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==Air pollution : global problem==
===The state of the air pollution in Europe===
As a lot of places in the world, the EU territory has also been affected by high air pollution Air quality in Europe : real time air quality index.<ref>[http://aqicn.org/map/europe/], Air quality in Europe : real time air quality index.</ref> for many decades. The “Great Smog” that London knew in 1952 shows that the high air pollution is not a recent problem in Europe and time and research have highlighted the responsibility and impact of air pollution on society. Indeed, as shown by the European Environment Agency (EEA)Page text.<ref>[https://www.eea.europa.eu/], European Environment Agency, https://www.eea.europa.eu/.</ref> in its report “Air quality in Europe - 2016 report”Page textreport”.<ref>[https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2016], Air quality in Europe - 2016 report, https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2016.</ref>, air pollution has direct and indirect consequences for society and in different areas: human health, environment, culture and economics. In many ways, air pollution has a present cost which can have irreversible consequences for the future of our planet:
Human health consequences: As the EEA and the European Commission have highlighted, air pollution damages human health and quality of life. Directly responsible for the illnesses (such as asthma, heart diseases, strokes, and bronchitis) of 6.5 billion people per year across the EU, air pollution is also responsible for more than 400 000 premature deaths per year in the EU and more than 7 million around the world. Additionally the health consequences of air pollution are also very costly, with an amount evaluated near €4 billion.
Environmental consequences: Air pollution has a direct and important impact on ecosystems and on climate change, causing acidification, eutrophication, crop damage, disturbing the vegetation growth, and affecting wildlife. Air pollutant emissions have a big impact on climate change and global warming, and are responsible for a main part of the damage to our ecosystem
Economic consequences: The switch to a carbon-free economic area and the costs for health care systems, which are increased by diseases caused by air pollution, are the two big challenges for the European economy. The cost for the economy is in term of €15 billion of lost work daysPage textdays.<ref>[https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2016], Air quality in EUrope - 2016 report, page 12, https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2016.</ref>, according to the EEA.
===The sources of the air pollution===
