Traffic outside the window, trains passing nearby or aircraft overhead – transport sounds can easily become part of the background of everyday urban life.
Unfortunately, environmental noise is not just something we simply notice or find annoying. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), long-term exposure to transport noise is a major environmental challenge in Europe, with road traffic, railways and aircraft all contributing to the noise people experience in their surroundings.
When Everyday Noise Becomes a Problem
The EEA’s latest assessment, Environmental noise in Europe 2025, examines transport noise exposure across Europe and its effects on health and well-being. It highlights that prolonged exposure is associated with impacts including sleep disturbance and cardiovascular and metabolic health effects.
What makes noise particularly interesting is how easy it can be to get used to it. We might consciously notice a loud vehicle passing by, but the traffic, trains or aircraft we hear regularly can gradually become part of the everyday soundscape around us.
What Does This Mean for Our Cities?
For the INHABITAT Project, this raises an interesting question about sustainable cities. Urban sustainability isn’t only about energy, transport, waste or green spaces. The environmental conditions people experience in their everyday surroundings also contribute to the quality of urban life.
Understanding environmental noise is therefore another part of understanding how the places where we live affect our everyday experiences.
How Widespread Is Harmful Transport Noise?
That’s where our quiz comes in.
According to EU noise reporting, roughly how many Europeans are exposed to harmful transport noise?
- 1 in 20
- 1 in 10
- More than 1 in 5
- More than 1 in 2
We won’t give away the answer just yet. Head over to the INHABITAT MSc poll and take your best guess!
Source: European Environment Agency – Environmental noise in Europe 2025
Read the EEA report
Funding Agency: EACEA – European Education and Culture Executive Agency
Learn more about INHABITAT: https://www.inhabitatmsc.eu/
101108631 — INHABITAT — ERASMUS-EDU-2022-PI-ALL-INNO
Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
