The rigorous traffic limitations during COVID-19 have forced many people to work from home, reaching an outstanding degree of teleworking and reduction in air pollution. This exceptional situation can be examined as a large-scale pilot test to determine the potential of improving urban air quality through teleworking. Based on observed traffic reductions during the COVID-19 lockdown in Barcelona, we formulate socio-occupational scenarios, with various configurations of teleworking, and simulate them using the chemistry transport model WRF-Chem with multi-layer urban scheme. By intensifying teleworking to 2, 3, and 4 days a week, averaged NO2 concentrations are reduced by 4% (−1.5 μg m−3), 8% (−3 μg m−3), and 10% (−6 μg m−3), respectively, while O3 increases moderately (up to 3 μg m−3). We propose that teleworking be prioritized and promoted as an effective contribution towards reduction of long-term urban air pollution and short-term pollution peaks.
CITATION STYLE
Badia, A., Langemeyer, J., Codina, X., Gilabert, J., Guilera, N., Vidal, V., … Villalba, G. (2021). A take-home message from COVID-19 on urban air pollution reduction through mobility limitations and teleworking. Npj Urban Sustainability, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-021-00037-7
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