Air quality

Air pollution in the EU

Air pollution is a major cause of disease and early death in Europe. Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in particular can enter deep into the lungs and bloodstream and is responsible for the highest number of early deaths in Europe.

In 2022, air pollution caused about 350 000 premature deaths in Europe, including 239 000 due to PM_2.5 alone. This is over 11 times the number of people killed in road accidents (20 634 in 2022).

Emissions of air pollutants in the EU have fallen since 1990, but pollution levels still exceed recommended standards. In 2023, 94% of people living in EU cities were exposed to PM_2.5 concentrations above the latest World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guideline levels, according to the European Environment Agency.

How the EU tackles air pollution

The EU has had strict measures in place to reduce air pollution since the 1980s.

The main legislative acts set:

• air quality standards for outdoor (ambient) air
• national targets for cutting emissions of the main air pollutants

In October 2024, the European Parliament and the Council adopted a directive setting updated air quality standards across the EU. The new rules established binding limit values for 2030 as an intermediate step towards achieving the zero pollution objective and contributing to a toxic-free environment in the EU by 2050.

Many other legal acts also help improve air quality in the EU, such as rules on greenhouse gas emissions across economic sectors, Euro 7 vehicle standards and rules on industrial emissions.

New EU rules on air quality

The new EU directive on air quality ((EU) 2024/2881) has merged and replaced the previous air quality directives (2004/107/EC and 2008/50/EC).

It supports the European Green Deal goal of reducing air, water and soil pollution to levels that are no longer harmful by 2050.

EU member states must incorporate the directive into national law by 11 December 2026.

Key changes include:

• stricter EU air quality standards for 2030, closer to the 2021 WHO guidelines, which reflect the latest science on how air pollution affects health

• a new right for people to claim compensation if their health is harmed due to breaches of the rules

• Air quality: Council gives final green light to strengthen standards in the EU (press release, 14 October 2024)

Stronger air quality standards 

The new directive sets stricter air quality standards for 13 pollutants for 2030, including PM_2.5, PM₁₀, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. The standard cover emission limits, average exposure reduction obligations and alert thresholds, among other things.

For fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), the annual limit value will be more than halved by 2030:

• previous EU standard: 25 µg/m³
• new EU standard: 10 µg/m³
• WHO guideline: 5 µg/m³

The stricter limits are expected to reduce premature deaths linked to PM_2.5 by 75% within 10 years.

The Commission must regularly review scientific evidence to verify whether the revised air quality standards are effective in protecting health.

Under certain conditions, member states may request a postponement of the deadline for complying with air quality limit values.

Access to justice and right to compensation 

The new rules strengthen the right to clean air and access to justice. People and organisations, including NGOs, with a sufficient interest can challenge how the directive is implemented.

For the first time, EU member states must ensure that people can claim and obtain compensation when their health has been damaged as a result of an intentional or negligent breach of the national rules transposing the directive.

Better planning and monitoring

Where pollutant levels exceed the limit and target values, the directive requires member states to establish air quality roadmaps and plans. They must take appropriate measures to reduce pollution and keep the exceedance period as short as possible.

In addition, the directive strengthens requirements for air quality monitoring and modelling. Better data will help authorities manage air quality, plan prevention measures and enforce the rules more effectively.

Cross-border pollution and public information

Air pollution often crosses borders, so member states must cooperate to identify the sources of air pollution and the measures necessary to address them, and to plan coordinated action.

They must also step up efforts to inform the public about air quality.