OPERA – An integrated assessment methodology to plan local cost-effective air quality policies harmonized with national and European actions – concluso

The main goal of the OPERA project was to develop a methodology to assess the efficiency of planned measures for tackling air quality. It also aimed to draw up guidelines to support local authority planning for regional policies in order to comply with actions taken at national and European level to reach the required air quality standards. The project would devise methods that allow local authorities to identify and apply the most effective – and economical viable – abatement measures (in line with the national and international frameworks).These would also take into account possible synergies with greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions reduction measures.

Specifically, the project aimed to:

• Develop a methodology to help local authorities (i) prepare, implement and monitor air quality plans to reduce population exposure to PM10, NOx and O3 pollution and ecosystems exposure to NOx and O3, (ii) integrate regional air quality plans within national and European plans, and (iii) assess the synergy between actions to reduce poor air quality and actions to limit climate change impacts;
• Create an integrated assessment software tool (RIAT+) to support the proposed methodology, thus maximising environmental benefits at fixed costs, and minimising costs at fixed environmental benefits;
• Apply this integrated tool in the Emilia-Romagna and Alsace regions, while setting up a register of existing and new emission reduction measures (technical and non-technical) in the two regions;
• Devise a standard set of quantitative indicators to monitor the effectiveness of action plans, and define guidelines for regional authorities to apply the methodology and tool;
• Draw up guidelines and create a tool for local administrations, technical organisations and environmental agencies to integrate local planning for compliance with national and European air quality policies; and
• Disseminate product and results at European level.

Partecipanti

• ARPA  – Agenzia Prevenzione Ambiente Emilia-Romagna (Coordinatore), Italia
• UNIVERSITA’ DEGLI STUDI DI BRESCIA, Italia
• TERRARIA SRL, Italia
• CNRS, Francia
• UNIVERSITY OF STRASBOURG, Francia

Costo totale progetto: € 2.301.010,00

Contributo UE: € 1.089.544,00

Finanziamento UE per UniBS: € 281.600,00