A European LIFE project
LIFE CLEAN AIR
“Local and regional cooperation, supported by predictive
air quality analysis models, to improve the resilience of
cities”
DURATION
01/10/2025 - 01/10/2029
BUDGET
2.196.265,95 €
INFORMATION
“Local and regional cooperation, supported by predictive air quality analysis models, to improve the resilience of cities”
Summary:
The LIFE CLEAN-AIR project addresses the issue of air pollution through the development and implementation of local air quality plans (AQPs) that go beyond current European legislation.
LIFE CLEAN-AIR seeks to implement proactive measures to prevent cities from being forced to activate emergency protocols when pollution exceeds certain thresholds. One of the project’s main innovations is the integration of LLULL ENVIRONMENT, an innovative predictive air quality tool capable of forecasting pollution levels with great precision.
This tool will help cities make informed decisions, such as implementing mitigation measures before pollution levels peak. The AQPs will be developed through a co-creation process, involving a wide range of stakeholders, including regional governments, local communities and businesses, to ensure their effectiveness and public support.
The project aims to achieve a 20% reduction in the number of days with poor air quality in the participating cities. Upon completion, LIFE CLEAN-AIR will have developed and implemented four AQPs, benefiting more than 1.07 million citizens across an area of 684 km². The project will also raise €120,000 in private investment and generate €800,000 for air quality improvement measures.
The project consortium is led by INVERENCE, an SME responsible for developing the LLULL ENVIRONMENT tool.
The core team includes four municipalities from different parts of Europe, each with unique environmental challenges: Vilnius (LT), Rzeszów (PL), Udine (IT) and Cascais (PT). Additionally, the Podkarpackie Voivodeship (PL) provides a regional perspective to further expand the project’s impact. To support these municipalities in the co-creation and dissemination of AQPs, EuroVértice (ES) contributes its expertise in environmental plans and communication, and SOGESCA (IT) is responsible for Udine’s air quality plan and contributes its knowledge in environmental plans and air quality to the other partners.
Members
Members
Expected Results
EXPECTED RESULTS
With regard to the project’s overall indicators, the main objective is to significantly improve air quality in the four participating cities—Vilnius, Rzeszów, Udine and Cascais—through the development and implementation of four local air quality plans (AQPs). These plans will benefit 1,290,000 people living in the areas directly covered by the new air quality improvement measures.
It is anticipated that the integration of the LLULL ENVIRONMENT predictive model, together with the implementation of mitigation measures and participatory initiatives, will lead to a 20% reduction in the number of days with poor air quality by the end of the project. Five years later, thanks to the continuation of municipal measures and the adoption of new projects, this reduction is expected to rise to 35%.
The project will also drive investment in air quality improvement, including €120,000 in direct private investment through public-private partnerships, as well as €800,000 for measures to implement the Air Quality Plans during the project period.
LIFE CLEAN-AIR will also encourage active public participation through citizen science activities. It is estimated that 800 members of the public will take part directly in the 12 planned citizen science projects (three in each city). These activities will raise public awareness and provide key data for the development of evidence-based policies.
In terms of governance, the project will strengthen multi-level cooperation by involving more than 80 key stakeholders in Local Action Groups (LAGs) to co-create and implement the AQPs, thereby promoting more participatory and efficient processes.
Finally, the project will extend its impact beyond the participating cities through replication initiatives: LIFE CLEAN-AIR will support 20 additional municipalities in drawing up their own Air Quality Plans during the project’s lifetime, and it is expected that up to 24 plans will have been approved five years later.
