Court orders France to clean up air pollution

France’s highest legal authority has ordered the government to clean up the nation’s air pollution. The Conseil d’État has given the French Government nearly nine months to produce a plan, […]

France’s highest legal authority has ordered the government to clean up the nation’s air pollution.

The Conseil d’État has given the French Government nearly nine months to produce a plan, detailing how it intends to bring air quality within legal limits by 31st March 2018.

The news follows legal action launched by Friends of the Earth France with the support of environmental lawyers ClientEarth.

The green group had called on the government to take the necessary measures to bring nitrogen dioxide and particulate PM10 concentrations below the limit.

The Conseil d’État ruled current measures are not sufficient to bring down air pollution in the areas where it exceeds limits.

Similar rulings were made by UK courts, which ordered the British Government to provide an air quality plan following which a draft proposal was launched in May this year.

ClientEarth Lawyer Ugo Taddei said: “The decision of the Conseil d’État is a great victory for the health of French citizens.

“The French court followed the example of a growing host of judges across Europe who are protecting people’s right to clean air and holding authorities accountable.”

The news comes just days after the French Government announced it would ban the sale of diesel and petrol vehicles by 2040.

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