Strategic Roadmap for governance in odour pollution

Governments and environmental authorities have a complex task in the policy frame of odour regulations. There are as many approaches for regulating odour pollution as countries, leaving mostly citizens defenceless, but also industries and local authorities without a framework to act upon the issue - often leading to socio-environmental conflicts in the affected communities. In addition, common criteria to define impact odour thresholds, and determine the related level of annoyance have not been established, nor have clear definitions or terms been drawn up. The Strategic Roadmap for Governance in Odour Pollution aims to provide objectives and strategies in the medium to long term (5-10 years) to pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable regulatory framework in odour pollution. A multi-level strategy has been implemented during the EU Horizon 2020 D-NOSES project to impact the multi-level governance scenario that odour pollution has in most of the countries where pilot study cases took place. This strategy, based on a bottom-up approach has influenced key actors at all levels: from local municipalities to the European Union (EU). In each case study, the D-NOSES policy and its policy-society dialogues were an effective tool for involving different stakeholders, and establishing networks that could be drawn upon at later, more policy-oriented, stages. All results of D-NOSES pilots represented a significant step forward in advancing the process of policy action and, in empowering odour-afflicted communities to take action. In parallel with the Green Paper on Odour Pollution, the present document has been prepared to inform policymakers about the context and situation of odour pollution in the different countries that have been part of the EU Horizon 2020 Project D-NOSES. The project’s conclusions and findings come from the results of implementing participatory strategies, citizen science interventions, policy-society dialogues at national level, and the roundtables with all stakeholders. The advocacy actions that were developed also contributed to having a better understanding of the current situation in the different countries. Finally, community regulations will be encouraged to act as promoters of change