Head of the Independents and Progressives group, Pierre-Yves Bournazel is an advisor (Horizons) in Paris.
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A noisy scooter, a succession of sirens, a bar that is not careful with its sound volume... more and more residents are alerting us to the noises they experience on a daily basis, especially at night.
In 2018, noise pollution became, according to the WHO, the second cause of morbidity in Europe, just behind air pollution.
Ademe has even estimated the social cost of noise for French society at 147 billion euros per year.
Paris is particularly affected: 79% of residents say they are bothered by noise pollution.
The proliferation of scientific studies, repeated alerts from health professionals and the mobilization of numerous citizen groups must lead elected officials and public decision-makers to take stock of what already resembles a real health bomb.
As in many cities in France, the problem of noise pollution appears more and more serious.
It degrades our sleep and our quality of life, affects our health and sometimes even our living together.
What we managed to do in 1996 with a law on atmospheric pollution and air quality, we could repeat on noise pollution.
Pierre-Yves Bournazel
It is because the effects of nocturnal noise pollution are extremely harmful that we must better protect our nights.
Hypertension, stress, diabetes, depression, cardiovascular diseases, lack of sleep has harmful consequences on our physical and mental health.
For several years, the noise linked to nighttime activities in the city has increased and evolved.
The reasons are numerous, starting with the multiplication of terraces, the greater diffusion of amplified music, the repeated use of emergency sirens, the coming and going of delivery scooters... At the same time, due to the global warming, we are encouraged to ventilate our homes at night to create natural ventilation and limit the use of air conditioning, which warms the planet.
Aware that this public health problem risks getting worse, I participated in 2019, as a deputy, in enshrining in law the right of everyone to live in a healthy sound environment.
We must now go further.
What we managed to do in 1996 with a law on atmospheric pollution and air quality, we could repeat on noise pollution.
Also read: More than 8 million people exposed to road transport noise in Île-de-France
First, we must be able to objectively and regularly measure noise emissions in order to identify and adapt solutions to the territories.
France must set up noise pollution observatories in the most affected cities and deploy more sensors to measure noise.
Then, we must simplify the legislative provisions, make the effectiveness of controls and the modulation of sanctions more operational as well as establish threshold values so that the law better protects citizens from exposure to sounds harmful to their health.
In France, everything is not just a matter of law.
Public actors, particularly cities, can rely on several levers to obtain results.
Let us focus more on our collective intelligence by implementing real local and national prevention policies.
As with tobacco or alcohol, we must raise awareness of the health and environmental harms of too much exposure to noise pollution and the consequences of lack of sleep.
We must encourage and support all virtuous behavior, from professionals and individuals, in favor of better soundproofing of places like in New York and the use of less noisy modes of transport in cities like in Madrid.
We must also act to make life easier for victims of recurring noise pollution.
They often have the feeling of not being considered and of warning in the void.
Pierre-Yves Bournazel
When we know that a single scooter crossing Paris can wake up more than 10,000 residents, we must opt for measures to accelerate the transition towards peaceful cities.
The experiment that I proposed of doubling financial aid in order to encourage Parisians to change their thermal two-wheelers for gentle mobility, in parallel with limiting the circulation of these thermal vehicles at night is one of them. example.
It is possible to invent new solutions to help the actors who, in the vast majority, are already responsible.
For example, in areas very affected by noise from terraces, we could increase the installation of connected “jellyfish” sensors so that establishments are informed, via a live application, when the noise becomes too significant.
Cities must fight against the overconcentration of bars in certain neighborhoods.
The example of Malaga is inspiring in this respect.
After measuring and mapping noise pollution, the Spanish city defined “saturated zones” within which it is no longer possible to open new establishments but to replace existing ones.
We must further encourage the installation of local businesses geared towards the needs of residents.
We must also act to make life easier for victims of recurring noise pollution.
They often have the feeling of not being considered and of warning in the void.
In addition to strengthening human resources, tools should be improved to facilitate reporting to control agents.
Today, smartphones are capable of measuring sound levels live.
Why couldn't an application use these features to prioritize and respond more quickly to obvious overruns?
It is possible to reconcile strong cultural, economic and social activity with the obligation to respond to this public health issue.
It’s a complex but essential balance.
Only collective awareness and strong political will will make this possible.
Because sleep is not a luxury but a vital need.
Science reminds us: in the city too, silence deserves to be heard.