The countdown to health. The Ambient Air Quality Directive Transposition

Air pollution is the top environmental threat to health in the European Union. The  Ambient Air Quality Directive 2024/2881 (AAQD) sets maximum concentrations of key air pollutants in ambient air across the EU, aligning the EU’s clean air standards more closely with the WHO air quality guidelines. The revised law entered into force in December 2024, and EU member states have until 11 December 2026 to transpose it into national law. Stricter clean air standards will then apply from 1 January 2030.  

A record number of health organisations have been active for clean air, underlining the significant potential of the AAQD to lessen people’s suffering, prevent disease, and achieve economic savings.  Strengthened clean air efforts will also support climate mitigation and reduce health inequalities.

As EU member states, regional and local authorities prepare the AAQD implementation, this webinar marks six months until the transposition deadline.

Key questions for the webinar:

• What is the transposition process and timeline?
• Where are we currently in the process?
• How are health voices being included (or not) in the transposition process?
• What are the next steps?