Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

41 Chapter 2: Air Figure 2.3  Air quality guideline (AQG) limits and interim targets recommended by the WHO, by pollutant Pollutant Averaging time Interim target AQG level 1 2 3 4 Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), µg/m 3 Annual 35 25 15 10 5 24-hour a 75 50 37.5 25 15 Particulate matter (PM 10 ), µg/m 3 Annual 70 50 30 20 15 24-hour a 150 100 75 50 45 Ozone (O 3 ), µg/m 3 Peak season b 100 70 – – 60 8-hour a 160 120 – – 100 Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), µg/m 3 Annual 40 30 20 – 10 24-hour a 120 50 – – 25 Sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), µg/m 3 24-hour a 125 50 – – 40 Carbon monoxide (CO), mg/m 3 24-hour a 7 – – – 4 a 99th percentile (i.e. 3-4 exceedance days per year). b Average of daily maximum 8-hour mean O 3 concentration in the six consecutive months with the highest six-month running-average O 3 concentration. Source: WHO, 2021 2 The five pollutants are NH 3 , NO x , PM 2.5 , non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and SO 2 . EU National Emission Reduction Commitments Directive The National Emission Reduction Commitments (NEC) Directive ((EU) 2016/2284) set 2020 and 2030 commitments to reduce emission of five air pollutants, 2 based on 2005 levels. The directive incorporates the reduction commitments for 2020 agreed by the EU and its Member States under the 2012 revised Gothenburg Protocol (UNECE, 2016). The reduction commitments for 2030 have been designed to reduce the health impacts of air pollution by half compared with 2005. The directive also requires that Member States, including Ireland, draw up a National Air Pollution Control Programme (DECC, 2021) to help ensure that national emission reduction commitments are met. It also obliges Member States to create a network to monitor the effects of air pollution on ecosystems. National air quality policy, monitoring and enforcement The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) has responsibility for ensuring that Ireland meets its air quality obligations under EU legislation and international agreements. In 2023, the government launched Ireland’s first Clean Air Strategy (DECC, 2023), which sets out a high-level strategic policy framework to reduce air pollution and promote cleaner ambient air. The EPA coordinates ambient air quality monitoring, modelling, assessment and reporting nationally. Its air-related activities also involve regulating industrial and waste activities, including air emissions associated with these activities; maintaining the national solid fuel register; compiling, and reporting the national inventory of air emissions; and overseeing the environmental enforcement activities undertaken by local authorities. Local authorities also regulate some activities that give rise to air pollution and some also undertake local air monitoring programmes.