Global Assessment of Air Pollution Legislation

• Air quality is a pressing issue. The air in our buildings is permeated with substances that we can breath in for most of the day, and which can have a serious impact on our health. Both consumers and media are increasingly worried about it, and they elevate their concerns to the political sphere —where Indoor Air Quality is becoming a major issue. This has led to new international regulations and recommendations to limit the risks.

• Did you know that one in three countries has no legal standards for air quality? For indoor air, the figure is even lower: 49% of the world's countries define air pollution exclusively as an outdoor threat.

  What is new on the international normative sphere?

  The United Nations has recognised that "the right to a healthy environment, including clean air, is a precursor to achieving Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals". For this reason, the UN —and many countries— have decided to make the fight against polluted air a top priority.

  On the occasion of the last International Day of Clean Air (7 September 2021), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published the "First Global Assessment of Air Pollution Legislation". This comprehensive report delves into outdoor and indoor Air Quality Legislation of 194 countries —and the European Union.

  The results are revealing:

  With 9 out of 10 people breathing polluted air in the world —resulting in 7 million premature deaths each year, more than a half of which are due exclusively to indoor air pollution—, the World Health Organisation has identified this hazard as the greatest environmental risk to health. The WHO presented air quality guidelines some years ago but, as the report shows, there is no global alignment or common legal framework for their application. Each country applies its own air quality standards; however, over 34% of countries have not even regulated ambient air quality yet!

  In response, the UN has called on all countries and relevant institutions to take action to reduce all forms of air pollution and has announced as well the arriving of new practical guidelines. Most Member States are also committed to this cause and will have international support to develop and implement new legal frameworks.

  Some measures are already in place, such as the European Climate Law —enacted last summer—, which includes an assessment of Indoor Air Quality in EU buildings; many more national and international regulations on this subject are expected to be introduced.

  In our globalised world, where standardisation is complex (if not impossible), how to protect ourselves?

  Which laws apply to the products we use at home? Which regulations are protecting indoor air in my country? Are they sufficient?

  Look for the “Air Label Score” seal: this is the easiest way to ensure that the products you choose comply with all and most stringent existing standards and recommendations. Clear, consistent and uncompromising, this certification guarantees the best available information on the the emission of products into indoor air.

  As a retailer, simplify the export of your products by ensuring that they comply with all existing limit values and guarantee consumer safety.

  Find out here more about "Air Label Score" and the certified products.

• Sources: Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (Fact sheets - IAQ) ; Nations Unies (News - Clean Air Day) ; UNEP - First Global Assessment of Air Pollution Legislation ; Loi Climat, Ministère de la Transition Écologique - France