Background Road traffic, industry, energy production and households are all sources of air pollution and pose a threat to human health. Moreover, individual pollutants, such as diesel soot as a component of PM10, also contribute significantly to climate change. The Europan Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) has summarised five previous acts on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe to improve the efficiency of individual laws, and to achieve more clarity and simplification in terms of improved implementation by Member States. The directive combines provisions for assessing and monitoring air quality by means of limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxides, particulate matters and airborne lead. It also includes limit values for benzene, carbon monoxide and ozone and has provision for agreements on the exchange of information and data from networks and individual stations measuring air pollution within Member States. Despite the legislative framework that is in place, continuing violations of air pollution limits remain a problem that must be tackled. Objectives The main objectives of the 'VCD Clean Air' project are: To bring the specific knowledge of NGOs and administrations to the European level to support the monitoring of the Air Quality Directive; To build an effective network of local and regional administrations and experts from environmental and consumer protection NGOs working on best practice models to reduce air pollutants from the transport sector in cities; To give NGOs the competence through capacity building to use justice as an instrument for supporting the implementation of the Air Quality Directive. This will force administrations to really use effective instruments for the reduction of emissions; To promote practical measures in the most important fields of activities of air quality and transport by implementation, documentation and dissemination of best practice; and To raise European citizens' awareness about the objectives of the Air Quality Directive and the positive impacts on the environment and quality of life. Expected results The project will contribute to the revision of the Air Quality Directive in the following ways: It will provide contributions to the revision process from relevant NGOs from at least seven European countries; It will hold international international NGO-workshops, the results of which will be incorporated into the revision of the Air Quality Directive in 2013; and It will advise on limit values for ultrafine particles and/or for black carbon, which will be incorporated into the revised Air Quality Directive. The project will also build capacity for NGOs and local authorities stakeholders: At least 100 local authorities and regional administrations will receive guidelines on air quality legislation; A network of representatives of at least 100 institutions and 80 environmental/consumer protection NGOs will be established; and Some 100 organisations will participate in capacity-building workshops. The project will also directly contribute to the Improved implementation of the Air Quality Directive through: Retrofit of 100 buses; Establishment of shore-side power supply for ships in 10 port cities; Retrofitting 20 ships with a diesel particle filter; Persuading at least six cities to join the Action Alliance European Biking Cities; Informing at least 50 driving schools, 100 companies and 1 000 individuals about eco-driving; and Conducting a survey on environmental zones and other air quality measures in 45 municipalities in Germany and 60 municipalities in six other EU Member States. Dissemination activities targeted at European citizens will include: At least 250 media articles on the Action Alliance European Biking Cities; At least 10 articles in major foreign media outlets per year; At least 1 500 visitors per month to the Clean Air website; and As a result of all media coverage, at least 25 million European citizens will be better informed about the Air Quality Directive and its importance for the environment and quality of life.