EU Takes Action to Protect Human Health and Biodiversity with Stricter Air Quality Standards

EU Takes Action to Protect Human Health and Biodiversity with Stricter Air Quality Standards

(IN BRIEF) The Environment Committee of the European Parliament has adopted its position to improve air quality in the EU, aiming to create a cleaner and healthier environment. The report sets stricter limit and target values for pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and ozone to ensure that air quality is not harmful to human health, natural ecosystems, and biodiversity. The committee calls for an increase in air quality sampling points and the harmonization of air quality indices across the EU. MEPs also propose the development of air quality roadmaps by member states to comply with the new limit values. The next steps involve Parliament adopting its mandate during the July plenary session, followed by negotiations with the Council. The revisions align with the Zero Pollution Action Plan and address air pollution as a significant cause of premature deaths in the EU.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRUSSELS, 28-Jun-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Parliament, the EU’s only directly-elected institution and one of the legislative bodies of the European Union, announces that the Environment Committee of the European Parliament has adopted its position to enhance air quality in the EU, aiming to create a cleaner and healthier environment.

The report, approved with 46 votes in favor, 41 against, and 1 abstention, establishes stricter limit and target values for various pollutants, including particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3). The objective is to ensure that air quality in the EU does not pose a threat to human health, natural ecosystems, and biodiversity. MEPs emphasize the importance of aligning the directive with the latest World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines through upcoming reviews.

Increased Air Quality Sampling Points

The Environment Committee highlights the need to expand the number of air quality sampling points. In areas where high concentrations of ultrafine particles (UFP), black carbon, mercury, and ammonia (NH3) are expected, there should be one sampling point per one million inhabitants, surpassing the Commission’s initial proposal of one per five million and limited only to UFP. In urban regions, at least one monitoring supersite representative of the general urban population’s exposure should be established per two million inhabitants, compared to the Commission’s suggestion of one per ten million.

Enhanced Information for Citizens

MEPs advocate for harmonizing air quality indices across the EU to replace the currently fragmented and unintuitive systems. These indices should cover sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), and ozone. Clear and publicly available indices with hourly updates will enable citizens to protect themselves during periods of high air pollution before alert thresholds are reached. Additionally, the indices should provide information on symptoms associated with air pollution peaks and the corresponding health risks for each pollutant, including tailored information for vulnerable groups.

Air Quality Plans and Roadmaps

MEPs propose that, in addition to air quality plans required when EU countries exceed limits, all member states should develop air quality roadmaps outlining short- and long-term measures to comply with the new limit values.

Quote

Following the vote, rapporteur Javi López (S&D, ES) stated, “Addressing air pollution in Europe demands immediate action. This slow-motion pandemic takes a devastating toll on our society, resulting in premature deaths and numerous cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. We must prioritize scientific evidence and align our air quality standards with WHO guidelines, strengthening provisions in this directive. It is crucial to be ambitious in safeguarding the well-being of our citizens and creating a cleaner, healthier environment.”

Next Steps

Parliament is scheduled to adopt its mandate during the plenary session held from July 10 to 13, 2023. Once the Council has adopted its position, negotiations on the final form of the law can commence.

Background

Air pollution remains the leading environmental cause of premature death in the EU, resulting in approximately 300,000 deaths annually. The most harmful pollutants include particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone, as reported by the European Environment Agency (EEA). In October 2022, the Commission proposed a revision of the EU air quality rules with more ambitious targets for 2030 to align with the zero pollution objective by 2050, as outlined in the Zero Pollution Action Plan.

Media contact:

Thomas HAAHR
Press Officer
(+32) 2 28 42976 (BXL)
(+33) 3 881 72033 (STR)
(+32) 470 88 09 87
thomas.haahr@europarl.europa.eu

SOURCE: European Parliament