Clean air legislation in Europe

Under the European Green Deal, the EU has set itself the objective of reducing pollution levels in air, water and soil so that health and natural ecosystems are protected.

Steps are being taken at the EU level to address emissions from urban transport, for example through the Zero Pollution Action Plan and the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive.

Zero Pollution Action Plan

In 2021, the European Commission adopted a Zero Pollution Action Plan, a spin-off strategy of the European Green Deal. The Action Plan sets an overall ambition for 2050: “air, water, and soil pollution is reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to health and natural ecosystems, and that respect the boundaries our planet can cope with, thus creating a toxic-free environment”.

Link to the Zero Pollution Action Plan.

Ambient Air Quality Directive

Following the goal proposed in the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan, the EU Commission announced in October 2022 a proposal to revise the existing Ambient Air Quality Directives (Directives 2004/107/EC and 2008/50/EC) into a single Directive to align the EU's air quality standards more closely with the updated World Health Organization (WHO) global air quality guidelines.

  • The revised Ambient Air Quality Directive will impose stricter limits on pollutants, including particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). For example, the annual limit value for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) will be reduced by more than half.
  • The Commission will be required to review EU standards by the end of 2030 (and every 5 years thereafter) to assess options for alignment with the WHO guidelines and latest scientific evidence.
  • Member States may request a postponement of the deadline for attaining the air quality limit values by up to 10 years, but only if specific conditions are met.
  • The Directive also incorporates provisions for access to justice for individuals affected by air pollution, ensuring that citizens and NGOs can play an active role in monitoring and enforcing air quality standards.

While the legislative file of the proposed revised Ambient Air Quality Directive is close to being adopted (due by the end of 2024; click here for updates on the legislative train schedule by the EU Parliament), efforts will be needed at the national level after its transposition, including monitoring of compliance with air quality standards and the development of air quality plans, to improve ambient air quality in areas exceeding pollutant values.

Link to the Ambient Air Quality Diective.