Air Pollution, Health and the Case for Zero-Emission Trucks

Heavy-duty diesel trucks are among the largest sources of toxic air pollution in Europe, contributing to thousands of premature deaths each year through exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter. Communities living near major freight corridors and logistics hubs are disproportionately affected, facing increased risks of asthma, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and other chronic health conditions.

As the Volvo Group prepares for its Annual General Meeting, AirClim is hosting a lunchtime side-event to examine the public health impacts of continued diesel truck production and the urgent opportunity to accelerate the electrification of road freight in Sweden and globally.

The event will bring together leading public health experts, transport policy specialists and civil society voices from Europe, the United States and Brazil.

It will also feature the launch of a new report by New Weather Sweden analysing how Volvo’s sustainability claims contrast with its continued investment in diesel, and outlining how the company could take a stronger leadership role in the transition to zero-emission freight.

Programme

Air pollution in Europe: health impacts, air quality regulations and targets
Zorana Andersen, Professor, University of Copenhagen and President of the Policy Committee, European Respiratory Society

Health impacts of diesel exhaust at the local level
Ebba Malmqvist, Associate Professor, Lund University; air pollution expert, AirClim

The climate transition for trucks – from policy instruments to reality
Tobias Gustavsson-Binder, Expert in transport and mobility, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute

Scrutinising Volvo’s lobbying engagement – launch of a new report
Anna Jonsson & Anna Linell, New Weather Sweden

Testimony from the United States
Mary Peveto, Co-founder, Neighbors for Clean Air (Oregon, USA)

Testimony from Brazil
Patricia Ferrini Rodrigues, Health, Climate and Air Pollution Expert Advisor, Instituto Ar

Testimony from Brazil (Amazonas)
Sila Mesquita and Jonas Mura, GTA Network (Grupo de Trabalho Amazônico/Amazon Working Network), Brazil  

Followed by a Q&A.

Afterwards, we invite all participants to a common lunch. We need your registrations by 5 April to order lunch. 

Photo: News Øresund - Johan Wessman © News Øresund - Johan Wessman (CC BY 3.0).