BRUSSELS, Feb 21 — In the European Union’s fight against air pollution, stricter limit and target values for various pollutants are to apply in future, reported German news agency (dpa).
Negotiators from the European Parliament and the EU-member states agreed on Tuesday to new upper limits for particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2), among other pollutants, according to the Parliament.
The Belgian EU Council Presidency confirmed the agreement. EU states and the Parliament still have to officially approve the agreement, which is considered a formality.
The new rules are intended to ensure that air pollution in Europe does not harm human health, the Parliament said. Citizens should be entitled to compensation if they fall ill due to non-compliance with limit values.
The limit values for certain particulate matter and SO2 are to be halved. According to Parliament, both pollutants have a particularly severe impact on health.
The new rules are intended to set the course for the European Commission’s action plan for zero pollutants in air, water and soil, which was presented in 2021.
The EU Environment Agency EEA said poor air quality remained the greatest health risk posed by environmental conditions. According to the latest figures, there were about 253,000 deaths in the EU in 2021 related to particulate matter levels above the recommended limits set by the World Health Organisation.
— Bernama
