Europe: End dangerous noise pollution now
To EU institutions and national governments
Petition
We call on the European Union and Member States to urgently tackle the noise pollution crisis and protect public health by:
- Setting legally binding national noise reduction targets aligned with the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan, aiming to reduce by 30% the number of people chronically disturbed by transport noise by 2030.
- Increasing dedicated funding for noise mitigation measures, including investments in quieter transport technologies, improved road surfaces, and the construction of noise barriers to reduce noise at its source.
- Integrating noise management into urban planning and design, prioritising the creation of quieter, healthier public spaces.
- Providing cities with updated guidance and tools to effectively measure, map, and manage noise pollution using the latest EU noise calculation methodologies, ensuring comparable data and targeted action.
- Promoting and scaling proven local solutions to demonstrate best practices across Europe.
Why is this important?
Imagine never getting a good night’s sleep because of constant road traffic or aircraft overhead. This is the daily reality for 1 in 3 Europeans. [1]
This isn’t just annoying. Transport noise harms our health. It’s linked to heart disease, depression [2], and even early death. Children’s learning suffers. Wildlife is disrupted. And our economy bears the cost – nearly €100 billion every year. [3]
The EU has promised to reduce the number of people chronically harmed by transport noise by 30% by 2030. But at the current pace, not only will we miss that target – we’re on track for things to get worse. [4]
The good news? Cities across Europe are already proving change is possible.
In Antwerp, parks have been redesigned with noise barriers and water features to create peaceful urban spaces. Rotterdam has introduced excessive noise alerts to encourage quieter driving habits. [5] Florence is testing quieter road surfaces for electric vehicles. [6]
These are practical, proven steps – what’s missing is political will to scale them up for all cities in Europe.
Our leaders like to present themselves as champions of innovation. Let’s challenge them to prove it – by matching the ambition of these cities and delivering on their EU obligations.
Your voice will help show there’s strong public support for bold action – and that the time to lead is now.
Let’s tell our leaders: don’t fall behind – lead the way in building a healthier future for us all.
References:
[1] https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/newsroom/news/europeans-exposed-to-harmful-noise-pollution-levels
[2] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-024-00642-5
[3] https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/zero-pollution-monitoring-and-outlook-report https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/newsroom/news/europeans-exposed-to-harmful-noise-pollution-levels
[4] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/noise-directive-implementation-report_en
[5] “The city introduced an innovative ‘noise smiley’ system, which displays messages on roadside screens alerting drivers when they are generating excessive noise. This system not only raises awareness among drivers but also serves as a tool for encouraging quieter driving habits. Building on this success, Rotterdam is exploring the possibility of introducing noise flash cameras that could automatically issue fines to those who violate noise regulations, further enhancing enforcement.”
https://eurocities.eu/latest/a-call-for-urgent-action-to-tackle-noise-pollution-in-european-cities/
[6] https://eurocities.eu/latest/a-call-for-urgent-action-to-tackle-noise-pollution-in-european-cities/