At last. After years of negotiations, European Parliament has approved the new Air Quality Directive. A new regulation that establishes limits and target values for several pollutants that are much stricter than the current ones, which have been approved since 2008 and do not correspond to the overwhelming scientific evidence that exists today on pollution and its terrible effects on our health.
Countries will have to align themselves with these limits by 2030 – although some Member States may delay until 2040 – and, from then on, pollution indicators will be reviewed every five years to bring them as close as possible to the most recent studies available. Citizens will have more information on pollution problems and we will have, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable people, greater protection and access to justice in the face of countries’ failure to comply with the limits.
Here you can relive the moment of approval:
¡Aprobada! 🟢
El Parlamento Europeo aprueba la nueva norma de Calidad de Aire. 👏
Una victoria importantísima para toda la ciudadanía 🇪🇺.
Enhorabuena a la sociedad civil y a todas y todos los que lo habéis hecho posible, @javilopezEU.https://t.co/Go0Tet5Xqu
El momento 👇 pic.twitter.com/wN7abEo65u
— Salud por Derecho (@Saludporderecho) April 24, 2024
The new standard aims to ensure that air quality in the EU is not harmful to human health, natural ecosystems or biodiversity, with the long-term goal of eliminating air pollution by 2050. This is extremely important considering that 97% of European citizens breathe air that is harmful to our health and that polluted air is associated with 300,000 premature deaths in our continent, as well as an increase in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, among others.
Salud por Derecho welcomes the approval of this directive. “It is a key and urgent measure to save lives and ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for those of us who live in Europe. This measure not only seeks to mitigate the devastating impacts of air pollution on public health, but also to promote a cleaner and safer environment for future generations,” says Vanessa Lopez, director of the organization. “By tackling the air pollution crisis, we are protecting people’s health while safeguarding the environment.
