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Search Global Air Quality Laws
Country
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Bhutan
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- China
- Colombia
- Czechia
- Dominican Republic
- European Union
- Finland
- Germany
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Romania
- Senegal
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Timor-Leste
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- 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 11 - 20 of 48 resultsResolution CONAMA No. 491 establishing air quality standards.| 2018 |Regulation
BrazilThis Resolution establishes air quality standards. The resolution defines air quality standards for various atmospheric pollutants, including particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, and lead. The air quality standards will be implemented in four stages, with intermediate standards being adopted before the final standards are reached. The resolution also...
KeywordsAir quality standards, Carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Pollutants, Air pollution, Air quality, Particulate matter, Ozone, Air quality monitoring, Permitting, LegislationReglamento técnico ambiental de calidad del aire (2018)| 2018 |Regulation
Dominican RepublicKeywordsPM10, Nitrogen dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide, PM2.5, Benzene, Nitrogen oxides, Sulphur oxides, Ammonia, Benzo(a)pyreneDecreto Supremo Nº 003-2017-MINAM ─ Aprueba Estándares de Calidad Ambiental (ECA) para Aire.| 2017 |Regulation
PeruEl presente Decreto Supremo aprueba los Estándares de Calidad Ambiental (ECA) para Aire, como referente obligatorio para el diseño y aplicación de los instrumentos de gestión ambiental a cargo de los titulares de actividades productivas, extractivas y de servicios; así como para aquellos parámetros que caracterizan las emisiones de las actividades productivas, extractivas y de servicios. El...
KeywordsPM10, Benzene, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, PM2.5, Carbon monoxideResolución Nº 2254 - Norma de calidad del aire ambiente.| 2017 |Regulation
ColombiaLa presente Resolución establece la norma de calidad del aire o nivel de inmisión y adopta disposiciones para la gestión del recurso aire en el territorio nacional, con el objeto de garantizar un ambiente sano y minimizar el riesgo sobre la salud humana que pueda ser causado por la exposición a los contaminantes en la atmósfera. La norma establece los niveles máximos permisibles a condiciones de...
Government Decree on air quality (No. 79 of 2017).| 2017 |Regulation
FinlandThe present Decree implements Directive 2008/50/EC and complements the Environmental Protection Act on matters related to air quality. Section 3 specifies the authorities' tasks in monitoring the quality of the air. Municipalities shall in their territories oversee the air quality in accordance with Section 143 of the Environmental Act. Industry, traffic and environmental centres shall have...
KeywordsAir quality, PM10, Nitrogen dioxide, Air quality monitoring, PM2.5, Nitrogen oxides, Sulphur dioxide, Particulate matter, Nitrogen monoxide, Concentration-based standards, Concentrations, Ambient air, Benzene, Carbon monoxide, Ozone, Future standards, Pollutants, Elemental carbon, Organic carbon, Access to informationDecree on the National Environmental Standard No. 0832/MONRE, 2015| 2017 |Legislation
Lao People's Democratic RepublicKeywordsPermitting, Pollutants, Legislation, Air quality monitoring, Nitrogen monoxide, InspectionLaw “On protection of the atmospheric air”.| 2016 |Legislation
TurkmenistanThis Law sets forth legal and organizational grounds for protection of the atmospheric air against emissions of pollutants and ensuring environmental security and prevention of negative impact of economic activities on human health and environments. Atmospheric air protection shall be based upon the following principles: (a) ensuring the right to favorable environment and public health protection...
KeywordsAir pollution, Pollutants, Legislation, Public health, Air quality monitoringResolución 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, OzoneAir 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)