In a historic move, the European Union has taken an important step towards solving the urgent problem of air pollution. Late in the evening, consensus was reached between Parliament and Council on the new Air Quality Directive aimed at significantly reducing pollution limits across the EU, by up to 2.5 times below current targets by 2030. Despite this ambitious initiative, the agreement has received mixed reactions, as it does not fully align with the stricter recommendations. provided by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Nicolae Ștefănuță, shadow rapporteur of the Greens/ALE group for this file, expressed a bittersweet feeling towards the agreement. “This agreement is a step forward in reducing air pollution in Europe by 2030,” said Ștefănuță, recognizing the progress made. He highlighted the significant advances introduced by the directive, including groundbreaking rights for people affected by air pollution. “Thanks to our efforts, the directive will introduce the right for people with cancer to seek compensation if their authorities fail to comply with new pollution limits. This also includes the right for citizens to take non-compliant authorities to court,” he explained.
Despite these achievements, Ștefănuță expressed concerns about the agreement’s shortcomings. “However, Europe will not be able to breathe easy until we take much bolder action to tackle the kind of pollution we are currently seeing in places like Milan. This agreement is a missed opportunity to put the directive on the right track to meet the recommendations made by the World Health Organization on air quality,” he lamented. The MEP did not hesitate to criticize the current political climate, which he said undermines efforts to protect the environment. “It is shameful that every year hundreds of thousands of people die prematurely due to air pollution in Europe. The current reactionary attack on the Green Deal and environmental protection measures undermines efforts to tackle pollution.”
The new directive promises to usher in a new era of air quality management in the EU. It sets stricter limits for harmful particles, with the ultimate goal of reaching zero pollution by 2050. Additionally, it gives citizens, especially those residing in heavily polluted areas, unprecedented rights. For the first time, individuals will be able to seek justice and demand reparations for health damage attributable to public authorities’ inaction on air quality standards.
As the EU embarks on this ambitious journey towards cleaner air, mixed reactions to the new Air Quality Directive highlight the challenges ahead. Although the agreement marks significant progress, the call for stronger action, consistent with global health standards, remains stronger than ever. The path to zero pollution by 2050 is fraught with challenges, but the directive’s provisions offer a glimmer of hope to those affected by air pollution, advocating for a healthier future for all European citizens .
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