27 June, 2023
ERS is delighted that on Tuesday June 27, 2023, the European Parliament’s ENVI Committee adopted a report on the revision to the EU’s Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), taking a strong position to improve air quality across Europe.
By adopting the report (46 votes in favour, 41 against and 1 abstention) MEPs pushed for stricter 2030 limits for several pollutants (compared to the Commission proposal) including particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), SO2 (sulphur dioxide) and O3 (ozone) to ensure that air quality in the EU is not harmful to human health, natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
The committee also highlighted the importance of data collection by expressing the need to increase the number of air quality sampling points, making data available and easy to understand for citizens and accompanied by information on the symptoms associated with air pollution, as well as the health risks for each pollutant, including information tailored to vulnerable groups.
The decision to align with the most recent World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines and put people’s health first is an important and unprecedented milestone for everyone living in Europe.
Prof. Barbara Hoffmann, ERS Advocacy Council Chair Elect, said: “Today marked an important milestone for air quality in Europe.
“The decision taken by the ENVI Committee to further improve the proposal from the European Commission and align EU limit values with WHO Air Quality Guidelines is unprecedented. We are happy to see policymakers put health needs first and back scientific evidence.”
Prof. Zorana J. Andersen, ERS Environment and Health Committee Chair, said: “ERS is thrilled that MEPs in the ENVI Committee voted today to support the ambitious new EU clean air standards, showing bold political will, rooted in the science on air pollution health effects and public plea for healthy air.
“This is a major step towards cleaner air and improved lung health in Europe, that needs to be endorsed by the upcoming European Parliament plenary.”
The next step towards achieving cleaner air in Europe for all is due to come during the European Parliament’s next plenary session in Strasbourg later this year.
Read the full article on the proposed revisions.
Read ERS’s position on the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive here.
Read about the work of the Environment and Health Committee here.