On 14 October 2024, the Council of the European Union adopted the new Air Quality Directive, which merges the 2004 and 2008 directives. The text was published on 20 November 2024 in the Official Journal of the European Union (Directive 2024/2881).

The directive sets new, stricter targets to be achieved by 2030 for a number of pollutants, including suspended particulates matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide. The new limit values are more closely aligned with the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines and will be harmonised with them by 2050.

Where there is a risk that the new standards will not be met by 2030, the directive guarantees rapid action by means of roadmaps to be drawn up before 2030. Furthermore, the standards will be re-examined in the light of the latest scientific data to determine whether they are still relevant.

Air quality is monitored using standard methods and criteria throughout the EU. The directive brings further improvements to air quality monitoring and modelling.

The directive guarantees fair and equal access to justice for those affected or likely to be affected by the implementation of the directive. Member States must ensure that citizens have the right to claim and obtain compensation where their health has been damaged as a result of a violation of the air quality rules of the directive.

👉 You can download the official text by following the link: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202402881