European policymakers like to lecture the rest of the world on air pollution. Asia, and China in particular, is a favorite target for criticism. Indeed, it sometimes seems as if no major environmental conference is complete without a presentation by European policymakers on their continent's supposed "best practices," which the rest of the world should emulate. When it comes to air pollution, however, Europe might consider doing less talking and more listening.
Air pollution is a growing concern across Europe. The World Health Organization has called it the continent's "single largest environmental health risk," estimating that 90 percent of Europe's citizens are exposed to outdoor pollution that exceeds WHO air quality guidelines.
In 2010, some 600,000 European citizens died prematurely because of outdoor and indoor air pollution, and the economic costs have been put at $1.6 trillion, roughly 9 percent of the European Union's GDP.