Air pollution is one of the top five causes of death from respiratory and cardiac diseases worldwide. According to the State of Global Air 2018 report, it caused 6.1 million premature deaths, making it the fourth leading cause of death on Earth.
Clean air is a fundamental right. In this sense, it is imperative for all stakeholders, including researchers, physicians, policy makers and industries, to come together to deliberate and design strategies to improve air quality. The aim is to evolve traditional approaches and the use of science, technology and innovation to mitigate air pollution and related health effects.
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How to find out about air quality in France?
Over the last twenty years, air quality in France has steadily improved, yet the air we breathe is not the same for everyone. This is why it is important to be able to investigate and monitor its variation throughout the country.
In order to contribute to better air qualityIn recent years, many associations and organisations have emerged. Whether they are independent or state-controlled, they all have the same mission: to raise awareness among stakeholders and the public so that we can breathe healthy air.
Our site is only a small cog in this ecosystem, yet we cannot remain inactive in the face of the climate emergency and the deteriorating air quality. In order to raise awareness about the ecological transition and air quality, a section of the airqualitae.fr website is dedicated to topics related to air quality in France. These subjects are varied and deal with both latest IPCC 2022 report (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), how the climate works or what eco-citizen gestures to adopt.
In addition, we would also like to introduce you to the main actors working for cleaner air in France. Whether they are associations, organisations or companies, we invite you to discover them by clicking on the links below.
The AASQAs grouped within the Atmo France federation
The approved air quality monitoring associations (AASQA) & nbsp;are the main actors of the national air quality monitoring system in France. They are experts in their field and specialise in studying, monitoring and anticipating air quality issues.
Would you like to make a donation to an air quality association?
Whether you are an individual or a professional, you can support air quality organisations by making a donation on the HelloAsso.fr website. This platform currently lists more than 192,000 associations and is open to all associations. Its mission is to offer a collection solution that is accessible and adapted to all registered associations in France. Totally free of charge, its tools are easy to use and payments made from HelloAsso.fr are entirely secure (SSL encryption and 3-D Secure transactions).
In our opinion, this is the simplest and safest way to act for a better air quality in France. Moreover, all your donations can be partially deducted from your taxes. HelloAsso.fr is indeed authorized to deliver tax receipts in the place of the associations. HelloAsso.fr is undoubtedly the ideal place to support the projects you care about.
Would you like to make a donation? If so, don't hesitate to consult the associations highlighted on our site. You will find on each page of the highlighted associations:
- a form to support the association of your choice;
- a link, if you prefer to use the HelloAsso.fr platform to make your donation.
Ready to test your knowledge of greenhouse gases?
The 21st century is marked by a pervasive climate issue, not least because of human activities that release greenhouse gases, or GHGs. But what are these GHGs really? Which sectors emit the most? To help you answer these questions, and inform you about the climateThis is a short questionnaire on greenhouse gas emissions in France. This playful approach to GHGs is made up of information from the https://www.notre-environnement.gouv.fr.
To view the answer Click on the arrow pointing up (top right)
- Which of these gases is not a greenhouse gas?
A. Carbon dioxide or CO2; B. Methane or CH4; C. Nitrous oxide or N2O; D. Krypton.The answer is D: krypton.
As a reminder, a greenhouse gas or GHG is a gas that is present in the earth's atmosphere and acts as a solar radiation collector. They therefore prevent the heat that rises from escaping the atmosphere, resulting in global warming. This greenhouse effect allows life to exist, as some of the heat is necessary. On the other hand, the disruption of this balance, through the increase in GHGs, is detrimental and leads to global warming and natural disasters.
GHGs are carbon dioxide or CO2, methane or CH4, nitrous oxide or N₂O, ozone or O3, water and fluorinated gases. They can be natural, such as water vapour or carbon dioxide, but whose concentration is increased by human activities. Others are exclusively of human origin, such as fluorinated gases.
- Which human activities cause the most CO2 emissions?
A. Landfills and livestock; B. Fossil fuel burning and deforestation; C. Electronic component manufacturing; D. Agriculture and fertilizers.The answer is B: burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
Forests are the second largest CO2 sanctuary after the oceans. They capture CO2 through photosynthesis. By cutting them down, carbon dioxide is released. On the other hand, the combustion of fossil fuels, via their chemical composition, releases carbon atoms that fuse (in a simplified way) with two oxygen atoms to form CO2.
- Which human activities are the main causes of methane releases?
A. Landfills and livestock; B. Fossil fuel burning and deforestation; C. Electronic component manufacturing; D. Agriculture and fertilizers.The answer is A: landfills and livestock.
This methane is released in landfills via methanisation, where CH4 is released in the process of decomposition of organic matter. In livestock farming, it is the digestive system of ruminants that releases this gas.
- Which human activities are the main causes of nitrous oxide emissions?
A. Landfills and livestock; B. Fossil fuel burning and deforestation; C. The manufacture of electronic components; D. Agriculture and fertilizers.The answer is D: agriculture and fertilisers.
This nitrous oxide is mainly due to the use of nitrogen fertilisers, which have been increasing in crops from 11 million tonnes to 111 million tonnes between 1961 and 2017.
- Which gas has the greatest 'global warming power', (i.e. the one with the greatest 'greenhouse effect')?
A. Carbon dioxide or CO2; B. Methane or CH4; C. Nitrous oxide or N2O; D. Fluorinated gases.The answer is D: fluorinated gases.
The Global Warming Potential links each gas with its scale of impact on the greenhouse effect. This power is calculated by taking CO2 as a base. This CO2 therefore has a warming power Methane has a global warming power of 25 and nitrous oxide 298. Fluorinated gases are the winners, with warming potentials ranging from 140 to 23,900 for sulphur hexafluoride, or SF6, which is emitted from sprays or the refrigeration sector, for example.
In addition to this power, there are also indirect effects caused by each gas. For example, methane, in addition to warming the planet directly, creates ozone in the troposphere which in turn contributes to the greenhouse effect. So there is a direct and an indirect contribution.
- Which sector is the biggest emitter of GHG in France in 2020?
A. The energy industries; B. The tertiary sector; C. Transport; D. Agriculture.The answer is C: transport.
In fact, transport in France is the largest GHG emitting sector with a contribution of 31% of emissions, ahead of agriculture and the residential tertiary sector.