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EC Actions on IAQ

EC Actions on IAQ. SINPHONIE Project kick-off meeting 10-12 November, REC Conference Center, Szentendre Hungary Stylianos Kephalopoulos , EC-JRC. P resentation ’s overview. 1. Indoor Air Quality policy formulation in EU. 2. DG SANCO’s Strategy on IAQ: objectives & implementation.

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EC Actions on IAQ

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  1. EC Actions on IAQ SINPHONIE Project kick-off meeting 10-12 November, REC Conference Center, Szentendre Hungary Stylianos Kephalopoulos, EC-JRC

  2. Presentation’s overview 1. Indoor Air Quality policy formulation in EU 2. DG SANCO’s Strategy on IAQ: objectives & implementation 3. The way forward: challenging implementation issues 4. Conclusions

  3. 1. Indoor Air Quality policy formulation in EU

  4. Less than 10 years of recognition of IAQ as a policy relevant issue • EU Conference on Environment and Health by EU Presidency & European Commission - Egmond aan Zee (NL) (2004) • E&H Action Plan 2004-2010 - Action 12 on IAQ - a decisive EU policy step • F. Ries Report and EP Resolution (2005) • Parma Declaration on Environment and Health (May 2010) • DG Sanco Strategy Plan on IAQ (2007-2010) • Resolutions of High Level event on “Product Policy and Indoor Air Quality” (Sep 2010)

  5. Parma declaration of Environment and Health (May 2010) Commitment to Act (...) Regional Priority Goal 3: Preventing disease through improved outdoor and indoor air quality (...) We will continue and enhance our efforts to decrease the incidence of acute and chronic respiratory diseases through reduction of exposure to ultrafine particles and other particulate matter, especially from industry, transport and domestic combustion, as well as ground-level ozone, in line with WHO’s air quality guidelines. (...)

  6. Parma declaration of Environment and Health (May 2010) Commitment to Act Regional Priority Goal 3: Preventing disease through improved outdoor and indoor air quality We will develop appropriate cross-sectoral policies and regulations capable of making a strategic difference in order to reduce indoor pollution (...) We aim to provide each child with a healthy indoor environment in child care facilities, kindergartens, schools and public recreational settings, implementing WHO’s indoor air quality guidelines (...)

  7. 2. DG SANCO’s Strategy on IAQ: objectives & implementation

  8. DG SANCO Strategy Plan on IAQ (2007-2010): objectives • Improve knowledge on IAQ relevant pollutants and associated health impacts to support policy development • Reduce health impact of key IAQ pollutants by: • Reducing emissions at source • Undertaking measures related to the building envelope such as optimising building design, materials and ventilation practices • Increase public awareness about the importance of IAQ and inform public about ways to improve IAQ in various indoor settings in EU

  9. DG SANCO Strategy Plan on IAQ (2007-2010): implementation IAQ Policy-Science framework and accountability loop for health impact assessment: - EnVIE (Co-ordination action on IAQ & Health Effects) – Univ. Porto (2004-2008) - IAIAQ (Impact Assessment of IAQ) – THL (2010) Implementation process - steps: • Prioritising of IAQ relevant pollutants Vs health effects - THADE (Towards Healthy Indoor Air in Dwellings in Europe – EFA (2002-2004), - INDEX (2005), SCHER report (2007), WHO (2008) • Establishing guideline values for key IAQ pollutants - WHO IAQ on chemicals, moisture and dampness (2009-2010) - INDEX and INDEX-UPRIC – JRC (2003-2005, 2009-2010) - HEALTH-VENT (Health based ventilation guidelines) – DTU (2010-2012)

  10. DG SANCO Strategy Plan on IAQ (2007-2010): implementation Implementation process - steps: • Monitoring exposure patterns Vs health effects - INDOOR-MONIT (Harmonised criteria and protocols for monitoring key indoor air pollutants) – JRC (2009-2010) - EPHECT (Emissions, exposure patterns and health effects of consumer products in EU) – VITO (2010-2013) • Identifying & improving sources of indoor air pollution - BUMA (Building materials prioritisation as indoor pollution sources) - UoWM (2006-2009) - HEALTHY AIR (Effects of building materials on indoor air quality, health and comfort) - TNO (2008-2010) - Harmonisation Framework for indoor products labelling schemes in EU – JRC (2009-)

  11. DG SANCO Strategy Plan on IAQ (2007-2010): implementation Implementation process - steps: • Reducing exposure patterns of key IAQ pollutants - CLEAR-UP (Clean and resource efficient buildings for real life) – Univ. of Tübingen (2008-2012) - RADPAR (Radon Prevention and Remediation) – UoWM (2009-2012) - OFFICAIR (On the reduction of health effects from combined exposure to indoor air pollutants in modern offices) – UoWM (2010-2013)

