Legislative Decree No. 81/2018 implementing Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the reduction of national emissions of certain air pollutants, amending Directive 2003/35/EC and repealing Directive 2001/81/CE.

This Decree is aimed at improving the air quality, the protection of human health and of the environment and to ensure more effective participation of citizens to decision-making processes through: a) national commitments to reduce source emissions anthropogenic sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, organic compounds non-methane volatiles, ammonia and fine particulates; b) the development, adoption and implementation of national air pollution control programmes; c) obligations to monitor emissions of pollutants identified in Annex I; d) obligations to monitor the impacts of atmospheric pollution on ecosystems; e) obligations to communicate documents and information connected to a), b), c) and d) obligations;f) citizens more informed. 2. This decree is aimed at pursuing: a) air quality objectives and progress towards the long-term goal of achieving quality levels of air in line with published guidelines by the World Health Organization; b) the objectives of the European Union regarding biodiversity and ecosystems, in line with the Seventh Program of Action for the environment; c) the synergy between air quality policies and those relating to the sectors responsible for the emissions.
Art. 3 identifies National emissions reduction commitment; Art. 4 and 5 clarify the development, adoption and implementation processes of national air pollution control programmes. Monitoring the impacts of air pollution on ecosystems is done following the prescriptions of Art. 7; it must be conducted through a network of sites monitoring representative of the relevant habitat types freshwater, natural and semi-natural habitats and ecosystems forestry. The following articles concern communication, sanctions and public communication.