During confinement, emissions, particularly those linked to road traffic, had experienced a brutal and unprecedented fall, […] divided by 4 compared to pre-containment levels
in Ile-de-France, recalls in an Airparif press release, which monitors air quality in the capital region.
Over the period from 11 to 31 May, the gradual resumption of activities, and particularly of traffic, led to an increase in the quantities of pollutants released into the atmosphere for nitrogen oxides (pollutant mainly emitted by road traffic) and particles (PM10 and PM2.5) at levels equivalent to 80% of the emissions observed before confinement, and up to 90% for the ring road
, indicates Airparif.
A “gradual return to normal”
CO2 emissions have also started to rise again, with the usual levels up to 80%
, specifies Airparif.
In terms of air quality, this rise in emissions results in a back to normal […] gradual, with varying intensity depending on the pollutants. But pollution levels are already approaching the usual conditions in Ile-de-France at this time of the year
.
So for fine particles, after a decrease of -7% during confinement, the levels usually observed at this time of the year are reached again
, while for nitrogen dioxide, the drop in air concentration went from -25% during confinement to -15% during the first 3 weeks of deconfinement
.
This rise in pollution, particularly due to road traffic, was expected and was also observed by other regional approved associations for monitoring air quality (AASQA), such as in Occitania or New Aquitaine, without returning at pre-containment levels.
An unavoidable subject “from the next world”
The national network of 18 AASQA is also encountering major funding difficulties and alerted Prime Minister Édouard Philippe in a letter, wishing to grant a exceptional grant
of three million euros.
In a letter, the president of their Atmo France federation, Guy Bergé, that of the National Air Council, the deputy LREM Jean-Luc Fugit, the senator LR Jean-François Husson, representative of the Senate at the National Air Council , and the presidents of the 18 AASQA, alert the head of government to their difficulties, even though the issue of air quality will be an unavoidable subject of the world according to
the Covid crisis, and want an interview to discuss these issues.
They warn that their economic model – state subsidies, communities and tax-exempt donations from companies subject to the general tax on polluting activities (TGAP) – is weakened
, notably by the drop in this third source of income.
Gold the missions requested from our associations are constantly growing
, even though the regulatory part (of their work) is not today completely compensated by the State,
said Guy Bergé, estimating some 4 million shortfall in TGAP.
The Covid crisis has shown that this problem will be more and more important. We were able to measure pollution variations rigorously because we have this solid network, which also serves to support and inform public policies,
Jean-Luc Fugit said on his side.
– .
