O objectivo é acelerar a implementação de medidas para melhorar a qualidade do ar e mitigar a exposição da população a altos níveis de dióxido de azoto. Isto depois de Portugal ter sido condenado, em 2023, por estar uma década em incumprimento. O grupo de trabalho terá 18 meses para a elaboração de um plano de acção para garantir o cumprimento dos limites.
The Ministry of Environment and Energy, together with the Ministry of Territorial Cohesion and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing, created a working group to improve air quality in areas of the country with high levels of nitrogen dioxide and which exceed the limits set by European and national legislation.
As part of the Government's commitment to guaranteeing air quality and protecting public health, the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, announced the creation of this Working Group, whose main objectives will be to promoting the drafting and development of air quality plans, the compilation and analysis of measures already implemented, and the identification of new actions that can contribute to meeting air quality objectives in the shortest possible timeframe. For Maria da Graça Carvalho, "this initiative comes in response to the urgent need to mitigate air pollution levels in the most affected areas"he said in a statement.
This working group, coordinated by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Emídio Sousa, now includes representatives from the Ministry for Territorial Cohesion, the Secretary of State for Mobility, the municipalities where the exceedance areas are located, the Portuguese Environment Agency, the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions of the areas or agglomerations that exceed the air quality objectives, the Metropolitan Areas and Intermunicipal Communities that include the municipalities that also exceed the limits established by European and national legislation, the Transport Mobility Authority and the Institute for Mobility and Transport.
Logistical and administrative support for the operation of this group will be provided by the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment and Energy. The working group will have an initial duration of 18 months, which may be extended if necessary, until consistent compliance with the air quality objectives for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is achieved throughout the national territory.
Since 2010, Portugal has exceeded the maximum air pollution limits permitted by European legislation transposed in 2008. This scenario led to condemnation of Portugal by the Court of Justice of the European Union in June 2023, due to persistent non-compliance with NO2 limits in some of the country's largest cities.
In the same note, the Minister for the Environment and Energy stresses that it is "It is imperative that all entities involved collaborate closely to ensure that the proposed solutions are effective and implemented in a timely manner. The success of this working group will be a crucial step towards improving air quality in our cities and protecting citizens' health".
"Air quality is one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time and has a direct impact on people's health"concludes Maria da Graça Carvalho.
