Millions of people across Europe are exposed to unhealthy levels of aircraft noise. The latest report from the European Environment Agency found 2.3 million people were exposed in 2022 (14.3 million if you use the lower levels of exposure recommended by the World Health Organisation in its 2018 Guidelines). This figure is lower than pre-Covid when the Environment Agency put it at around 3 million. But with the number of planes returning to their pre-Covid levels that number is expected to be reached again shortly.

The figures of course exclude the UK (because of Brexit). That means they exclude Heathrow whose planes fly over more people than any other airport in Europe. The EU has previously estimated that around 700,000 people are exposed to unhealthy levels of noise from Heathrow (the World Health Organisation would put it higher).

Urgent action is required to cut the numbers exposed to unhealthy levels of aircraft noise.

There are a number of things that can be done.

• Reduce the number of planes using the airport (as Schiphol is trying to do)
• Reduce the noise of the aircraft (planes are a lot less noisy than they were 50 years ago but no further step-change is on the horizon)
• Alternate the flight paths. This will mean more people overall hear the noise but fewer are exposed to unhealthy levels.
• Use quieter operating procedures. Some airports are a lot better at this than others. There is no reason why they should not all improve.
• Provide generous compensation and mitigation for those affected.

The EU, as part of its zero pollution action plan, aims to reduce the number of people chronically disturbed by noise from transport by 30% by 2030 (compared with 2017). That is welcome, but should be seen as just the start of the process to cut noise.

John Stewart’s Weblog 16 December 2024