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Search Global Air Quality Laws
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UN regional group
- African 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 51 - 60 of 118 resultsMinisterial 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 No. 4 of 2011 (I.14.) of the Ministry of Rural Development on the air pollution thresholds and emissions ceilings for located point sources of air pollutant.| 2011 |Regulation
HungaryThis Decree sets different thresholds (sanitary, informative and alerting) for air pollutants and determines as well the classes of the level of air pollution.
KeywordsAir pollution, PM10, Pollutants, Point source emissions, Ammonia, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Sulphur trioxide, ConcentrationsDecree 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 monoxideLegislative Decree No. 155/2010 implementing Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe.| 2010 |Legislation
ItalyThis Legislative Decree sets out provisions implementing at the national level Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe. The aim is to avoid, prevent or reduce harmful effects caused by air pollution on human health and the environment as a whole. Measures on assessment of ambient air quality and related thresholds are established.
KeywordsLegislation, Zoning, Zones, Ambient air, Air quality, Concentrations, PM10, PM2.5, Air pollution, Benzene, Nitrogen dioxide, Air quality monitoring, Benzo(a)pyrene, Particulate matter, Pollutants, Nitrogen oxides, Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen monoxide, Sulphur dioxideRegulation 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 informationAir Pollution Control Regulations, 2008.| 2010 |Regulation
EswatiniThese Air Pollution Control Regulations set “air quality objectives” under Schedule 1. The Meteorological Service has obligations to monitor air quality, advise the Authority by notice in writing at the end of every month if any air quality objective is not met, and must submit to the Authority an annual report concerning air quality in Swaziland. The Authority must consider the reports and review...
KeywordsAir pollution, Air quality, Legislation, Pollutants, Air quality monitoring, Permitting, Burning, Industrial sources, Nitrogen monoxide, Concentrations, Compliance, Monitoring stations, Zoning, Nitrogen dioxide, PM10, Inspection, Sulphur dioxide, Benzene, Carbon monoxide, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsPagination
- PM10 (20 μg/m3 annual mean)