EU Commission to improve air quality in 2013

The aim of this initiative is to highlight the importance of clean air for all and to focus on actions to improve air quality across the EU. Furthermore, the Commission has formed a collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe. They will review the latest health science on major air pollutants such as particulate matter, ground-level ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. Their findings will be presented at an event this month titled ‘Understanding the health effects of air pollution: recent advances to inform EU policies’.

In addition, the EU Commission is asking EU citizens what they would do to improve air quality in Europe. In order to gather views, opinions and ideas, the Commission is holding a public consultation until 4 March 2013. Through the consultation, people can share their views on ways to ensure full implementation of the existing framework, to improve it, and to complement it with supporting actions. The results of the consultation will feed into a comprehensive review of Europe’s air policies due later in 2013.