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Search Global Air Quality Laws
Country
- Afghanistan
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- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
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- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Timor-Leste
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
- Viet Nam
UN regional group
- African Group
- Asia and the Pacific Group
- Eastern European Group
- Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
- Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Year
Ambient Air Quality Standards
- In a legislative or legislatively empowered instrument
- In a non-binding 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
- Policy/guidance
- 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 85 resultsRegulation on sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxides, benzene, carbon dioxide, particulate matter and lead in the atmosphere, the concentration of ozone at the earth's surface and on information to the public.| 2016 |Regulation
IcelandKeywordsLegislation, PM10, PM2.5, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Nitrogen oxides, Benzene, Particulate matter, Air quality monitoring, Concentrations, Ambient air, Ozone, Air quality, Nitrogen monoxide, Carbon monoxideResolución 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 oxidesDecision 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, OzoneDecree 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 healthAir 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 oxidesRegulation on levels of certain substances in ambient air.| 2012 |Regulation
PolandThis Regulation of the Minister of Environment, which is composed of five articles and six Annexes, implements art. 86 point 1 and 2 of the Environment Protection Act and establishes: (1) permissible levels of certain substances in ambient air, varied due to protection of human health and plant protection; (2) target levels for certain substances in ambient air, varied due to protection of human...
KeywordsLegislation, PM10, Concentrations, PM2.5, Particulate matter, Ambient airDecree-Law No. 26/2012 establishing the Environmental Basic Legislation.| 2012 |Legislation
Timor-LesteThis Decree-Law, consisting of 10 Chapters, establishes the Environmental Basic Legislation. It specifies the policy on environment and wildlife protection, including the basic principles for conservation, preservation and sustainable use of natural resources in order to improve the quality of life of the local populations. This Decree-Law applies for all the National territory, in particular for...
KeywordsLegislation, Zones, ZoningAmbient 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 airRegulation 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 plansPagination
- PM10 (20 μg/m3 annual mean)