The European Parliament made some important decisions regarding air quality in the EU on Wednesday, September 13th. They voted to make stricter limits on certain pollutants and bring European rules in line with the latest recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO). However, they also decided to delay full compliance with these WHO guidelines until 2035.
This vote, with 363 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in favor, 226 against, and 46 abstaining, aims to address the issue of air pollution in Europe. Javi López, who spoke on behalf of the Parliament, emphasized that air pollution is a significant problem and called this approval a significant step toward cleaner air for everyone in Europe.
The goal is to achieve zero pollution in Europe by 2050, as outlined in the Zero Pollution Action Plan presented by the European Commission last year. To achieve this, the new law sets more ambitious limits on pollutants, increases air quality monitoring in urban areas, and provides standardized air quality information for citizens.
Additionally, member states are required to create plans outlining both short- and long-term measures to meet these new air quality standards.
The impact of air pollution on human health is at the center of this initiative. Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a type of pollution, is responsible for 307,000 premature deaths in Europe. PM2.5 pollution comes from various sources like traffic, power plants, and industry and can lead to health problems like heart disease and asthma.
Other pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (NO2) contribute to 49,000 premature deaths in the EU, according to the European Environment Agency. These statistics underscore the importance of addressing air quality.
However, the decision to delay full compliance with WHO guidelines until 2035 has raised concerns among environmental groups. They worry that this delay could harm the health of Europeans and postpone necessary actions to combat air pollution.
Despite this delay, the European Parliament’s position has been set, and negotiations with EU member states and the European Commission will proceed to finalize the law. This marks a significant step in the ongoing effort to improve air quality in Europe and protect the health of its citizens.
Source: https//euroactiv.com