EU Measures on Emissions, Climate and Energy Could Reduce Premature Deaths by Half in 2030
A new European Commission report, Clean Air Outlook, shows that the number of premature deaths due to air pollution in 2030 could be reduced by more than half, if Member States fully applied EU policies on emissions, climate and energy. The analysis looks at Europe’s air from now up to 2030 and how it’s affected by the implementation of the National Emissions Ceilings Directive (NEC).
It shows that the joint effect of new EU measures put in place since 2014 to reduce emissions from different sources (such as, medium combustion plants, non-road mobile machinery or fuel-burning appliances) and introduced as part of Energy Union can significantly improve air quality at a lower cost to society than initially expected.
Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella, said:”While ensuring clean air for our citizens requires urgent action from Member States now, action to reduce air pollution will also pay off in the long run. This report shows that, at the EU-level, we have the right policies working in the right direction, and that multiple benefits are possible. We are clearly on the right path. Now we have to make sure that these policies are fully implemented. For only one euro per citizen per year, thousands of premature deaths due to poor air quality could be prevented by 2030. This is really encouraging news for all Europeans concerned about air pollution, and for Member States authorities developing measures to deliver clean air to their citizens.”
The Clean Air Outlook will help Member States develop their National Air Pollution Control Programmes due by 1 April 2019 under the NEC Directive. The next Clean Air Outlook is foreseen for 2020.More information here.
