The European Union reached an agreement to strengthen its air quality standards by 2030. But these standards remain below WHO recommendations, while air pollution remains a major public health problem.
Air pollution causes the deaths of 300,000 people in Europe each year. The agreement must be formally adopted by the European Parliament and the Council soon. Member countries will then have two years to apply the new rules. However, by halving the authorized thresholds for the main pollutants, the objectives set by the World Health Organization have not been achieved.