Current situation
In recent decades, much has already been done to reduce air pollution
in the industrialised parts of the world, particularly through use of
improved technological standards. In Western Europe emissions of
Pollution by sulphur dioxide (SO2) and to a lesser extent nitrogen
oxides (NOx) have been reduced significantly.
However, abatement efforts must continue. We are far from reaching EU’s clean air objectives of no exceedance of critical loads
and levels and the effective protection of all people against
recognised health risks from air pollution. Acidification and
eutrophication are still prevailing problems for European ecosystems
and there is more and better evidence about the negative health effects
of air pollution. Therefore it is important that we make further
efforts to cut air pollution in the EU and that the existing directives
are implemented well. What is the EEB doing? Clean
air is one of the ongoing and future priority areas of EU environmental
policy. The EEB has been involved in the development of EU air
pollution legislation. For many years and continues to follow the
development of EU legislation relating to air pollution through the EU
institutions. We work to ensure effective legislation that aims to end
negative effects on ecosystems such as acid rain and protect people
from the serious health effects of air pollution.
The EEB has been playing an active role in the work of the Clean Air
for Europe Programme (CAFE) and the development of the thematic strategy on air pollution.
We are also following the development and revision processes of EU air
quality legislation, the national emissions ceilings directive as well
as directives related to stationary and mobile emission sources such as
power plants, cars and ships.
