Understanding the Dutch municipal air quality policy process and the role of models therein

Abstract

Ensuring the air we breathe is clean and healthy is one of the core tenets of developing a more sustainable living environment, but even in the Netherlands up to 11,000 premature deaths occur every year. These deaths could be reduced if the air quality standards outlined by the World Health Organization are met. To achieve these standards however, significant changes have to be achieved in Dutch society. In the Netherlands currently, air quality is regulated at all four of the major levels of government, that is the supranational, national, provincial and local (municipal) level. Each of these levels of government play a key role in ensuring that the air in the Netherlands is safe to breathe. Up till now however, only limited research has been performed on how air quality governance occurs at the municipal level. Furthermore due to the diffuse characteristics of air pollution, where emission and deposition may occur in places significantly geographically situated, reducing air pollution is very difficult. To aid with this a wide variety of models have been developed for use in supporting policy processes. These models allow municipalities to determine aspects like exposure of the population and sources of emissions. The use of these models is not always straightforward however, as political considerations regularly take precedence in the municipal air quality policy process. It therefore remains a challenge to determine how the municipality might improve its air quality governance, and the role that models might.
With this in mind, this thesis aims to develop an understanding of the municipal air quality policy process, and the role of models therein. This is reflected in the research question, which is as follows: What potential improvements in the Dutch municipal air quality policy process can be made, and what role can models play in this? To answer this question, this study used a qualitative research approach, making use of a combination of scientific and grey literature as well as expert interviews to create a representation of the municipal air quality policy process in case study of Eindhoven. The interviews were conducted with representatives from key organizations in the air quality policy process. This was combined with scientific literature on multi-level governance, air quality modelling and policy processes as well as grey literature on air quality governance in the Netherlands. The results of this research was then tested in interviews with experts from other regions in the Netherlands.
It was found that there are a host of areas that could be developed to improve the municipal air quality policy process, with four key ones. These improvements applied to all levels of government, from the European Union all the way down to the municipal policy advisors, and were found in four main areas: (1) Increased air quality standards and cooperation frameworks. (2) Improved modelling tools for air quality modelling and monitoring. (3) Increased citizen engagement and awareness on air quality. (4) Improved air quality regulation through integrated decision making with other relevant issues facing the municipality.