Last year, with the great support of EFA members, we managed to achieve some significant changes regarding the adoption of stricter air pollution limits under the National Emissions Ceilings Directive (NEC). The NEC is the key piece of legislation aiming to reduce air pollution levels until 2030. The battle is not finished yet though! For now, the situation is the following: the European Parliament is supportive of stricter air pollution limits, compared to the initial modest proposal of the European Commission, although the Council (Member States) are in favour of weakening the ambition level and introducing some flexibility.
To convince the Council on the need of stricter air pollution limits, EFA and 8 of our members (from France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden) participated in a joint letter together with other 76 non-governmental organisations. We are asking forSupport emission reduction commitments corresponding to at least 52% health improvement by 2030 EU-wide
- Support emission reduction commitments corresponding to at least 52% health improvement by 2030 EU-wide
- Support legally binding targets for 2025 as requested by the European Parliament.
- Reject unnecessary flexibilities, such as the adjustment of emission inventories, adjustment of emission factors and three-year averaging calculations
- Keep methane emission reduction commitments in the Directive
- Support provisions granting the public the right to access to information
Air pollution caused the premature death of 403,000 Europeans in the year 2012 alone and people with allergy and respiratory diseases think that is appalling.
The complete letter is available here.
The first trilogue (negotiation process between the Commission, Parliament and the Council) on NEC took place on the 25th of February and further trilogues will take place from mid-March to mid-May.
To know more about air quality, please visit our section on air pollution.