Page 33 - U4SSC Factsheet, Valencia, Spain, June 2020

Public Space and Nature, and Environmental Quality

Category KPI Result Performance to Benchmark SDG

Green Areas
(per 100 000 61.03 ha
inhabitants)

Green Area 97.56 %
Accessibility

Protected Natural 41.51 %
Areas

Recreational Facilities
(per 100 000 5 255 291 m 2
inhabitants)

EMF Exposure 100.00 %

Noise Exposure 70.48 %

Valencia performs well across the majority of these KPIs. The one area that is recommended for Valencia
to mitigate is noise exposure. Noise pollution generally receives less attention than water quality and air
quality issues because it cannot be seen, tasted or smelled. However, exposure to prolonged levels of
noise can lead to negative health effects (such as hearing loss, cardiovascular effects, cognitive impacts,
sleep disturbance and mental health effects) and affects the ability of residents to enjoy outdoor/
indoor city life. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the health-protective guidelines of
55 dBA outdoors for daytime and evening exposures, and night-noise exposure guidelines of 40 dBA.
Given that 40 dBA is often difficult to achieve in urban areas, the WHO has set an interim nighttime
limit of 55 dBA.

Optimizing city noise levels: The European Commission requires that Member States such as Spain
document noise maps and noise management action plans every five years for agglomerations with
more than 100 000 inhabitants. It is recommended, therefore, that as part of these efforts, Valencia
works with the national government to study the major factors (such as traffic) that the city’s noise
levels can be attributed to, and focus on, implementing measures to reduce exposure to noise from
these sources as a priority. Also recommended is a study of exposure levels in the dissemination areas

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