As expected, the deconfinement saw a rise in air pollution, especially in Île-de-France, while the associations responsible for its surveillance are struggling and are asking for an "exceptional subsidy" from the State.
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During confinement, emissions, particularly those linked to road traffic, "had experienced a brutal and unprecedented fall, (...) divided by 4 compared to pre-confinement levels" in Île-de-France, recalls in a Airparif press release, which monitors air quality in the capital region.
"Over the period from 11 to 31 May, the gradual resumption of activities, and particularly of traffic, led to an increase in the quantities of pollutants released into the atmosphere for nitrogen oxides (pollutant mainly emitted by road traffic, editor's note) and particles (PM10 and PM2.5) at levels equivalent to 80% of the emissions observed before confinement, and up to 90% for the ring road ", indicates Airparif. "CO2 emissions are also on the rise, with an increase of up to 80% from the usual levels," said Airparif.
A rise also noted in Occitania and New Aquitaine
In terms of air quality, this increase in emissions results in a gradual "return to normal (...), with varying intensity depending on the pollutants. But already the pollution levels are approaching usual conditions in Île-de-France at this time of year ".
Thus, for fine particles, "after a decrease of -7% during confinement, the levels usually observed at this time of the year are reached again", while for nitrogen dioxide, the drop in concentration in the air "went from -25% during confinement to -15% during the first 3 weeks of deconfinement".
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This rise in pollution, particularly due to road traffic, was expected and was also observed by other regional approved associations for monitoring air quality (AASQA), such as in Occitania or New Aquitaine, without returning at pre-containment levels.
Supervisory associations in difficulty
The national network of 18 AASQA is also encountering major funding difficulties and alerted Prime Minister Édouard Philippe in a letter, wishing to grant an "exceptional grant" of three million euros.
In a letter, the president of their Atmo France federation, Guy Bergé, that of the National Air Council, the deputy LREM Jean-Luc Fugit, the senator LR Jean-François Husson, representative of the Senate at the National Air Council , and the presidents of the 18 AASQA, alert the head of government to their difficulties, even though "the problem of air quality will be an unavoidable subject in the world after" the Covid crisis, and wish an interview for raise these issues.
They warn that their economic model - state subsidies, communities and tax-exempt donations from companies subject to the general tax on polluting activities (TGAP) - is "weakened", in particular by the decline of this third source of income . However "the missions requested from our associations are constantly growing", even though "the regulatory part (of their work) is not today completely compensated by the State," said Guy Bergé, AFP estimating some 4 million shortfall in TGAP.
"The Covid crisis has shown that this problem will be more and more important. We have been able to measure pollution variations rigorously because we have this solid network, which also serves to support and inform public policies," underlined for his part Jean-Luc Fugit.