The European Parliament gave the green light on Wednesday for stricter limits on air pollution.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted in Strasbourg, France, in favour of new upper limits for particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulphur dioxide (SO2), among other pollutants.

Representatives of the EU member states and the European Parliament had reached a provisional agreement in February.

The new rules, the parliament said at the time, were intended to ensure that air pollution in Europe does not harm human health.

In future, citizens should be entitled to compensation if they fall ill due to non-compliance with limit values.

The limit values for certain particulate matter and sulphur dioxide are to be halved.

“By updating air quality standards, some of these were established nearly two decades ago, pollution will be halved across the EU. It will pave the way for a healthier, more sustainable future,’’ said Socialist MEP Javi López, who was responsible for the project in parliament.

Following the vote in the plenary session of the European Parliament, the EU member states still have to confirm the new rules.

This is usually a formality and is scheduled for next week.

According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), poor air quality remains the greatest health risk from environmental conditions.

According to the latest figures, some 253,000 deaths in the EU in 2021 were related to particulate matter levels above the recommended limits of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The German Association of Cities is calling for polluters to be held more accountable.

They support the goal of reducing pollutants in the air, managing director Helmut Dedy said.

“However, this will only succeed if pollutants are also stopped directly at source. Industry, car manufacturers, the energy sector and agriculture are the main contributors to air pollution,’’ Mr Dedy said. 

(dpa/NAN)