On April 12th, the National Air Day was observed. More than a symbolic date, it is an invitation to reflect on an issue that cuts across virtually all sectors of society and, for that very reason, represents one of the greatest opportunities for integrated action we have.
Air pollution is estimated to be associated with thousands of premature deaths each year —around 6,000 —according to the European Environment Agency, mainly due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). This is not a distant or abstract problem; it has a tangible presence in the real world, and our country is no exception. But these figures are not just a warning—they are also a starting point for more effective and coordinated public policies.
Health is the most immediate example. We now know that improving air quality reduces respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and more recent evidence also points to benefits for mental health. This means that air quality policies are, in practice, preventive health policies. Investing in pollution reduction is not a cost—it is a direct way to relieve pressure on healthcare systems and improve quality of life. But the potential for action goes far beyond health.
In ecosystem management, reducing the deposition of pollutants, particularly nitrogen compounds, helps restore soils, protect biodiversity, and increase the resilience of natural systems. Here, solutions include more efficient agricultural practices, better emissions management, and stronger integration between environmental and agricultural policies.
In cities, the scope for intervention is clear and immediate. In urban areas such as Lisbon and Porto, where road traffic remains one of the main sources of pollution, solutions such as transport electrification, the promotion of active mobility, and the reorganization of urban space have a direct impact on population exposure. The design of cities can be part of the problem, but we already know it can be, above all, part of the solution.
It is also here that the link to climate change becomes a strategic advantage. In many cases, the same measures that reduce air pollutants also reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Cleaner transport, energy efficiency, and the transition to renewable sources all simultaneously improve air quality and contribute to carbon neutrality. Rather than parallel agendas, there is a clear opportunity to align policies and maximize benefits.
This cross-cutting nature is not an obstacle—it is an advantage. It enables solutions with multiple impacts, cumulative gains, and greater efficiency in public action.
Scientific work carried out by groups such as GEMAC – the Emissions, Modelling and Climate Change Group, from the University of Aveiro (DAO – Department of Environment and Planning, CESAM – Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), clearly demonstrates this. The diversity of ongoing projects, with air quality modelling as a core tool, shows that this issue cannot be studied or addressed in a fragmented way, and that solid knowledge already exists to support integrated decision-making. The challenge is not a lack of information; it is turning that knowledge into consistent action.
Celebrating National Air Day should therefore be more than acknowledging a problem. It should be about committing to a direction. Air quality is not just an environmental indicator—it reflects how we plan cities, produce energy, organize transport, and protect health. And, perhaps most importantly, it is one of the areas where we already know what needs to be done.
What is missing is scale. Because, unlike many other challenges, in this case, the solutions already exist and they benefit everyone at the same time.
GEMAC, in collaboration with APA – the Portuguese Environment Agency, has prepared a quiz (QuizAR) where you can test your knowledge about air quality. Ready for the challenge? Access the quiz here!
Article by GEMAC