German government sued over toxic air pollution

Image source, Nils Reinecke

A group of German residents are taking the government to court.

The right to breathe clean and healthy air is being violated by the government according to them.

Germany's air pollution levels are often much higher than WHO limits.

Humans in Germany have never taken such action.

In May, the advocate general to the European Court of Justice said that citizens could try to get compensation.

A group of seven people claim that their health is at risk and that politicians are not protecting them. There are a lot of them with asthma.

They claim they are breathing air with concentrations of pollution four to five times higher than the WHO's acceptable limits.

One of the most polluted streets in Germany is owned by Volker Becker-Battaglia. Air pollution is not something you can see. He told the news that it was a killer.

A lot of people drive their cars in front of our house. He says that they flee the city whenever they can.

Constanze, from Dsseldorf, who prefers to use her first name only to protect her privacy, is involved in a case for her two children.

They deserve to live a healthy life. Living in a city shouldn't make you sick because of air pollution, it should make you better because of it.

The air pollution levels in Germany are in line with the country's own law, but the claims want the law changed to reflect growing scientific consensus.

The WHO reduced the recommended limits in 2021.

Germany's Environment Agency said that the federal states are responsible for assessing air quality and taking action if it gets bad.

The WHO guide values do not have the legally binding character of the limit values of the EU air quality directive.

Breathing in car fumes can cause lung cancer, according to research published this month.

Air pollution is the main cause of the disease.

The court in Germany could order the government to reduce it.

ClientEarth andDeutsche Umwelthilfe support the case.

Air pollution is a human right. "Many people are starting to understand how much their life and their children's lives can improve if governments start implementing better controls."

She suggests that Germany could lead the way in improving air pollution.

The Germans are being asked to educate the public about the dangers of air pollution.

The case was filed in Germany's constitutional court. The claims are not for financial compensation but for the government to do something.

They would get a ruling in their favor.

There have been a number of cases and rulings regarding air pollution.

Air pollution was listed as a cause of death for the first time in the UK in 2020. She died of an asthma attack while living near a road.

France's government was fined 10m for failing to improve air quality.