Air and noise pollution
Air pollution is one of the largest environmental health risks in Europe. The听EU zero pollution action plan adopted in听2021 aims at reducing air and noise pollution to levels no longer considered harmful to health and natural ecosystems. Both the legislation and an EU-wide monitoring network aim to ensure that pollution is below critical values, and that the EU is on track to reduce air pollution to levels no longer considered harmful by听2050.
Legal basis
Articles听191-193 (Environment) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
General background
Air pollution can cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases as well as cancer, and is the leading environmental cause of premature death in the EU. Certain pollutants, such as arsenic, cadmium, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are human genotoxic carcinogens, capable of causing cancer by directly altering the genetic material of target cells . Air pollution also negatively impacts the quality of water and soil and damages ecosystems, for example through eutrophication (excess nitrogen pollution) and acid rain. Agriculture and forests, as well as material and buildings, are therefore affected. Air pollution has many sources, but mainly stems from industry, transport, energy production and agriculture. Air quality standards are often not complied with, especially in urban areas (air pollution 鈥榟otspots鈥�) 鈥� which is where the majority of Europeans live. The most problematic pollutants today are fine particles, nitrogen oxides and ground-level ozone. The European Environment Agency鈥檚 briefing entitled 鈥樷�� shows that excessive air pollution, surpassing EU standards, is widespread in the EU, and that it often exceeds World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The EU zero pollution action plan for听2050 aims to reduce pollution of air, soil and water, as well as noise and plastic pollution, to levels no longer considered harmful to health and natural ecosystems. This long-term goal has been broken down into key targets for听2030, and progress towards the targets is continually monitored and assessed. The goal to reduce premature deaths caused by air pollution by听55% is likely to be met, and the reduction may be even greater, reaching听66% by听2030, according to .
Environmental noise levels are rising in urban areas, mainly as a result of increasing traffic volumes and intensifying industrial and recreational activities. It is that around听20% of the population of the EU are subjected to noise levels that are considered unacceptable. This can affect quality of life and lead to significant levels of stress, sleep disturbance and adverse health effects, such as cardiovascular problems. Noise also negatively affects wildlife. The EU zero pollution action plan aims to reduce by听30% the proportion of people who are chronically disturbed by noise pollution created by transport, but this goal is 产测听2030.
Achievements in combating air pollution
Air quality in Europe has much improved since the EU first started to tackle this issue in the听1970s. Concentrations of substances such as sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), benzene (C6H6) and lead (Pb) have been significantly reduced since then. The EU has three different legal mechanisms to manage air pollution: defining general air quality standards for ambient concentrations of air pollutants; setting national limits on total pollutant emissions; and designing source-specific legislation, for example to control industrial emissions or to set standards for vehicle emissions, energy efficiency or fuel quality. In addition, transboundary air pollution is tackled through international cooperation with strategic partners. The legislation is complemented by strategies and measures to promote environmental protection and its integration into other sectors, which are all key deliverables of the European Green Deal.
A. Ambient air quality
Air quality legislation consists of two key directives. on ambient air quality came into effect in June听2008 and relates to substances 鈥� arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 鈥� for which a threshold concentration in ambient air can be identified below which they do not pose a risk to human health. on ambient air quality lays down measures to define and establish ambient air quality objectives (i.e. limits not to be exceeded anywhere in the EU) relating to the main air pollutants: sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide听/听nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, ozone, benzene, lead, carbon monoxide, arsenic, cadmium, nickel and benzo(a)pyrene. Member States are required to define zones and urban agglomerations in order to assess and manage ambient air quality, to monitor long-term trends and to make the information available to the public. This data is collected through an EU-wide monitoring network. Where air quality is good, it must be maintained; where limit values are exceeded, action has to be taken. As part of the European Green Deal, the Commission proposed to revise the two Ambient Air Quality Directives, aligning EU air quality standards more closely with the WHO recommendations. In February听2024, the Council and 合法博彩网站 reached a , which will need to be formally adopted.
(the National Emission Ceilings Directive) sets stricter national emission ceilings for the five key pollutants 鈥� sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds, ammonia and fine particulate matter. The directive requires Member States to draw up national air pollution control programmes.
B. Road transport
Several directives have been adopted to limit pollution from road transport by setting emission performance standards for different categories of vehicles, such as cars, light commercial vehicles, lorries, buses and motorcycles, and by regulating the quality of fuel. The current Euro听6 emission standard for cars and light vans sets emission limits on a number of air pollutants, in particular nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. In line with the Commission鈥檚听2020 sustainable and smart mobility strategy, more stringent air pollution standards will be introduced with the Euro听7 regulation. The provisional agreement reached between 合法博彩网站 and the Council was approved by 合法博彩网站 in March听2023. Since September听2017, a more realistic test cycle has been in use: 鈥楻eal Driving Emissions鈥� are now determined for new car models to better reflect real driving conditions. Furthermore, there are on in-service conformity (which require vehicles to continue to conform to the standards while in circulation), durability of pollution control devices, on-board diagnostic systems, measurement of fuel consumption and access to vehicle repair and maintenance information for independent operators. Similar rules are in place for such as buses and lorries. A听2018 regulation on entered into force on 1听September听2020, with the aim of increasing the quality and independence of technical services and verifying whether vehicles already on the road comply with the requirements.
