- New stricter limits for 2030 on various air pollutants are being set.
- It is planned to make air quality measurements comparable in all member states.
- Citizens will have the right to seek compensation and access to justice.
- About 300,000 people die prematurely in the EU each year due to air pollution.
The updated law aims to diminish air pollution in the EU for a clean and healthy environment for citizens and to reach the EU’s goal of zero air pollution by 2050.
On Wednesday, the Parliament voted in favor of a provisional political agreement with EU countries on new air quality measures, with 381 votes for, 225 against, and 17 abstentions.
The new regulations specify stricter 2030 limits and target values for pollutants that notably impact human health, such as particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), and SO2 (sulphur dioxide). Member states may request a ten-year extension to the 2030 deadline under certain conditions.
If the new national regulations are breached, those impacted by air pollution will have the right to take legal action, and citizens may receive compensation for harm to their health.
Additional air quality monitoring points will be established in cities, and the currently fragmented air quality indices across the EU will become comparable, transparent, and publicly accessible.
You can find more information about the new rules in the press release following the agreement with EU countries. A press conference with the rapporteur is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24 at 14:00 CET.
After the vote, the rapporteur (S&D, ES) commented: Javi López By updating air quality standards, some of which were set almost twenty years ago, pollution in the EU will be cut in half, leading to a healthier and more sustainable future. Thanks to the Parliament, the revised regulations enhance air quality monitoring and better safeguard vulnerable groups. This marks a significant victory in our ongoing dedication to ensuring a safer, cleaner environment for all Europeans.The updated law aims to diminish air pollution in the EU for a clean and healthy environment for citizens and to reach the EU’s goal of zero air pollution by 2050….”
