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UN regional group
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Year
Ambient Air Quality Standards
- In a legislative or legislatively empowered instrument
Responsibility for air quality standards
- National government
- State/provincial government
- Local government
- Shared responsibility
Indoor Air Quality Standards
- Yes
Type of instrument
- Primary legislation
- Other primary legislation
- Secondary legislation
- Policy linked to the legislative framework
- More than one
Nature of legal obligations
- Duty to meet AAQS (Binding legislative obligation on the state)
- Duty to take BPM to meet standard
- Escalating duty to take action (if AQ worsens)
- Duty to report to public authority
- Duty to plan for achieving AAQS
- Emergency planning requirements for dangerous AQ levels
Exceedances
- Generally allowed exceedances
- Other allowed exceedances (emergency reasons/natural events)
Compliance with WHO Air Quality Guidelines (2005)
-
PM2.5 (10 μg/m3 annual mean 25 μg/m3 24-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.
- PM10 (20 μg/m3 annual mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- PM10 (50 μg/m3 24-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- Ozone (100 μg/m3 8-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- NO2 (40 μg/m3 annual mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- NO2 (200 μg/m3 1-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- SO2 (20 μg/m3 24-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- SO2 (500 μg/m3 10-minute mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- Newly acknowledged pollutants
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.Legal requirement to monitor
Procedural and substantive rights
- Public right to air quality data (including general right to environmental information)
- Legal right to participate in setting AAQS in legislation
- Legal right to participate in devising air quality plans or actions in legislation
- Legal rights of access to justice (linked directly to air quality framework)
Legal coordination of policy to achieve AAQS
- Legal link between air quality standards and decision-making on projects
- Legally mandated policy coordination for air quality
Enforcement mechanisms
- Criminal
- Civil
- Administrative
- Bespoke enforcement mechanism
- Multi-level governance mechanism (eg EU Commission)
Provisions for transboundary air pollution
- Yes
Showing 31 - 40 of 111 resultsDecision of Council of Ministers No. 352/2015 “For the assessment of ambient air quality and requirements for certain pollutants related with it, fully approximate Directive 2004/107/EC”| 2015 |Legislation
AlbaniaKeywordsAmbient air, PM10, Air quality, PM2.5, Zones, Zoning, Pollutants, Particulate matter, Nitrogen dioxide, Concentration-based standards, Nitrogen monoxide, Nitrogen oxides, Benzo(a)pyrene, Elemental carbon, Organic carbon, OzoneAcuerdo Nº 97/A - Norma de calidad del aire ambiente o nivel de inmisión (Anexo 4, Libro VI de la Calidad Ambiental, del Texto Unificado de la Legislación Secundaria del Ministerio del Ambiente).| 2015 |Regulation
EcuadorEl presente Acuerdo expide el Anexo 4 del Texto Unificado de Legislación Secundaria del Ministerio del Ambiente referente a la Norma de calidad del aire ambiente o nivel de inmisión. La norma tiene como objeto principal el preservar la salud de las personas, la calidad del aire ambiente, el bienestar de los ecosistemas y del ambiente en general. Para cumplir con este objetivo, establece los...
KeywordsPM10, PM2.5, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Legislation, Benzene, Particulate matter, Nitrogen monoxide, Monitoring stations, Ambient air, Volatile organic compoundsResolución Nº 259/15 – Por la cual se establecen parámetros permisibles de calidad del aire.| 2015 |Regulation
ParaguayEn el marco de la Ley de calidad del aire, por la presente Resolución se establecen los parámetros permisibles de calidad del aire. El artículo 1º contiene un cuadro detallado según los distintos contaminantes.
KeywordsNitrogen dioxide, Nitrogen monoxide, Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxidesLegislation | 2014 |Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Air Quality) Regulations, 2014
KenyaKenya Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act, 1999 Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Air Quality) Regulations, 2014 Legal Notice 34 of 2014 Published in Kenya Gazette Supplement 41 on 11 April 2014 Assented to on 20 March 2014 Commenced on 11 April 2014 [This is the version of this document from 11 April 2014.] IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by sections 147 of the...NOM-025-SSA1-2014. DOF, NORMA Oficial Mexicana NOM-025-SSA1-2014, Salud ambiental. Valores límites permisibles para la concentración de partículas suspendidas PM10 y PM2.5 en el aire ambiente y criterios para su evaluación.| 2014 |Regulation
MexicoKeywordsPM10, PM2.5, Particulate matterNOM-020-SSA1-2014. DOF, NORMA Oficial Mexicana NOM-020-SSA1-2014. Valor límite permisible para la concentración de ozono (O3) en el aire ambiente y criterios para su evaluación.| 2014 |Regulation
MexicoKeywordsAir pollution, Ozone, Nitrogen dioxide, Nitrogen oxides, Concentrations, PM10, Pollutants, Air quality modelling, Carbon monoxide, Particulate matterAir Pollution Rules, 2014 (L. N. No. 12).| 2014 |Regulation
Trinidad and TobagoThe Air Pollution Rules provide a comprehensive framework for managing air quality and mitigating the adverse effects of air pollution in Trinidad and Tobago. These rules specify the responsibilities of applicants, operators, and permit holders, and describe the bubble approach for emissions control. The rules emphasize the importance of maintaining air quality and managing emissions from various...
KeywordsAir pollution, Industrial sources, Permitting, Pollutants, Air quality, Concentrations, Air quality monitoring, Compliance, Ambient air, Concentration-based standards, Access to information, Carbon monoxide, Legislation, Methane, Monitoring data, Monitoring stations, Nitrogen monoxide, Volatile organic compoundsDecree amending and supplementing the Decree on limit values for levels and types of pollutants in ambient air and alert thresholds, deadlines for reaching limit values, margins of tolerance for limit value, target values and long-term goals.| 2013 |Regulation
North MacedoniaThe amended regulation on ambient air quality standards introduces new limits for pollutants such as PM10, PM2.5, arsenic, cadmium, nickel, and benzo(a)pyrene to align with EU directives. It defines key terms, establishes measurement methods, and sets compliance deadlines, with provisions for deadline extensions under specific conditions. The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning will...
KeywordsConcentration-based standards, PM10, PM2.5, Pollutants, Legislation, Concentrations, Ambient air, Alert thresholds, Allowed exceedances, Future standards, Compliance, Ambient air quality standards, Benzo(a)pyrene, Air quality monitoring, Air quality, Public healthAmbient Air Quality Standards (National Standard GB 3095-2012)| 2012 |Miscellaneous
ChinaThis Standard presents requirements for the zoning of ambient air quality function areas, classification of standards, pollution items, data taking time and concentration limits, sampling and analyzing methods and validity of data statistics. It is applicable to the assessment of air quality across China. There are three grades of ambient air quality function areas: Grade I is nature reserves...
KeywordsAmbient air quality standards, Particulate matter, PM10, PM2.5, Ambient airAir Protection Act No. 201/2012.| 2012 |Legislation
CzechiaThis Act defines objectives for ambient air quality: air protection, the prevention of air pollution and reducing the level of pollution in order to reduce the risks to human health caused by air pollution, reduce the level of substances damaging ecosystems and create conditions for the regeneration of the environment affected due to pollution air. This Act implements the relevant European Union...
KeywordsAir pollution, Concentration-based standards, Concentrations, Zoning, Zones, Air quality, Ambient air, PM10, Legislation, Permitting, Particulate matter, Carbon monoxide, PM2.5, Air quality monitoring, Methane, Nitrogen dioxide, Nitrogen oxidesPagination
- PM10 (20 μg/m3 annual mean)