On September 24, Vilnius hosted the international forum "Breathable Cities Forum", which brought together air quality specialists from different European cities, municipal representatives, researchers and experts in public health and the environment.
The meeting focused on analyzing how cities can improve air quality, reduce pollution, and create healthier urban environments.
Participants shared practical experiences developed in different European cities, addressing issues such as sustainable mobility, air quality monitoring, pollution prediction and other measures aimed at reducing citizens' exposure to air pollutants.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of cooperation between cities and countries, since air pollution does not stop at administrative or national borders.
GreenMe5: an urban laboratory to reduce air and noise pollution
One of the pilot projects from Vilna presented during the forum was GreenMe5.
As part of the project, Vėtrungių Street, located in the Fabijoniškės neighborhood, has been used for three years as a kind of urban laboratory to test and evaluate measures aimed at reducing air and noise pollution.
This experience has shown how air quality data can be used to develop and test practical solutions on a local scale.
Vilnius is also working to move from a model based on reacting to pollution episodes to one focused on prevention.
Through the LIFE Clean Air project, the city is testing the "LLULL Environment" air quality prediction tool, which can anticipate pollution levels up to three days in advance.
The forum also addressed the relationship between air pollution and public health, highlighting the importance of considering not only pollution levels, but also exposure time, the conditions of residential and work environments, and the individual vulnerability of people.
The meeting concluded with a sensory walk through Vilnius, during which participants explored, from a practical perspective, issues related to air quality, biodiversity, adaptation to climate change, health, and urban resilience.
The "Breathable Cities Forum" provided European cities and experts with an opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss how data, research and pilot projects, such as GreenMe5, can contribute to creating healthier urban environments.