  12. DG SANCO Strategy Plan on IAQ (2007-2010): implementation Implementation process – Vs indoor settings & vulnerable groups: Schools: - HESE (Health Effects of Schools Environment) – Univ. Siena - HESE-INT (Interventions on Health Effects of School Environment) – Univ. Siena - EFA project (Indoor Air Pollution in Schools) - BIBA (Indoor Air Pollution in Schools) – VITO - French project on Schools - OQAI - SEARCH (School environment and respiratory health of children) - REC - SINPHONIE (Schools Indoor Pollution and Health: Observatory Network in Europe) - REC

  13. 3. The way forward: challenging implementation issues

  14. The need for a holistic approach: • There is a clear need for a holistic approach for better alignment of • cross-sectoral policies, regulations and standards related to the built environment Buildings = architecture + construction (materials+components) + systems + operation and maintenance • Cross-cutting Directives & Related Standards • EPBD Recast (2010/../EC) • Energy Performance of Buildings Directive • CPD (89/106/EEC) • Construction Products Directive • …..

  15. The need for a holistic approach: IAIAQ project: Estimates of annual increase of health benefits which could be achieved by the assessed policies and scenarios in years 2005…2020, and at the time in the future when each of these policies has been completely implemented in the entire building stock of EU-26 • Most of the processes are slow • Only few policies could reach as much as half of their potentials by 2020; others only one fourth • More than half of the DALYs lost today due to indoor air exposures could ultimately be prevented by the assessed policies.

  16. Promotion of the holistic approach: • Promoted by the Belgian Presidency by the High Level event on • “Product Policy and Indoor Air Quality”, 23-24 Sept 2010 and included in the final conclusions which were forwarded to the Council for endorsement in Dec 2010 • To set up a horizontal framework addressing and supporting the coordination of policies relevant for indoor air quality. The following parties should be involved at least: Commission services (DG ENTR, DG ENV, DG SANCO, DG ENER, DG RTD, DG JRC) ; Member State representatives; scientists and stakeholders from industry and NGO’s. This framework must also be built in coherence with the existing policy tools (e.g: Reach, Ecodesign Directive, EPBD, Ecolabel regulation, etc). • To prepare a Green or White paper on IAQ to support: (a) policy decisions based on a realistic view and public IAQ related health targets and make projections on impact changes due to implementation of EC and EU MS policies (e.g., implementation of EPBD); (b) the definition of policy objectives on indoor air quality standards, linked with regulatory instruments (e.g. emission standards for building and consumer products or minimal ventilation requirements)

  17. Implementation of the holistic approach: JRC Task Force on “Safe, Healthy, Energy Efficient and Sustainable buildings” • What is it for?: • An instrument intended to facilitate the setting up and implementation of a holistic approach for cross-sectoral policies, standards and regulations related to the construction sector (i.e. Sustainable buildings, Green Buildings, Energy efficiency, Healthy, Safety) with the aim of involving under a common ‘umbrella’ as many strategic partners and stakeholders affected as possible via a flexible structure which will allow to elaborate options and underpin incentives and measures at both research and policy levels in a more co-ordinated and efficient way. • Five JRC institutes (i.e., IPSC, IHCP, IE, IES and IPTS) in close liaison with the EC services concerned (i.e., DGs ENTR, SANCO, ENV and ENER) will ensure a smooth “bi-directional” approach which would allow the elaboration of science-based policy options with focus on streamlining the harmonization of existing regulations and alignment of cross-cutting policies related to the built environment.

  18. Implementation of the holistic approach: JRC Task Force on “Safe, Healthy, Energy Efficient and Sustainable buildings” • Focus on key challenges and policies: • Lead Market in construction, new Construction Products Regulation (CPR), Energy 20-20-20, Environmental Sustainability, Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC), Energy Performance of Building Directive – EPBD (2002/91/EC), EC Lead Market Initiative (COM(2007)860), Integrated Product Policy (IPP), Chemical Policy (REACH), Green Public Procurement, Thematic Strategy on Urban Environment (COM(2004)60), Integration of Environmental Aspects into European Standardisation (COM(2004)206), Sustainable Industrial Policy, Thematic Strategy on Waste and Recycling.

  19. 4. Conclusions

  20. A strategy to improve IAQ and associated health effects should be comprehensive and able to increase synergies and progressively integrate aspects among cross-cutting policy areas and to build on relevant existing legislation. • The efficient implementation of IAQ strategy in EU relies heavily on the clear involvement and commitment of all partners and stakeholders concerned.

  21. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Let’s work together For a healthier, safer, energy efficient and sustainable built environment

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