The province therefore exercises its authority in pushing for reduced emissions of carbon dioxide and particulate matter for instance, while also insisting on soil remediation wherever necessary.
Soil
In various areas of Brabant, the soil is polluted. This is the legacy from times when we had much less insight into the harmful side-effects of certain industries. During the course of time, however, more stringent environmental legislation has been introduced to safeguard both human health and the environment.
Nowadays, the province has various means of combating soil pollution. For instance, some areas of pollution are isolated to prevent any further spread. The soil is also often remediated, however, as is the case in De Kempen.
Air quality
In a densely populated region like Brabant, air quality is naturally subject to constant threat. In fact, the province is one of the regions of the Netherlands where the European air quality standards are exceeded by a considerable amount.
The province is keen to rectify the situation, but cannot achieve this on its own. It therefore cooperates closely with the Dutch State, the EU and municipalities throughout Brabant. Innovation plays a considerable role in the improvement of air quality. Recent solutions include the planting of additional greenery in the city centres and a state-of-the-art filtration system which reduces emissions of particulate matter and odours from livestock farms.
Noise
Brabant is a densely populated region, in which few places remain where one cannot hear the noise of human activity. Road traffic in particular contributes greatly to the level of background noise. In areas where people consider such noise a nuisance, the province seeks possible means of reducing the nuisance level.