EUROPEAN MEPs RECEIVE TISSUES SOILED WITH DIRTY EXHAUST FUMES
Friends of the Earth calls for strong particulate matter regulation
 

Berlin, Tuesday May 30 – Today Friends of the Earth Germany sent German MEPs a special mailing – tissues soiled with dirty exhaust fumes. This delivery illustrated a plea not to weaken EU regulations on particulate matter by lowering current limit values.

Gerhard Timm, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth Germany said, “Recently, German MEPs have repeatedly attempted to weaken existing EU environmental and health standards. This is totally unacceptable, especially regarding particulate matter, which causes 75,000 premature deaths every year.”

“For German politicians to oppose strong particulate matter limits is also unwise economically. German car manufacturers have completely missed the opportunity to introduce diesel particulate filters, which would have given German car exporters an advantage and created many new jobs.”

Today the European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted on the EU Air Pollution Directive. Friends of the Earth has criticized the German MEPs who attempted to weaken the limit values of particulate matter and to postpone measures to reduce emissions of particulate matter. Friends of the Earth have however welcomed German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel’s commitment to stronger air pollution regulation .

In Germany 50% of local particulate matter exposure is due to traffic. Such particles in the air can penetrate into the lungs, causing cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Friends of the Earth is called BUND in Germany – Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland. [1]

For more information please contact:

Werner Reh, Traffic Expert at Friends of the Earth Germany, Tel: 0049-30-27586-435
Almut Gaude, Press Officer at Friends of the Earth Germany, Tel: 0049-30-275864-64, Mail: presse@bund.net

Notes
[1] www.bund.net

Home | About us | Members | Campaigns | Events | Media | Publications | Links | Contact | Internal