Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

1. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 Final conference of COST 356 – EST“Towards the definition of a measurable environmentally sustainable transport” WHAT TO MEASURE WITH INDICATORS: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF TRANSPORT Prof.Gerassimos Arapismani@aua.gr Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

2. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 Is the environment under threat? Transport can have a negative effect on: • The non-biotic parts of the environment (air, soil, water…), including human monuments/dwellings • The biotic parts of the environment (humans, fauna, flora, microbes…) • The interactions between biotic and non-biotic (biological functions, ecosystem services…) Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

3. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 What needs to be done? We need to measure in an accurate way the negatif effects of transport on the environment This is a complicate task, because we must evaluate: • All possible effects on the elements of interest • The degree of exposure of these elements to the threats due to transport • The uncertainty of methodology used Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

4. Risk assessment principle IER=Impact= ? Exposure Compare IER< > =Uncertainty If IER> =Uncertainty (low risk) If IER<Uncertainty (high risk and consider further)

5. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 How can we do this? • Through the use of DPSIR-approach • On Cost 356 we focus on the “Impacts” • We also need to consider “Pressures” and “State” Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

6. Long Term Short Term Biological Complexity, Time Ecological Significance Pollutant or Stressor Molecular & Cellular Tissue Organs Individual Animal Ecosystem Uncertainty Population Decline, Loss of Biodiversity, Habitat Destruction Pathology, Immunodeficiency and Physiological Disturbance Impacts at what level ?

7. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 Why it is important? With the measurement of the Impacts (often taking into account the Pressures and the State of the environment) and the application of different alternatives or countermeasures (as Responses), we help to protect and/or to improve not only the environment but also broader sustainability and human welfare Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

8. COST  356, Final Conference and Final MC Meeting Paris, 15-16 March , 2010 Typology of the targets of the impacts on the environment Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

9. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 The tool “environmental impact indicators” • A clear distinction has to be made between impacts, on the one hand, and indicators on the other hand • Impacts are criteria to be considered • An environmental impact indicator is a variable based on measurements, representing an impact of human activity on the environment, as accurately as possible and necessary • Therefore an indicator is the tool for measuring an impact Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

10. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 The concept of chain of causalities • The aim was to use a systemic approach to environmental issues, encompassing all the environmental impacts and all the potential objectives of an environmental policy • In order to do this, the “pressure-state-impact” structure has been enlarged to the concept of chain of causalities • 49 chains are distinguished when taking into account differentiation in the last steps of the process corresponding to the different final targets (nature, humans, man made heritage, earth) Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

11. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 Hierarchy of the chains of causalities • Noise and vibrations • Accidents • Air pollution • Soil and water pollution • Impacts on land • Non-renewable resource use and waste handling • Greenhouse effect • Other impacts Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

12. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 Noise and vibrations • Disappearance of quiet areas • Annoyance and sleep disturbance to people • Effects on human health of noise • Noise and wildlife • Vibrations Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

13. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 Accidents • Effect of traffic accidents on human health • Animal collision: Animal fatalities Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

14. Air pollution (1) Sensitive air pollution • Odours • Soiling • Visibility Direct toxicity of air pollutants • Direct restricted effects on human health • Direct ecotoxicity on fauna and flora Photochemical pollution • Health effects of photochemical pollution • Loss of crop productivity due to photochemical pollution • Ecotoxicity on fauna and flora • Loss of cultural heritage Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

15. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 Air pollution (2) Acidification • Decrease of ecosystem health, loss of biodiversity • Deterioration of historical buildings and other cultural assets • Eutrophication • Dimming Ozone depletion • Health effects of stratospheric ozone depletion • Ecotoxicity on fauna and flora Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

16. Soil and water pollution – Hydrolic risks Pollution of soil, surface waters, groundwater and seas • Effects on ecosystem health of pollution • Health effects of pollution • Recreational areas forbidden due to the pollution Hydraulic changes and risks • Hydraulic changes • Hydraulic risk Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

17. Impacts on land and habitats Land take • Loss of natural habitats due to land take • Degradation of ecosystems due to land take • Modification of outdoor recreation areas, due to land take • Loss of cultural heritage due to land take Habitat fragmentation • Loss of ecosystem health, loss of biodiversity, due to habitat fragmentation • Reduction of living areas of people, due to fragmentation Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

18. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 Soil-Landscapedegradation • Soil erosion • Visual qualities of landscape / townscape Non-renewable resource use and waste handling • Non-renewable resource use • Non-recyclable waste • Direct waste from vehicles Climate change • Greenhouse effect Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

19. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 Other impacts Electromagnetic - light pollution • Health effects of electromagnetic pollution • Effects on ecosystem health of electromagnetic pollution • Light pollution Hazards • Introduction of invasive alien species • Introduction of illnesses • Fire risk • Technological hazards Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

20. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 Agregation of chains of causalities Due to the complexity, agregation is needed Various ways of agregation are possible: • Hierarchy of chains • Top – down description of environmental pilar of sustainability (resources use, quality of life, present and future generations) • Geographical scale (local, global) and time scale (short / long-term) • Reversible – ireversible character Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

21. Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 Example chains and indicators • Direct toxicity of air pollutants • Natural habitat fragmentation • Non-renewable resource Use • Loss of cultural heritage due to land take • Noise – annoyance to humans • Greenhouse effect • Waste Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

22. Conclusions Final Conference of COST  Action 356-EST   Paris, 15 March 2010 Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece The most important environmental impacts are taken into account Various indicators have being evaluated and/or created trough the example chains of causalities The concept of chains of causalities is a useful methodology and gives us new tools in order to evaluate the impacts of transport on the natural environment, on humans (heath and well being), on man made heritage and more globaly on the climate change of the Earth