Europe
Environmental Noise Directive
The Directive relating to the Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise (2002/49/EC) or END, aims to provide a common basis for tackling noise. It requires member states to prepare noise maps for centres of population of over 250,000 inhabitants, major roads, major railways and civil airports, for approval by 30 June 2007. Maps for centres of population of 100,000 - 250,000 are to be prepared for approval by 30 June 2012. The Directive also requires action plans to be prepared aimed at reducing high noise levels and protecting quiet areas, by July 2008 for the first round, and by July 2013 for the subsequent round.
Find out more about noise mapping in the UK.
Reducing European Transport Noise
The sixth Framework Programme of the European Community is funding research programmes to reduce environmental noise across member states - transport noise is the main source.
CALM aimed to synchronise and encourage European research on transport noise - the programme ended in October 2007.
SILENCE aims to provide both the technologies for transport noise control and innovative strategies for action plans to reduce urban transport noise, which should be available in the Spring as the programme nears completion.
European NGO groups working on transportnoise: