A revised European Ambient Air Quality Directive - and the role of our research
November 26, 2024:
The European Union (EU) has recently revised the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD). Science on the health impacts of air pollution has been a key driver in updating the directive requirements.
Further research, including our MARCHES project, will support decision-makers at local, regional and national level in implementing the directive.
The Ambient Air Quality Directive is at the core of a comprehensive EU legislative framework to cut down on emissions and improve the quality of the air that citizens breathe. The directive sets legally binding limits across the EU on major air pollutants harmful to health and the environment, to be attained by January 1st 2030. It also requires EU Member States to monitor air quality and to take measures where legal limits are exceeded.
Top threat to health
Air pollution is the top environmental threat to health in the European Union. It causes hundreds of thousands of premature deaths each year and exacerbates heart and respiratory diseases, leading to significant health costs. Although targeted EU policies and initiatives in the energy, transport, or household sectors have improved air quality, the health and economic burden is still too high, especially in cities.
Therefore, the Ambient Air Quality Directive was revised to better align with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations. The revised directive includes stricter clean air standards, new provisions on governance and enforcement, refined monitoring and assessment requirements, as well as strengthened information and communication rules.
Planning the measures needed for cleaner air
Where air quality requirements are exceeded, Member States must develop air quality plans, showing how compliance can be achieved soon. Where it is impossible before 2030 to accomplish good air quality, a detailed road map must be drawn up, subject to approval by the European Commission, showing which measures will be implemented. To complement roadmaps short-term action plans may be required, setting out emergency measures (e.g. restricting circulation of vehicles, suspending construction works) in areas where alert thresholds are exceeded. Exemptions are however possible where measures would be disproportionately expensive, underscoring the need for studies into the costs and benefits of air pollution control.
Science plays a key role
Scientific research has and continues to play a crucial role by supporting the implementation of clean air policies. Health science has informed the requirements of the directive. Atmospheric modelling of the transport, transformation and dispersion of pollutants is needed to understand how air quality reflects different sources of emissions, and where reductions will make best sense. Economic research will inform the selection of cost-effective measures to reduce emissions. Our MARCHES project brings together such high-level expertise from several countries to develop the tools needed in support of the directive. MARCHES moreover provides support to regional and local authorities in six countries to pilot the necessary integrated assessment techniques.
Our project MARCHES aims to help decision-makers on a national, regional and local level implement the Ambient Air Quality Directive, designing clean air measures and evaluating those that are most beneficial to health, by:
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Demonstrating how different sectors contribute to poor air quality
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Undertaking air quality modelling and projections
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Generating evidence on the health benefits of AAQD implementation
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Identifying cost-effective measures to support AAQD compliance
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Organising stakeholder consultation workshops
Link to directive (in English): data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/PE-88-2024-INIT/en/pdf