The European Parliament adopted today by a large majority the provisional trilogue agreement on the revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives (AAQD), to update the EU’s clean air standards dating from 2008.
HEAL has sent a letter to EU energy ministers ahead of their meeting on 27 June 2022, calling on them to
- Commit to a timeline and an ambitious deadline for the phasing out of all fossil fuels,
including fossil gas. A continued reliance on fossil fuels undermines the EU’s zero pollution
commitment included in the Green Deal, and accelerates climate change, when alternatives
exist. - Avoid false solutions in the process of becoming independent from Russian fossil fuels.
This includes investing into new fossil gas infrastructure, the promotion of wood burning or
prolonged coal power use, to name a few. - Fast track renewables and energy savings, especially in transport and buildings. Energy
savings, both the reduction in demand and greater efficiency, could bring huge health
benefits and address energy poverty.