This Directive establishes new EU-wide air quality standards and monitoring requirements aimed at reducing air pollution to levels no longer harmful to human health and the environment by 2050. It merges and updates previous air quality directives while introducing stricter limits for key pollutants.The Directive’s structure includes:
- Setting of limit values, target values and monitoring requirements for various air pollutants including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone and others
- Requirements for air quality assessment through monitoring networks, sampling points and measurement methods
- Provisions for air quality management including development of air quality plans and short-term action plans when limits are exceeded
- Requirements for public information and reporting to the European Commission
Key provisions include:
- New stricter air quality standards to be achieved by 2030, aligned more closely with WHO guidelines
- Enhanced monitoring requirements including new ‘supersites’ for comprehensive air quality measurement
- Stronger requirements for air quality plans when standards are exceeded
- Improved public access to air quality information and justice
- New provisions for compensation when health damage occurs due to air quality violations
