The Council of State, the highest administrative court in France, condemned France to pay a fine of 10 million euros due to insufficient measures adopted to improve air quality.
An environmental defense association had appealed to the Council of State to pressure the government and prompt measures to quickly reduce the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particles (PM10), which remain too high in 13 areas in France.
On July 10, 2020, the Council of State found that limit values were still being exceeded in eight areas and ordered the state to take necessary measures within six months.
In July 2020, the government had stated that several measures had been taken in order to reduce air pollution. A year later, the Council of State lamented that no new air protection plan had been adopted for the affected areas. According to the council, these plans “are currently a known and suitable tool to specify the actions to be taken and evaluate the timeline in which they will allow for returning below the limit values.”
The state will therefore have to pay the 10 million euro fine to the association Les Amis de la Terre, which had appealed to the Council of State, as well as to several organizations and associations engaged in the fight against air pollution.
