Germany’s Third Voluntary National Review (VNR) to the HLPF 2025

    Pollutant-free environment Clean air: the National Clean Air Programme 2023

    In Germany, outdoor air pollution has decreased substantially in recent decades. However, nitrogen dioxide concentrations in some densely populated areas still exceed the current EU limit values. The ozone concentration is also higher than the health-related target value almost everywhere.

    The current limit values for fine particulate matter are being met; however, exposure to fine particulate matter still has significant impacts on health.

    In order to further reduce air pollution and ensure long-term protection for human health and the environment, the German Government produced the second National Clean Air Programme (NLRP) in 2023.

    The programme primarily serves to implement Directive (EU) 2016/2284 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants (NEC Directive), which sets out binding national reduction commitments for all member states for the periods from 2020 to 2029 and from 2030, as against 2005 levels. Germany’s first National Clean Air Programme was submitted in May 2019.



    As at: 17.06.2025