Clean Air Right in European cities

forthcoming

The project Clean Air Right in European Cities (CARE) aims to advance teaching, research, and dissemination in EU studies, with a focus on the intersection of science, public health, and law. With increasing legal actions against air pollution and its adverse health effects in EU cities, CARE addresses the evolving role of the judicial system in holding municipalities accountable for air quality. The project will monitor social and legal developments in EU citizens' rights to clean air, building on recent EU and national case law, as well as the new EU Air Quality Directive (2024), which introduces critical changes to air quality standards, citizen compensation, and the role of environmental associations. CARE’s approach is multidisciplinary, drawing on comparative law, environmental sociology and civic movements studiesadvocating for clean air rights. The project has three main objectives: First, to strengthen academic teaching by offering courses on public participation in science-based decision-making, conflict prevention, public interest litigation, and new citizen science mechanisms. This includes a case-by-case approach with a focus on hands-on learning. Second, CARE aims to engage a wide range of stakeholders, including EU municipalities, civil society movements, and public health experts, to address environmental policies and ensure accountability for air quality. This includes fostering cooperation between legal institutions and environmental advocacy groups. Third, CARE seeks to foster dialogue between municipalities, academics, and civil movements, with the goal of improving citizen participation in science-based decisions and preventing or mitigating conflicts related to air pollution. Ultimately, CARE seeks to support sustainable economic growth, reduce healthcare costs, and help address environmental inequalities, especially in marginalised communities, which are often disproportionately affected by poor air quality.