The EU’s revised Ambient Air Quality Directive entered into force Tuesday, aligning 2030 EU air quality standards more closely with World Health Organization recommendations.
The revised Directive – an important step on the road to zero pollution in Europe’s environment by 2050 – comes with a series of new measures and stricter standards to ensure that people enjoy cleaner air in coming years.
It cuts the allowed annual limit value for the main air pollutant – fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – by more than half.
The revised Ambient Air Quality Directive updates air quality standards, lowering the allowable levels for twelve air pollutants: particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide, benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, arsenic, cadmium, nickel, and lead.
A regular review of the air quality standards, in line with the latest scientific evidence will help set the EU on a trajectory towards achieving the zero pollution objective for air by 2050. These reviews will progressive improvements to air quality to levels no longer considered harmful, in line with climate neutrality efforts.
The revised Directive will ensure early action to achieve cleaner air. If air pollution levels are higher than the new 2030 standards over the coming years, Member States will have to analyse whether they are on track to comply with the legislation on time, and, if needed, take measures to ensure compliance by 2030.
It will also support local authorities by strengthening the provisions on air quality monitoring and modelling and help improve air quality plans. The improved rules on air quality monitoring and modelling will make it possible to assess compliance more thoroughly with standards and support more efficient and effective action to prevent and address breaches of standards.
National and local authorities will determine the specific measures needed to meet these standards. At the same time, existing and new EU policies in environment, energy, transport, agriculture, research & innovation, and other fields will make a significant contribution.
In specific circumstances, EU Member States may get more time to achieve the new standards. This needs to be justified by sound analysis, and accompanied by a bespoke roadmap demonstrating how air quality will be improved by the postponed attainment deadlines.
The legislation will ensure that people suffering from health damages due to air pollution have the right to be compensated, in the case of violation of EU air quality rules.
EUR-Lex – Ambient Air Quality Directive
European Commission – Air Quality page
EEA report – Health and environment impacts of air pollution exposure remain high across Europe
