Brussels, 18/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - The long-awaited legislative package presented by the Commission on Wednesday 18 December to improve air quality throughout Europe seeks to push the EU to redouble its efforts, in both the short and the long term, in the interest of human health and the environment, but also of employment, innovation and the economy as a whole.
“Air pollution is an invisible killer which shortens lives and causes illnesses. In the EU, it caused 400 early deaths in 2010. Despite the progress made in improving the quality of the air in the European Union, it still leaves much to be desired and remains well below the long-term objectives laid down in the seventh environment action programme - i.e. for the level of air quality to have no negative repercussions on the environment (eutrophisation, acidification) and health. We are also a long way from the levels recommended by the World Health Organisation”, said European Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik, presenting the press with the stakes of this new raft of measures, which he described as a “well-balanced package of effective measures, a perfect example of what the green economy means”. The culmination of a revision exercise which started in early 2011, this package is based around four priority areas:
1. A new Pure Air programme for Europe which establishes the general framework providing both measures to guarantee that the current objectives, which have been so hard for the member states to achieve, will have been met by 2020 at the latest, and new objectives for the period up to 2030. These measures include taking account of EURO 6 standards for light diesel vehicles in order to bring about a notable improvement by 2017 at the latest. The package also includes support measures (advice and funding from the Commission) for the member states to cut air pollution, laying emphasis on improving air quality in urban areas, support for research and innovation and promoting international cooperation. 2. Proposed ratification by the EU of the revised Gothenburg protocol to respect the new upper limits for 2020. 3. A revision of the directive on national emissions ceilings (NEC), laying down more stringent upper limits for the six main pollutants by 2025 to be complied with by 2030, and bringing in provisions on methane and ammonia. “The objective of this revision is to allow the EU to achieve WHO air-quality standards by 2030, by reducing concentrations of pollutants in the air effectively and efficiently”, the Commissioner stated. 4. A new draft directive aiming to reduce sulphur dioxide pollution and micro-particles from medium-sized combustion facilities (such as local energy production facilities and those for large buildings) and small industrial installations. The aim of this is to plug a gap in the current legislation.
If it is adopted and implemented, the package will help to prevent 58,000 early deaths, save 123,000 km2 of ecosystems from nitrogen pollution, save 56,000 km2 of protected Natura 2000 areas and save 19,000 km2 forest ecosystems from acidification by 2030, the Commission calculates. The health benefits alone will save between €40 billion and €140 billion in external costs and bring about some €3 billion in direct benefits from the increase in productivity of the labour force, reduce healthcare costs, improve crop yields and reduce damage caused to buildings. The proposal will also help to create 100,000 new jobs through increased productivity and competitiveness due to the reduction in the number of lost working days. (AN/transl.fl)