On this International Day of Clean Air, it is important to remind ourselves that clean air policy matters. Air pollution continues to be the biggest environmental risk to human health worldwide. The WHO informs us that poor air quality causes some 7 million premature deaths each year and that it affects the lives of many more by triggering or amplifying chronic illnesses. Air pollution also has significant environmental impacts, impacting both natural ecosystems and agricultural yields. All this results in significant costs to our economies and societies.

The good news is that we can change this. We see that where action on clean air is taken, it delivers. In Europe we have seen major improvements in air quality since the 1990s. In the period 2005 to 2022, for example, the number of premature deaths attributable to air pollution has decreased by 45%. We are currently taking steps to further bring down air pollution levels. Last year we revised the EU’s air quality legislation, taking into account guidelines established by the WHO. And this year, we are finalizing an evaluation of the EU National Emission Reduction Commitments Directive that covers five important air pollutants.

These policies feed into our efforts to also reduce air pollution together with our regional partners. Parties to the Air Convention decided in December 2023 to revise the Gothenburg Protocol, which remains the only binding regional-level treaty regulating major air pollutant emissions. In the context of Gothenburg Protocol revision discussion, Parties will also consider further outreach to other Conventions and to other regions, notably on issues like methane and biodiversity. This offers potential to enhance the Air Convention´s contribution towards addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It is also entirely consistent with the EU Zero Pollution vision.