Fight against fine dust: This is how we protect health and the economy!

Fight against fine dust: This is how we protect health and the economy!

Air pollution by pollutants, especially fine dust and nitrogen oxides, represents a serious health risk. In Germany, these pollutants are associated with various serious illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, strokes and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Loud The press In 2021, around 5-10% of these diseases could be directly attributed to fine dust pollution. To address these issues, electrification of the transportation sector has been identified as a promising approach.

Switching to electric vehicles could result in particulate matter emissions being reduced by 5-10%. Another positive aspect is the reduction in the number of kilometers driven and the promotion of active mobility such as cycling and walking. The Budget Reconciliation Measures Act 2025 introduced a motor-related insurance tax for electric vehicles, which has been in force since April 2025. This measure could help to further promote the increase in new registrations of electric vehicles, which increased by 76.1% in April 2025 compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, these only make up 22.9% of all new registrations.

Challenges in the transport sector

Another problem is the emissions that result from the combustion process of diesel and gasoline. A third of particulate matter emissions in the transport sector come from this sector, while the remaining two thirds come from brakes, tire wear and road wear. Overall, the transport sector is responsible for around 30% of total fine dust emissions. If it is possible to reduce the concentration of fine dust by 1 µg/m³, this could increase the gross domestic product by 0.5 to 1.5% - an economic incentive to combat pollution.

A similar picture emerges in Austria with regard to air quality. VCOE reports that traffic pollutes cities with pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and ultra-fine dust. Older people, children and people with existing illnesses are particularly at risk. In many cases, diesel vehicles contribute up to 90% of nitrogen oxide pollution. These pollutants also react with volatile hydrocarbons and can lead to the formation of ozone on hot days.

Measures to improve air quality

Various measures are required to improve air quality. These include phasing out fossil fuels, promoting cycling and strengthening public transport. Furthermore, comprehensive inspections of diesel vehicles are necessary to check emissions control. The abolition of the tax relief for diesel is another required step, as is the retrofitting of older trucks with particle filters and the introduction of mandatory hardware retrofitting of new diesel cars at the manufacturers' expense.

A central goal must be the creation of environmental zones in order to reduce pollution. By expanding parking space management in cities and providing more space for pedestrians and cyclists, air quality can be significantly improved. It is clear that the necessary changes in the transport sector could bring both health and economic benefits.