EU seizes ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’ to improve air quality standards across Europe  

The EU Council has approved the revised EU Ambient Air Quality Directive – which strengthens air quality standards across the EU.  

However, the EU stopped short of fully aligning the law with the World Health Organization’s recommendations. 

Responding to the news, ClientEarth lawyer Emma Bud said: “This was a rare, once-in-a-generation opportunity for lawmakers to revise air quality standards to better protect people’s health, and we are pleased that they have seized it. 

“While we are disappointed that the standards fall short of scientific recommendations, the new pollution limits are still an important improvement, and will help reduce at least some of the premature deaths currently caused by toxic air across Europe. 

“All eyes are now on EU countries as they start preparing for the new law to come into force. We urge them to plan ahead and allocate resources effectively, so that local authorities can comply with the law on time.” 

ClientEarth welcomes the following important and pragmatic improvements in this new directive, compared with the previous one: 

• New, stronger air quality standards will protect people all over the EU, curb premature deaths, and ease the burden on public health systems. 
• New and improved rules on air quality plans and roadmaps give local authorities the time and tools they need to reduce air pollution in their jurisdictions, and comply with the new standards by the deadline. 
• After years of litigation by ClientEarth and others on access to justice on air quality matters, there is now an explicit access to justice provision in the new Directive, giving citizens and civil society a clear right to go to court to demand better from authorities who fail to protect them from illegal levels of air pollution. 
• The text clarifies some of the financial risks member states face if they fail to comply with the new air quality standards on time. This includes compensation for people whose health has been damaged by breaches of the new rules.
  

The Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) is a cornerstone of European Union legislation aimed at regulating and improving air quality across Member States. Its primary objective is to protect human health and the environment by setting specific air quality standards and emission limits for various air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), benzene, and ozone (O3). 

Air pollution is responsible for around 300,000 premature deaths annually in Europe, making it the foremost environmental threat to our health. Air pollution contributes to a wide range of health issues, including heart attacks, strokes, respiratory problems, diabetes, dementia, delayed cognitive development in children and lung cancer. 

ClientEarth is currently supporting individuals in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Poland to take legal action against their national governments, looking to recognize the human right to healthy air in court.  

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