On the occasion of the National Air Quality Day (JNQA), held on October 14, 2026, the DREAL Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is focusing on youth through three educational and fun actions. These initiatives aim to educate approximately 300 agricultural high school students in the region about ozone pollution, while also offering a free online quiz for 8-16 year olds and an educational program.
The interactive quiz, titled 'Are you an Air Quality Superhero!', invites young people to test their knowledge on the origins of pollution, its health effects, and daily actions to preserve air quality. It can be taken alone, with family, or in class.
In parallel, a participatory workshop allowed 300 future agricultural professionals from the region to learn about ozone formation, its impacts, and solutions to address it. This workshop used a specially designed board game, 'Discovering Ozone,' to explore questions about its formation, its effects on health, crops, and forests, as well as ways to limit this pollution.
Ozone, unlike other pollutants, forms through solar reactions involving pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (COV). While air quality is improving for many pollutants, ozone concentrations are increasing in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, affecting human health and disrupting plant growth, with agricultural losses potentially reaching 14% for wheat in France.
These discussions focused particularly on reducing emissions from agricultural machinery, managing livestock effluents, and practices that preserve air quality. This action is part of the Regional Ozone Plan, led by the DREAL and its partners, aiming to better understand this pollution and reduce its emissions and consequences.
The educational program 'Génération Air Pur,' developed by the Pôle ESE Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes with support from the DREAL, offers a turnkey program for 14-18 year olds. It addresses the challenges of outdoor air quality and its effects on health and ecosystems through four participatory educational sequences.
