Germany must improve its air quality program
Germany must improve its Air Quality Program according to a court ruling. The program of the Federal Government did not comply with EU regulations, decided the Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg.
The Government presented the program with outdated data. The government's projections regarding air quality in the program were therefore not plausible. For instance, the halt of purchase premiums for electric cars or changes to the EU Emission Standard Euro 7 should have been considered.
The Court granted the claim in large parts by the German Environmental Aid (DUH) and the Organization Client Earth. They referred to an EU directive that sets specific requirements for lower emissions. This concerns Ammonia, Sulfur and Nitrogen oxides as well as fine dust. An appeal against the judgment is possible.
According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), around 68,000 people in Germany died prematurely in 2021 due to fine dust. Fine dust is produced through industrial processes, but also through Diesel and Gasoline cars and tire wear.
The Directive obliged Germany to submit Air Quality Plans every four years to reduce pollutants in accordance with EU regulations. The DUH had already sued against the 2019 plan, as it was deemed insufficient. A second plan was only presented by the Government in May. The DUH also considers this one completely unsuitable.
The jurisdiction highlighted the government's use of outdated data in its defense of the Air Quality Program, questioning its credibility. To comply with EU regulations, Germany needs to make significant improvements in its Air Quality Program, particularly in addressing Ammonia, Sulfur, and Nitrogen oxides, as well as fine dust, which were cited as concerns by the EU directive.
