Free Airways ‑ Exploring Citizen Attitudes Towards Air Pollution Policy

For several years, measurements have shown that the particle concentrations in the central parts of Östersund have exceeded the limit values that exist within the environmental quality standards for air. As a result, the municipality has initiated an action program to reduce the levels of particles in the air, including dust binding, but also measures aimed to reduce car traffic and increase walking, cycling and public transport. However, some of the measures taken by the municipality to change citizens' transport patterns have met with criticism and there are those who believe that the measures are both ineffective, disproportionate and unfair. There is also a debate about whether the air quality actually is as bad as the municipality's measurements show. 

In order for the municipality to effectively implement policies to improve air quality in the city, it is a necessity that there is widespread general acceptance among the municipality's residents that the implemented measures actually are needed and that they address the problems in an effective and fair way. Without this type of support, there is a significant risk that the implemented policies both will be undermined by low compliance and short-lived due to popular protests.

The aim of this project is to create a better understanding of how people in Östersund municipality experience the problems with air quality and how they respond to the type of measures that the municipality uses to address these problems. More specifically, the project focuses on understanding how actual levels of air pollution relate to perceptions of the risks of air pollution, as well as the support for policy measures to address these problems.