Activities of Bergur Løkke RASMUSSEN related to 2022/0347(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (debate)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (recast)
Amendments (24)
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The Zero Pollution Action Plan also sets out a vision for the year 2050, where air pollution is reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to health and natural ecosystems. To this end, a staged approach towards setting current and future EU air quality standards should be pursued, establishing intermediate air quality standards for the year 2030 and beyond, and developing a perspective forensuring alignment with the WHO Air Quality Guidelines as soon as possible and at the latest by the year 2050 at the latest based on a regular review mechanism to take into account the latest scientific understanding. Given the links between pollution reduction and decarbonisation, the long- term objective to achieve the zero pollution ambition should be pursued hand in hand with reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as set by Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council42 . __________________ 42 Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’) (OJ L 243, 9.7.2021, p. 1–17).
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The Commission should regularly review the scientific evidence related to pollutants, their effects on human health and the environment and technological development. Based on the review, the Commission should assess whether applicable air quality standards are still appropriate to achieve the objectives of this Directive. The first review should be carried out by 31/12/2028 to assess whether air quality standards need to be updated based on the latest scientific information. The assessment should take into account the latest scientific knowledge on pollutants of emerging concerns and assess the opportunity to include air quality standards on those pollutants in the regulation.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In order to protect human health and the environment as a whole, it is particularly important to combat emissions of pollutants at source and to identify and implement the most effective emission reduction measures at local, national and Union level , in particular when it comes to emissions from agriculture, industries, transport and energy generation . Therefore, emissions of harmful air pollutants should be avoided, prevented or reduced and appropriate standards set for ambient air quality taking into account relevant World Health Organization standards, guidelines and programmes. Member States should collect data on measures and technologies to combat emissions of harmful air pollutants and make available information on best practices.
Amendment 78 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) The Commission should assist Member States in carrying out regular transport infrastructure quality checks to identify the areas in need of decongestion and infrastructure optimisation, and take appropriate measures in these areas i.e. with the use of available EU funding opportunities;
Amendment 86 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25 a (new)
Recital 25 a (new)
(25a) Air quality plans should include provisions for the reduction of voluntary idling of vehicles in order to reduce the emissions related to such idling.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 33
Recital 33
(33) Action plans should be drawn up indicating the measures to be taken in the short term where there is a risk of an exceedance of one or more alert thresholds in order to reduce that risk and to limit its duration. When the risk applies to one or more limit values or target values, Member States may, where appropriate, draw up such short-term action plansShort-term action plans should take into account best practice recommendations from the Commission as referred to in Article 20.
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 35
Recital 35
(35) It is necessary for the Member States and the Commission to collect, exchange and disseminate air quality information in order to understand better the impacts of air pollution and develop appropriate policies. Up-to-date information on concentrations of all regulated pollutants in ambient air as well as air quality plans and short-term action plans should also be readily available to the public. In order for such information to be consistent and reliable, it is essential that Member States have sufficient air quality monitoring infrastructure deployed across the cities and towns. Where such infrastructure is lacking, it should be put in place at the earliest possibility, including with the use of the EU funding opportunities.
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 35
Recital 35
(35) It is necessary for the Member States and the Commission to collect, exchange and disseminate air quality information in order to understand better the impacts of air pollution and develop appropriate policies. Up-to-date information on concentrations of all regulated pollutants in ambient air as well as air quality plans and short-term action plans should also be readily available to the public. In order for such information to be consistent and reliable, it is essential that Member States have sufficient air quality monitoring infrastructure deployed across the cities and towns.
Amendment 116 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 3
Article 1 – paragraph 3
3. Furthermore, this Directive contributes to achieving: a) the Union’s pollution-reduction, biodiversity and ecosystem objectives in accordance with the 8th Environment Action Programme, as set out in Decision (EU) 2022/591 of the European Parliament and of the Council55 . b) enhanced synergies between the Union's air quality policy and other relevant Union policies, in particular climate and energy policies. __________________ 55 Decision (EU) 2022/591 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 April 2022 on a General Union Environment Action Programme to 2030 (OJ L 114, 12.4.2022, p. 22).
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
4. measures ensuring that the information on ambient air quality is made available to the publicand the sources of air pollutants is made available to the public, as well as relevant mitigation measures taken to reduce air pollution;
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) ‘level’ means the measured or modelled concentration of a pollutant in ambient air or the deposition thereof on surfaces in a given time;
Amendment 137 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) provision of hourly updated air quality index and other related and relevant health information;
Amendment 139 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) ensuring the accuracy of air quality modelling applications;
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. In zones in which ozone levels are below the ozone target value Member States shall take necessary measures to maintain those levels below the ozone target value and endeavomake sure to attain the long-term objectives specified in Section 2 of Annex I , in so far as factors including the transboundary nature of ozone pollution and meteorological conditions so permit, and provided that any necessary measures do not entail a disproportionate cost.
Amendment 168 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 19 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Member States shall consider including measures referred to in Article 20(2) and shall include specific measures aiming at the protection of sensitive population and vulnerable groups , including children in their air quality plans .
Amendment 169 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Member States shall consider adopting measures to address and reduce voluntary engine idling, so as to reduce the impact of idling-related emissions which is particularly damaging in the areas of schools, hospitals and densely populated areas.
Amendment 170 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2
Article 19 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2
When preparing air quality plans, Member States shall ensure that stakeholders whose activities contribute to the exceedance situation are encouraged to propose measures they are able to take to help end the exceedances and that non- governmental organisations, such as environmental organisations, consumer organisations, organisations representing the interests of sensitive population and vulnerable groups, other relevant health- care bodies and the relevant industrial federations are allowed to take part in those consultations. Member States shall make sure that relevant stakeholders and citizens are duly informed about the specific sources and air pollutants affecting air quality and the relevant air pollution mitigation measures that exist and are available on the market.
Amendment 173 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 20 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Within one year after the entry into force of this directive, the Commission shall publish examples of best practice actions to take within transport, residential and industrial sectors for the drawing-up of short-term action plans.
Amendment 177 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) air pollution sources and air pollutants affecting air quality
Amendment 178 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
(db) best practice mitigation measures and technologies available to reduce pollutant emissions
Amendment 180 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 2
Article 22 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall establish an air quality index covering sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and ozone, and make itdata available in a coherent and easily understandable manner through a public source providing an hourly update. TIn order to ensure harmonized and comparable data across Europe, the air quality index shall consider thebe aligned with the latest recommendations by the WHO and build on the air quality indices at European scale provided by the European Environmental Agency.
Amendment 203 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – Part C – paragraph 1 – point b
Annex IV – Part C – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) in general, the sampling point inlet shall be between 0,5 m (the breathing zone) and 4 m above the ground. Higher siting (up to 8m) may be appropriate if the sampling point is representative of a large area (a background location) or in other specific circumstances and any derogations shall be fully documented;
Amendment 240 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex VIII – Part B – point 2 – point e
Annex VIII – Part B – point 2 – point e
(e) measures to encourage a shift towards less polluting forms of transport and to support changes in mobility behaviour;
Amendment 247 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex VIII – Part B – point 2 – point i a (new)
Annex VIII – Part B – point 2 – point i a (new)
(ia) measures by health authorities to encourage behavioural changes.