Directive (EU) 2016/2284 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants

Overview

Directive establishes the emission reduction commitments for the Member States' anthropogenic atmospheric emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, and applies to sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), ammonia and fine particulate matter and requires that national air pollution control programmes be drawn up, adopted and implemented and that emissions of those pollutants and the other pollutants referred to in Annex I, as well as their impacts, be monitored and reported.

The Directive also contributes to achieving:

• the air quality objectives set out in Union legislation and progress towards the Union's long-term objective of achieving levels of air quality in line with the air quality guidelines published by the World Health Organisation;
• the Union's biodiversity and ecosystem objectives in line with the 7th Environment Action Programme; and
• enhanced synergies between the Union's air quality policy and other relevant Union policies, in particular climate and energy policies.

The Directive shall apply to emissions of the pollutants referred to in Annex I from all sources occurring in the territory of the Member States, their exclusive economic zones and pollution control zones.