International Noise Awareness Day

The Last Wednesday of April was International Noise Awareness Day. Several EEB members have been active in the past organising events to raise local consciousness about issues regarding noise pollution. Below is a few examples of how NGOs in Europe have marked the occasion in 2004.

The media in Norway covered more than ten regional events. Torleif Johnsen at the Norwegian Association Against Noise (NAAN) reported that INAD (International Noise Awareness Day) was celebrated by various groups, including twenty-five environmental and health organisations, municipalities, businesses, and several churches. Ornithologists, acousticians and mountain guides developed 'soundwalks' along the coast from Kristiansand in the south to Tromso in the north with the aim to rouse awareness and interest among land planners and local councillors. Local actions included discussions on sound levels in the cinema, and in Oslo the end of the season of studded tires was celebrated by local politicians backed by ten organisations. Eight measures on noise reduction were presented by appeal to the city council, including prohibition of truck driving in residential areas at night. During question time in Parliament the Minister of Communication was questioned about which noise reducing measures will be introduced in the first primary Environmental Zone in Norway, covering a quarter of Oslo.

Another of our members in Germany, DAL, organised a conference in Madgedburg on the 27th of April to discuss local noise policies and measures in conjunction with the EU Directive on Environmental Noise adopted 25 June 2002 (Directive 2002/49/EC), which introduced the requirement that Member States create 'strategic noise maps' for railways, airports, major roads and agglomerations to determine the areas where citizens are most likely to be annoyed and have their sleep disturbed. The maps should be finished by June 2007, after which authorities must draw up action plans for noise reduction, due July 2008. Unfortunately, the Directive does not set limit values, such as the levels recommended by the World Health Organisation. To celebrate DAL also innovated a way to raise awareness and celebrate INAD by organising a contest for children to paint the best picture to illustrate the issue of environmental noise.

Also in Germany, BUND has launched a 2-year project entitled 'Environment and Health in Noise Pollution', which began in September 2003. The project is funded by the Federal Environment Agency of Germany and the Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, and the goals are to help local NGOs and BUND-affiliated organisations in their efforts to reduce noise by providing guides that explain 'what, when, and where' noise is an issue, as well as best practises and information materials. BUND also is working on a public-awareness campaign and lobbying for an EU noise guideline and aircraft noise regulation.

Contact Information:
NAAN (Norwegian Association Against Noise AKA Norsk forening mot stoy)
Torleif Johnsen
post@stoyforeningen.no

DAL (Deutscher Arbeitsring Für Lärmbekämpfung E.V.)
Ludger Visse
DALaerm@aol.com

BUND - Friends of the Earth Germany
Prenzel Thorben
Thorben.Prenzel@bund.net

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