Attached.

Outline
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Reference


Running head: CLEAN AIR IN GERMANY

Clean Air in Germany
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CLEAN AIR IN GERMANY
Introduction
According to statistics released by the World Health Organization (WHO) back in 2014,
close to 3.7 million deaths were caused by out-of-doors air pollution all over the world in 2012.
The degree of effects by air pollution on the world population can be painted more clearly if the
health effects of indoor air pollution are considered; making air pollution the most significant
single environmental health risk on a global scale. Even though the health impacts of air
pollution has been proven to be more prevalent in low and middle-class countries all over the
world, it also has a fairly significant health impact on the population of industrialized countries
(World Health Organization, 2016). The Federal Environment Agency of Germany statistics
show that the exposure of the population in Germany to the contaminated fine particles causes
close to 50,000 premature deaths within the country each year. This kind of pollution is
commonly known as particulate matter (PM) pollution which refers to a complex mixture of tiny
liquid droplets and particles into the air, which once inhaled by people, affects the lungs and the
heart by causing severe health effects. In Germany, the emissions which make up most of the air
pollutants have significantly decreased over the last decade, primarily down to the advanced
technologies which ensure the preservation of clean air. Some of these technologies include the
flue-gas desulfurization and use of electrostatic precipitators and catalytic converters, which
were enforced by emission standards implemented by the European Union and applied to
different countries all over Europe. In Heilbronn, a city with 125,000 inhabitants where
particulate matter pollution has significantly reduced over the past few years, the government has
been attempting to improve air quality within the city center with the aim of reducing particulate
matter (PM) pollution. The city's environmental-investment-program has been put in place to
enhance and maintain clean air. This paper will focus on the technical, economic, and social
aspects of Heilbronn's environmental-investment-program based on a scientific assessment of the
actions of the city to improve air quality within the city center.
Clean air is essential in ensuring the maintenance of health among the world population.
The European Union has recognized this and given clean air management a priority over the
other initiatives with the aim of ensuring the health of Europeans. There are several directives
such as The Ambient Air Quality Directive to ensure this, and these initiatives set necessary
legally binding limits on the levels of air pollution in each country which is a member of the
European Union. However, different countries have been proved to encounter some significant

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CLEAN AIR IN GERMANY
difficulties in complying with these directives; with different cities and towns frequently
breaching them. Germany has managed to set things in motion quite successfully when it comes
to adopting the standards of air pollution control put in place by the European Union. Pollutants
such as volatile organic compounds and Sulphur dioxide commonly found in solvents are
sufficient reasons for the country to adopt the necessary measures in an attempt to improve the
air quality in the city centers. Additional reductions of such pollutants are therefore needed,
especially in the city of Heilbronn. Air pollution control is often based on four essential
strategies by the German government. These strategies include laying down environmental
quality standards, emission ceilings, product regulations, as well as using the latest best available
technology to reduce emission requirements (GPSM, 2014).
Air Quality Plans for German Cities
To ensure clean air in German cities, there should be significant importance attached to
the planning process at the municipal level. All the municipal air quality plans have to be
compiled within all the German cities, which have exceeded th...