Make Summer Vacation Winter Vacation – For Air – Ostersunds-Boston

During the spring, we from Ek21c in Wargentinskolan investigated the air quality of Östersund through social science measurements and observations. With our work based on new knowledge and old reports, we have been able to draw conclusions that the air quality in Östersund deteriorates during the winter period. To prevent this problem, we believe society should investigate radical social changes.

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What leads to poor air quality is, among other things, the studded tires that wear a lot on the roads and release dust particles. We have been able to establish that air quality improves during the summer, even though traffic increases at that time. One possible measure we considered is moving summer vacations to reduce the number of motorists during the winter seasons. If the vacation is in the winter, then fewer people need to get to the place of work and school, and this would also give more opportunities to get to the place of work in the summer. Since it is easier to bike, walk, use electric scooters and new group solutions such as state boats. In this way, the movement of cars can be prevented in winter and summer.

Today’s discussion of measures to reduce air pollution, in our view, is largely characterized by urgent action with limited impact. One of the suggestions that has been put forward is to reduce the number of parking spaces in Östersund. If this proposal is implemented, more people will go downtown. This, in turn, reduces air pollution. On the other hand, this increases the chance of slips and falls as the course and footpaths are filled with ice and snow during the winter season. Our studies indicate that the risk of slipping is between 20 and 25 percent on a winter day in central Östersund. This shows how an emergency procedure can be difficult to implement because it is inconvenient, increases the risk of accidents and reduces overall mobility in the city (it is difficult for the elderly and disabled to move around the city).

From an international perspective, Östersund has every chance of succeeding in bringing about radical societal changes to improve air quality, mobility and quality of life. We have huge spaces, a city that is growing at a reasonable pace and we hope its residents are positive and creative. However, our surveys show that many high school students have little awareness of the level of air pollution in the city, and that drastic social change such as the transition to vacations does not immediately feel positive for many. However, we believe that the change from summer vacation to winter vacation will provide ample opportunity for electric scooters and other simple means of transportation that are completely fossil-free, and do not affect air quality during use.

The possibilities for creating new positive state environments are great too: imagine taking a state boat out to restored Penas for a nice break on late summer evenings after work. Get to work in shorts and sneakers and feel the breeze from Storsjön on the electric scooter trail from Ås to Brunflo. Or enjoy a winter break when the winter city is at its coldest and crispest.

Based on our report, we cannot draw statistically reliable conclusions because the survey is too small. But we hope to be able to inspire Mittuniversitet, the region, the municipality, the media, businesses and residents to take on the challenge of poor air quality in a more radical way than the urgent measures that characterize the debate today.

EK21c Economics Program, JGY Wargentin