Recap of: A Breath of “Fair” Air – Combatting Indoor Air Inequality across Europe and Beyond

Promotional banner for the EDIAQI webinar titled “A Breath of ‘Fair’ Air: Combating Indoor Air Inequality across Europe and Beyond,” featuring a woman looking out a window. Includes event details (31 January, 10:00–11:30 CET) and logos of EDIAQI, UNICAS, ARPA FVG, InChildHealth, IDEAHL, K-HealthinAir, and the European Union.

On Friday, 24th January 2025 at 10:30 am CET, the EDIAQI project hosted an engaging webinar titled "A Breath of 'Fair' Air: Combatting Indoor Air Inequality across Europe and Beyond". This timely session brought together policymakers, researchers, industry experts, and civil society representatives to explore how disparities in indoor air quality (IAQ) often mirror broader social and economic inequalities. With a diverse audience and insightful interventions, the webinar delved into why lower-income and marginalised communities frequently endure poorer air quality—and what can be done to ensure that healthy air becomes a fundamental right for all.

Marginalised Communities in Focus

Sinead O’Brien from Clean Air Advocacy Ireland delivered a thought-provoking presentation on the experiences of marginalised communities. She discussed the real-world challenges faced by those who, due to economic constraints, are compelled to use suboptimal heating sources—exacerbated by events such as the recent storm in Ireland. Her intervention emphasised that the right to clean indoor air must extend to all, including refugees and individuals in prisons, thereby framing indoor air quality as an essential matter of social justice.

Slide titled “How does poor indoor air quality impact low-income and other marginalised communities?” outlining the compounded effects of poor housing, rising costs, and vulnerable populations. Includes speaker Sinéad O’Brien and Alex Borg in a webinar.

Indoor Air Quality in Diverse Housing Environments

Jonathan Groot offered a detailed look into the complexities of indoor air quality within non-profit housing. His segment explored the specific challenges faced by ethnically and economically diverse populations, noting that while communities can adopt measures to improve their indoor environments, underlying structural issues—like persistent mould problems—demand broader systemic reforms. His presentation highlighted the importance of combining individual actions with strategic policy interventions to achieve lasting improvements.

Flow diagram illustrating links between mold exposure, respiratory tract infection, and respiratory symptoms, with contributing factors like allergies, asthma, and ventilation. Webinar participants include Jonathan Groot and Alex Borg.

Unpacking the Socioeconomic Factors

Pawel Rostkowski examined the multifaceted links between socioeconomic status and indoor air quality. His presentation provided a clear analysis of how factors such as location, ventilation, heating systems, building materials, and indoor products disproportionately affect lower-income households. Pawel’s methodical approach underlined the critical role of education and awareness in empowering communities to advocate for healthier living conditions.

Slide titled “Indoor Air Inequality & Key Drivers” outlining disparities in IAQ across wealthier and low-income households, energy poverty, and emerging pollutants. Webinar participants include Pawel Rostkowski and Alex Borg.

Tackling Urban Air Inequality in Schools

Lina Davulienė brought fresh insights from the Vilnius pilot project, focusing on the challenges faced by schools located near urban traffic. Her talk shed light on how proximity to busy roadways can significantly degrade indoor air quality in educational settings, thereby impacting the health of children. Lina’s intervention highlighted the need for targeted campaigns and informed policymaking to address the specific vulnerabilities of young learners in urban areas.

Slide displaying a panel question for Lina Davulienė being asked how insights from the Vilnius pilot could inform strategies for equal access to healthy indoor air. Includes EDIAQI and EU logos, and webinar participants such as Lina Davulienė, Pawel Rostkowski, Sinead O’Brien, Jonathan Groot, and Alex Borg.

Panel Discussion: Charting a Path Forward

The webinar also featured a dynamic panel discussion, where all speakers came together to address overarching questions regarding the causes of indoor air inequality and the multifaceted actions needed—from economic, societal, and political perspectives—to ensure equitable access to clean indoor air. The dialogue reinforced the consensus that achieving lasting improvements in IAQ requires a coordinated approach integrating community empowerment, policy reform, and technological innovation.

For more details and to watch the full webinar, please visit our EDIAQI YouTube channel.

Looking Ahead

Building on the momentum of this impactful session, the EDIAQI project is already gearing up for its next webinar. On Friday, 21st February 2025 at 10:30 am CET, join us for "Mind the Gap: Toward a Comprehensive European Union Act on Indoor Air Quality". This forthcoming event will explore how national and regional initiatives can inform the creation of an all-encompassing EU framework to regulate indoor air quality—a critical step towards ensuring that every citizen enjoys the right to breathe clean air.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to register for another session that promises to bridge gaps and drive real change in indoor air quality across Europe.