Noise Pollution and Climate Change: A Growing Threat to Sustainability

Climate change is an urgent issue that has garnered global attention for its far-reaching effects on ecosystems, weather patterns, and human health. However, the focus on carbon emissions often overlooks other significant environmental stressors, like noise pollution, which poses its own considerable public health risks. Particularly in Europe, noise pollution is the second most serious environmental health threat, impacting an estimated 95 million people who are exposed to road traffic noise levels above the recommended threshold (European Environmental Agency, 2017).

Noise pollution, especially from transport and urban activities, disrupts not only human health but also biodiversity, animal communication, and even plant growth. In Western Europe, it is linked to over one million years of healthy life lost annually, with serious conditions like cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and mental health disorders showing strong correlations with chronic noise exposure (World Health Organization, 2011). 

Crucially, these effects are not evenly distributed. Marginalized populations, including those with lower income levels, are disproportionately exposed to harmful noise levels and other environmental hazards. These communities face heightened vulnerability to both climate change impacts and noise pollution, creating a dual burden of environmental inequity. This noise pollution comes from the very same infrastructure that causes environmental change; things like construction, roadways, and airplanes. This necessitates a "Just Transition" to cleaner, more sustainable systems that can uplift these vulnerable groups. 

The Synergy Between Climate Mitigation and Noise Pollution Reduction

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through systemic changes - such as the shift to electric vehicles, clean public transportation, and the promotion of active transport - offers a valuable opportunity to address noise pollution as well. Electric cars, which are quieter at lower speeds, can help mitigate noise pollution, particularly in densely populated urban areas. Sound absorbent materials like SoundBounce can further reduce our exposure to loud noises; particularly in urban environments. Furthermore, expanding green spaces and nature-based solutions within cities further helps disperse noise while addressing urban heat islands and improving air quality.

Investments in building design also play a crucial role. Enhanced thermal and sound insulation combined with energy-efficient architecture can help reduce noise penetration while improving energy efficiency. Therefore, decarbonization policies serve multiple purposes: they curb emissions, reduce harmful noise levels, and offer public health benefits, all while promoting equity for marginalised communities that often bear the brunt of environmental hazards. 

The Planetary Health Perspective

Viewing climate change and noise pollution through a Planetary Health lens uncovers more benefits. Noise pollution doesn't just affect human health - it also disrupts ecosystems, contributing to declines in biodiversity and impairing animal behaviors crucial for food security, such as pollination and marine life. 

With the increase of boat traffic, marine life has been greatly affected by the increase of underwater noise. Because visibility underwater is often low, marine animals frequently rely on underwater sounds to communicate, avoid predators, locate prey, and navigate. Because these natural sounds are often drowned out by ships, marine life often struggles to navigate and find food. By prioritizing climate mitigation strategies that also address noise pollution, policymakers can create a healthier, more resilient environment for all living organisms. 

Tackling both climate change and noise pollution offers a pathway to improve public health outcomes, with significant co-benefits that extend across ecosystems and social systems alike. For Europe to reach its Zero Pollution targets by 2050, it's essential that policymakers take an integrated approach to address these interconnected issues.