Italian medical societies urge strict EU air quality compliance

Seventeen Italian scientific societies and medical associations have formally requested that the Italian government implement EU Directive 2024/2881 regarding air quality by December 11, 2026. The organizations are urging the government to adopt the directive without using any legal derogations or exemptions.

The directive introduces stricter limit values for major atmospheric pollutants, aligning European standards more closely with World Health Organization guidelines. The signatories emphasize that air pollution is a critical public health issue, noting that over 300,000 deaths annually in Europe are attributable to exposure to pollutants. In Italy, estimates suggest approximately 70,000 annual deaths are linked to air pollution.

While data from regional environmental agencies (ARPA and APPA) indicate a gradual improvement in air quality in recent years, experts warn that the current rate of reduction is insufficient to meet the new European standards without more decisive policy interventions. Monitoring projects in 27 Italian cities have shown that several urban areas have already nearly exhausted their annual allowance for days with pollutant concentrations exceeding legal thresholds, particularly regarding particulate matter.