The European Parliament has approved sweeping revisions to the EU Ambient Air Quality Directives, setting legally binding standards closer to WHO recommendations.
New Targets
2030 Goals
- 55% reduction in premature deaths from air pollution
- PM2.5 annual limit: 10 μg/m³ (current: 20 μg/m³)
- NO2 annual limit: 20 μg/m³ (current: 40 μg/m³)
2035 Vision
- Align with WHO guidelines where feasible
- Achieve "pollution-free" status for all EU cities
- Eliminate coal heating in residential areas
Penalty Framework
Countries failing to meet standards face:
- Financial penalties up to €1 billion annually
- Loss of EU funding for environmental projects
- Mandatory action plans with EU oversight
Affected Sectors
Transportation
- Accelerated phase-out of diesel vehicles
- Low Emission Zones in all major cities
- Investment in public transit required
Industry
- Stricter emission controls for factories
- Real-time monitoring mandatory
- Penalties for exceedances
Agriculture
- Ammonia emissions targets
- Sustainable farming incentives
- Manure management regulations
City-Level Impact
Cities currently exceeding limits:
- Milan, Prague, Warsaw: Must implement emergency measures
- Paris, London: LEZ expansion accelerated
- Krakow: Coal heating ban enforcement
Timeline
- 2025: National air quality plans due
- 2027: Mid-term review
- 2030: First compliance deadline
- 2035: Full WHO alignment target