Zero Pollution: New EU rules enter into force for cleaner air by 2030

The revised Ambient Air Quality Directive entered into force on Tuesday (10 Dec), aligning 2030 EU air quality standards more closely with World Health Organization recommendations.

It is an important step toward better protecting Europeans’ health and moving forward on the path to zero pollution in our environment by 2050.

The revised Directive comes with a series of new measures and stricter standards to ensure that people enjoy cleaner air in the coming years.

Cleaner ambient air by 2030

The new Directive cuts the allowed annual limit value for the main air pollutant – fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) – 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 and societal and technological developments, will help set the EU on a trajectory towards achieving the zero pollution objective for air by 2050. These reviews will ensure that air quality within the European Union progressively improves to levels no longer considered harmful, in line with climate neutrality efforts.

The revised Directive will also 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.

Under specific circumstances, Member States may get more time to achieve the new standards.  Extensions must be justified by sound analysis, and accompanied by a bespoke roadmap demonstrating how air quality will be improved by the postponed attainment deadlines. Accordingly, Member States will need to take appropriate measures to ensure they respect air quality standards as soon as possible.

Furthermore, the revised legislation will ensure that people suffering from health damages due to air pollution have the right to be compensated, in the case of a violation of EU air quality rules.  It will also bring more clarity on access to justice, effective penalties, and better public information on air quality and its effects on human health.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) air quality health impact assessment published on Tuesday underlines the importance of implementing these new rules. It shows that almost 240,000 deaths per year in the European Union can be attributed to exposure to fine particulate matter, a key air pollutant.

Next steps

Member States now have two years to adopt the laws, regulations and administrative provisions to transpose the revised Directive. The Commission will adopt secondary legislation (implementing acts) to complement the new rules and assist with their application.

Background

Air pollution is the greatest environmental threat to health and a leading cause of chronic diseases, including stroke, cancer and diabetes.

It disproportionately affects sensitive and vulnerable social groups. The worst air pollutants across the European Union currently are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone.

Air pollution is responsible for nearly 250,000 premature deaths per year in Europe and a significant number of non-communicable diseases, such as asthma, cardiovascular problems and respiratory diseases (including lung cancer) are attributed to elevated levels of those pollutants.

Polluted air also harms the environment, causing acidification, eutrophication and damage to forests, ecosystems and crops. Today, eutrophication exceeds critical loads in two-thirds of ecosystem areas across the EU. This has a significant impact on biodiversity and the services it delivers for us all.

The Commission adopted the proposal for a revised Ambient Air Quality Directive in October 2022. The entry into force of the directive is a milestone for the European Green Deal’s zero-pollution ambition of having a zero-pollution environment by 2050.

 

More information: European Commission.