As EU member states, regional and local authorities prepare to implement the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), this briefing by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) argues that decision-makers and authorities should pay particular attention to addressing socio-economic inequalities in their clean air efforts. The swift transposition and implementation of the new rules, with strengthened administrative collaboration and the full utilisation of financial support schemes, promise significant progress towards cleaner air across Europe. Improved air quality will be beneficial to everyone and contribute to preventing health inequalities for those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.
HEAL has sent a letter to the Portuguese presidency of the European Union, calling for putting the zero pollution ambition at the center of a healthy, just and green recovery and making it a prerequisite for any recovery funding at national level will contribute immensely to protecting the health of Europeans and increasing the bloc’s resilience in the face of future pandemics.
Read the full letter here