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Search Global Air Quality Laws
Country
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UN regional group
- African Group
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- Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
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 41 - 50 of 91 resultsRegulation determining the type of pollutants, limit values and other air quality standards.| 2012 |Regulation
MontenegroThis Regulation defines the types of air pollutants on the territory of Montenegro, limit values and other air quality standards and characteristics, evaluation limits, target values, critical levels and necessary measures aimed to protect human health and life, as well as deadlines for gradual reaching of the limits and target values of air quality and long-term objectives for ozone preservation...
KeywordsLegislation, Pollutants, Concentration-based standards, Air quality standardsLaw No. 104 “On air quality.”| 2011 |Legislation
RomaniaThe scope of this Law is to protect human health and the environment as a whole by regulating measures to maintain air quality to meet air quality objectives established by this Law and its improvement. This Law provides for measures at national level regarding: (a) definition and setting ambient air quality targets to avoid and prevent the occurrence of harmful events and reduce their effects on...
KeywordsAir quality, Zones, Zoning, Ambient air, Air pollution, Permitting, Concentrations, Benzo(a)pyrene, Air quality monitoring, Nitrogen monoxide, Pollutants, Carbon monoxide, Best available techniques, Monitoring data, Particulate matter, Air quality plansMinisterial Decree No. H.P. 14122/549/Ε.103 of 2011 establishing measures for a better ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, in compliance with the provisions of Directive 2008/50/EC.| 2011 |Regulation
GreeceThe Decree aims at implementing the provisions of article 7 of Law No. 1650/86 “on the protection for the environment”. It also aims at harmonizing the Greek legislative frame with the provisions of Directive 2008/50/EC so as ensure that all appropriate measures are taken in order to: define objectives for ambient air quality designed to avoid, prevent or reduce harmful effects on human health and...
KeywordsAir quality, Nitrogen dioxide, Ambient air, Concentrations, Nitrogen monoxide, Nitrogen oxides, Air pollution, Concentration-based standards, Air quality monitoring, Compliance, Agglomerations, Legislation, Alert thresholds, Future standards, Allowed exceedances, PM2.5, Ozone, Zones, Zoning, Monitoring stations, Pollutants, Air quality plans, Transboundary air pollutionDecree on ambient air quality.| 2011 |Regulation
SloveniaThe present Decree of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia is composed of the following sections: General provisions (sect. 1); Air quality management (sect. 2); Plans (sect. 3); Transitional and final provisions (sect. 4). This Decree lays down: (1) ambient air quality standards, in particular, target, threshold, warning, and critical alert thresholds for ambient air quality in order to...
KeywordsAir quality, Particulate matter, Ambient air, Ambient air quality standards, Alert thresholds, PM2.5, Pollutants, PM10Real Decreto Nº 102/2011 - Relativo a la mejora de la calidad del aire.| 2011 |Regulation
SpainEl presente Real Decreto tiene por objeto definir y establecer objetivos de calidad del aire con respecto a las concentraciones de dióxido de azufre, dióxido de nitrógeno y óxidos de nitrógeno, partículas, plomo, benceno, monóxido de carbono, ozono, arsénico, cadmio, níquel y benzo(a)pireno en el aire ambiente, así como regular la evaluación, el mantenimiento y la mejora de la calidad del aire en...
KeywordsPM2.5, PM10, Nitrogen dioxide, Benzo(a)pyrene, Nitrogen oxides, Ammonia, Nitrogen monoxide, Ozone, Air quality, Air quality modelling, Carbon monoxideRèglement grand-ducal portant application de la directive 2008/50/CE du Parlement européen et du Conseil du 21 mai 2008 concernant la qualité de l’air ambiant et un air pur pour l’Europe.| 2011 |Regulation
LuxembourgLe présent règlement grand-ducal porte application de la directive 2008/50/CE du Parlement européen et du Conseil du 21 mai 2008 concernant la qualité de l’air ambiant et un air pur pour l’Europe. Notamment, le présent règlement établit des mesures visant: 1) à définir et à fixer des objectifs concernant la qualité de l’air ambiant, afin d’éviter, de prévenir ou de réduire les effets nocifs pour...
KeywordsZoning, Zones, Concentrations, Agglomerations, PM2.5, PM10, Benzene, Air pollution, Nitrogen dioxide, Industrial sources, Methane, Nitrogen oxides, Nitrogen monoxide, Particulate matter, Sulphur dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Legislation, OzoneDecreto Nº 12 - Establece norma primaria de calidad ambiental para material particulado fino respirable MP 2,5.| 2011 |Regulation
ChileEl presente Decreto establece la norma primaria de calidad ambiental para material particulado fino, MP2,5 con el fin de proteger la salud de las personas de los efectos agudos y crónicos de dicho contaminante, con un nivel de riesgo aceptable. Asimismo, introduce los niveles que determinan situaciones de emergencia ambiental para material particulado.
39th Federal Emission Protection Ordinance.| 2010 |Regulation
GermanyThe above-mentioned Ordinance implements the Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe. This Directive defines objectives for ambient air quality designed to avoid, prevent or reduce harmful effects on human health and the environment as a whole. At the outset the Ordinance contains a definition clause...
KeywordsAir pollution, PM2.5, PM10, Nitrogen dioxide, Nitrogen oxides, Particulate matter, Ammonia, Methane, Sulphur dioxide, Volatile organic compounds, Benzo(a)pyrene, Nitrogen monoxideRegulation No 12 of 15 July 2010 on limit values for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, fine particulate matter, lead, benzene, carbon monoxide and ozone in ambient air.| 2010 |Regulation
BulgariaThis Regulation establishes the national standards setting effective permitted levels or concentration as regards the presence of certain substances and pollutants (substances such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, fine particulate matter, lead, benzene, carbon monoxide and ozone) in ambient air on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. This text further sets the alert thresholds for sulfur...
KeywordsNitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Sulphur dioxide, Ambient air, Concentrations, Benzene, Carbon monoxide, Legislation, PM2.5, Concentration-based standards, Alert thresholds, Nitrogen monoxide, Permitting, Pollutants, PM10, Particulate matter, Air quality, Access to informationNational Environmental Quality Standards for Ambient Air.| 2010 |Miscellaneous
PakistanThese National Standards are formulated in accordance with the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997 (XXXIV of 1997) for ambient air quality. The Standards list the pollutants' concentration in ambient air and the method of measurement.
KeywordsAmbient air, Air quality standards, Sulphur dioxide, Air quality, Particulate matter, Air quality monitoring, Concentrations, Pollutants, Monitoring stations, Nitrogen monoxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Carbon monoxide, PM10, PM2.5, Exhaust particulate matter, FiltersPagination
- PM10 (20 μg/m3 annual mean)