EU unveils draft law to tackle lethal air pollution

EU policymakers have unveiled a draft law to tackle air pollution, which every year is linked to 400,000 premature deaths in Europe and costs of tens of billions of euro.

The proposals include new limits on emissions from power plants and industry, as well as measures to make member states comply with existing rules on limiting pollutants associated with asthma, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

So far, many member states are failing to enforce existing EU air quality standards, even though the rules are less rigorous than those set by the World Health Organisation.