY

POLAND

SPAIN

What are the causes of SMOG?

Cars, heating

Cars-traffic, Powerplants nearby (from Turkey,Bulgaria)

Domestic heating, transportation

Cars, factories, old heating boilers

Cars, industrial gases

What is done to prevent it?

1.     Cleaner working machines

2.     Buses and trains

3.     Ship and tourism

4.     Stoves: Old apartments

5.     Different Asphalt

1.     Retirement plan for old vehicles 

2.     Restriction of the free flow of cars

3.     Expansion of the subway system

 

1.     Involving in the Project “Clean Air”

2.     Using anti-smog materials for architecture

3.     Making public transport more efficient.

1.     Replacement of stoves for gas stoves

2.     Development of air quality monitoring system

3.     More controls during the heating season

1.     Few Policies

2.     restricion for vehicles in large cities

3.     environmental taxes

4.     improvment to mobility (bicycle lanes)