C. Other transport emissions
To reduce air pollution from ships 鈥� said to be responsible for 50听000 premature deaths every year 鈥� the EU has set limits on the of marine bunker fuels used in ships operating in European seas. The general sulphur limit fell from听3.5% to听0.5% in听2020 in line with limits agreed by the International Maritime Organization. Since听2015, an even stricter standard of听0.1% has applied in certain designated 鈥楽ulphur Emission Control Areas鈥�, such as the Baltic Sea, the English Channel and the North Sea. Further emission performance standards were set in听2016 for , such as excavators, bulldozers and chainsaws, as well as for agricultural and forestry tractors and recreational craft such as sport boats.
In December听2022, the Council approved the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, a global scheme for reducing CO2 emissions from international aviation also involving EU member states. The , applicable from January听2024, aims to cut aviation鈥檚 environmental impact through measures such as the use of sustainable aviation fuels. The corresponding entered into force in October听2023 and aims for an听80% reduction in ships鈥� on-board energy greenhouse gas intensity by听2050, encouraging the adoption of renewable and low-carbon fuels.
D. Emissions from industry
罢丑别听2010 (IED) covers highly polluting industrial activities that account for a significant share of pollution in Europe. It consolidates and merges all relevant directives (on waste incineration, volatile organic compounds, large combustion plants, integrated pollution prevention and control, etc.) into one coherent legislative instrument, with the aim of facilitating the implementation of the legislation and of minimising pollution from various industrial sources. The IED lays down the obligations to be met by all industrial installations, contains a list of measures for the prevention of water, air and soil pollution, and provides a basis for drawing up operating licences or permits for industrial installations. Using an integrated approach, it takes into account the total environmental performance of a plant, including the use of raw materials, noise pollution or energy efficiency. The concept of 鈥榖est available techniques鈥� plays a central role, as do flexibility, environmental inspections and public participation. The IED was complemented in听2015 by a on emissions from medium combustion plants.
In November听2023, legislators reached provisional agreement on a revision of the IED, aiming, for example, to ensure full and consistent implementation of the IED across Member States, with tighter permit controls on air and water emissions. This agreement was approved by 合法博彩网站 in March听2024.
Achievements regarding noise pollution
The EU鈥檚 to noise pollution is twofold: a general framework for the identification of noise pollution levels requiring action at both Member State and EU level; and a set of legislation on the main sources of noise, such as road, air and rail traffic noise, and noise from equipment for outdoor use.
罢丑别听2002 aims to reduce exposure to environmental noise by harmonising noise indicators and assessment methods, gathering noise exposure information in the form of 鈥榥oise maps鈥�, and making this information available to the public. On this basis, the Member States are required to draw up action plans to address noise problems. Noise maps and action plans need to be reviewed at least every five years. The most , published in March听2023, confirmed the overall good progress made by most Member States in implementing the directive, despite some initial delays.
The听2014 regulation on the introduces a new test method for measuring noise emissions, lowers the existing noise limit values and includes additional sound emission provisions in the type-approval procedure. Other regulations deal with noise limits for and tyre rolling.
Since June听2016, EU , in line with the 鈥榖alanced approach鈥� created by the International Civil Aviation Organization, have applied to airports with more than 50听000 civil aircraft movements per year. This approach consists of four principal elements designed to identify the most cost-efficient way of tackling aircraft noise at each individual airport: reducing noise levels at the source through the deployment of modern aircraft; managing the land around airports in a sustainable way; adapting operational procedures to reduce the impact of noise on the ground; and, if necessary, introducing operating restrictions such as bans on night flights.
In the context of the听2016 , a on noise, amended in听2019, sets maximum levels of noise that new (conventional) railway vehicles can produce.
Large industrial and agricultural installations covered by the IED may only operate if in possession of a permit, which is tied to conditions regarding emission limits, including noise, and the use of best available techniques. Noise emitted by construction equipment, as well as by recreational craft or equipment for outdoor use, is also regulated.
Role of the European 合法博彩网站
合法博彩网站 has played a decisive role in the formulation of a progressive environmental policy to combat air and noise pollution. For instance, Members of the European 合法博彩网站 fought attempts to postpone, from听2020 to听2025, the deadline to reduce the harmful sulphur content of marine fuels to听0.5%. In the wake of the discovery in the US that the Volkswagen group used test-cheating software to drive down NOx emissions, 合法博彩网站 set up a temporary committee of inquiry into emission measurements in the automotive sector to investigate the matter. In its听2017 final report, it called for Member States and car manufacturers to be held accountable and urged them to retrofit or withdraw highly polluting cars from the market.
On 25听March听2021, 合法博彩网站 adopted a on the implementation of the two Ambient Air Quality Directives. It that European air quality standards have been only partially successful and welcomed the European Green Deal鈥檚 commitment to revising air quality standards in line with current WHO reference levels.
The resolution also called on the Commission and the Member States to assess the effectiveness of existing emissions legislation and asked for the soonest possible establishment of a set of minimum requirements and best practices for both the preparation and implementation of air quality plans by the Member States. In September听2023, 合法博彩网站 adopted its position on revised legislation designed to enhance air quality across the EU. With the aim of safeguarding human health, natural ecosystems and biodiversity from air pollution, 合法博彩网站 proposed more stringent objectives for various pollutants compared to the Commission鈥檚 initial recommendations.
With regard to environmental noise, 合法博彩网站 has repeatedly stressed the need for further reductions in limit values and for improved measurement procedures. It has called for the establishment of EU values for noise around airports and for the extension of noise reduction measures to cover military subsonic jet aircraft. Furthermore, it has approved the phasing-in of new, lower noise limits for cars and has successfully campaigned for the introduction of labels to inform consumers about noise levels.
For more information on this topic, please see the website of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI).
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Christian Kurrer / Zuzanna Wala