![]() ![]() ![]() This means that Malmö complies with the EU Directive 2008/50/EC of annual means of 25 µg/m 3, but not always with the more health-related WHO air quality guidelines or Swedish Environmental Objectives, both with an annual mean of 10 µg/m 3. The annual means of PM 2.5 in Malmö were 9 µg/m 3 in urban background sites and 10–13 µg/m 3 in traffic sites during the 2018–2019 period. The annual means of NO 2 in Malmö 2018–2019 were 10–12 µg/m 3 at the urban background site at the roof level, and 19–26 µg/m 3 at traffic sites, thus sometimes exceeding the Swedish Environmental Objective for clean air, which for NO 2 is 20 µg/m 3 as annual mean. The city has reduced emissions and complied with these regulations since 2016. The city of Malmö, southern Sweden, was chosen as the study area, since it has had problems complying with the EU Directive 2008/50/EC and WHO Air Quality Guidelines of 40 µg/m 3 NO 2 as an annual mean in the past, and has had action plans since 2006 to reduce emissions. To explore and facilitate more scientifically based practices in building denser cities, without causing increased negative health impacts from air pollution, we initiated a collaborative and transdisciplinary research project called Air Pollution Research in Local Environmental Planning (ARIEL) (see Figure 2). Ideal model of how research results are expected to be applied in policy making and practice in the Swedish political and administrative context. However, the last step, when research is translated into practice, is not always as straightforward as might be expected. At a first glance, the process from knowing to deciding to doing looks uncomplicated ( Figure 1). Their job is to translate policy into practice, ideally informed by research results for optimal outcomes. The policy then is supposed to be put into best practice by civil servants ( tjänstemän), who, in the Swedish context, are non-politically appointed employees in municipal or national administration. Policy makers are expected to base policy formulation on research results so as to set goals and standards ( Figure 1). In Sweden, tax money is used to finance research on how to achieve sustainable urban development. To live up to the UN Sustainability Goals 2030, especially goal 3, good health and wellbeing goal 10, reduced inequality goal 11, sustainable cities and communities and goal 13, climate action, cities need to address air pollution by taking necessary action based on robust research. Exposure to air pollution affects socioeconomically weaker groups more, and can also be seen as an issue of environmental inequality. Traffic-related air pollution has been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as negative effects on foetal growth and cognition, all leading to human suffering and costs for society. Still, in Sweden, a country with traditionally high set standards for environmental research as well as public health policy, air pollution is estimated to cause more than 7000 premature deaths annually. Research on air pollution is produced to improve the living conditions of citizens. ![]() This slows down the process whereby research, funded by tax-money, can be put to best practice in the effort to create healthy and sustainable cities. Lack of time, paywalls, and the insufficient applicability of research hinder the dissemination of up-to-date results. Information about best practices is also collected via a number of knowledge access practices, involving the Internet or social networks within other municipalities. Instead, the data and measurements used are mostly produced case-by-case within the municipal sector itself. We found that the civil servants generally have proficiency in processing research results, but often do not use such results as part of their everyday decision making and practices. However, how do civil servants in a municipality access research results? How do they normally find relevant information, and what obstacles are there to accessing and applying research results? As part of the collaborative and transdisciplinary research project Air Pollution Research in Local Environmental Planning (ARIEL), these questions were explored through interviews and seminars with civil servants within the Malmö Municipality Environmental Office. To reduce the impact of air pollution and to plan and build sustainable cities, it is vital that research is translated into efficient decisions and practice. Air pollution is estimated to cause more than 7000 deaths annually in Sweden alone. ![]()
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