A new report from the European Environment Agency warns that more than 112 million Europeans are regularly exposed to harmful noise, mainly from road traffic. When measured against World Health Organization standards, the number rises to 150 million people — almost one in three.

The health toll is stark. In 2021 alone, transport noise was linked to 66,000 premature deaths, 50,000 cases of heart disease, and 22,000 new cases of diabetes. Children are also at risk, with hundreds of thousands facing learning difficulties and health problems due to noise exposure.

Wildlife is suffering too. Nearly a third of protected Natura 2000 sites face noise levels harmful to animals, while shipping noise is disrupting marine life.

Yet progress towards the EU’s goal of cutting noise impacts by 30% by 2030 has been sluggish, with only a 3% drop since 2017.

The report highlights solutions: quieter vehicles and planes, better city planning, more green spaces, and stricter regulations. The economic case is strong too — noise pollution costs Europe €95.6 billion each year, but every euro invested in noise reduction delivers tenfold social benefits.

The report highlights the negative impact of noise on human health and makes clear the need for a quieter environmemt.