The European Union is laying the foundations for the green pact to lower the pollution limit. With the goal of zero air pollution by 2050 on the horizon, Parliament and the Council have reached a provisional agreement since the end of 2023 that establishes stricter limits and values for the year 2030. Specifically, the new Air Quality Directive would reduce by more than half the maximum annual emissions values for one of the main pollutants, suspended solid particles PM2.5, from the current 25 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) to 10 ug/m3 at the end of the decade, and by 50%, those of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), from 40 ug/m3 to 20 ug/m3.
The regulations, which would also contemplate the reduction of PM10 and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, will be reviewed before December 31, 2030 and, thereafter, at least every five years. However, Member States could request a ten-year extension of the deadline to comply with these new requirements. The ultimate goal of the Directive is to achieve air quality levels that are not harmful to natural ecosystems, biodiversity and human health, since it is estimated that pollution is the cause of around 300,000 premature deaths per year in the European Union. .
All countries must have roadmaps with short and long-term measures to comply with the new pollution limits before the end of 2028. Currently, several Spanish cities such as Barcelona (12.6 ug/m3), Seville ( 11.2 ug/m3) or Valencia (11 ug/m3) would exceed the limit established for solid particles in suspension from 2030. Of the large cities, only Madrid (9.2 ug/m3) and Malaga (9. 1 ug/m3) would be below 10 ug/m3 of PM2.5 emissions, according to data from the European Environment Agency.
The Parliament and the Council have agreed that air quality indices become comparable, clear and public between all the countries of the European Union, something that does not currently happen. These indices will also need to provide information on the symptoms associated with air pollution spikes and the health risks associated with each pollutant.
The pre-agreement includes access to justice for affected citizens and environmental NGOs to challenge the implementation of this Directive in the Member States. Likewise, citizens would be entitled to compensation when their health has been damaged due to the violation of the new national rules.
Parliament and the Council must now adopt the agreement, after which the new law will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force 20 days later. Thereafter, Member States would have two years to transpose the Directive.
