Once every two years, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) assesses the health impacts of the plans under the Clean Air Agreement (Schone Lucht Akkoord, SLA). According to the third progress assessment, health gains from cleaner air in 2030 will be greater than predicted two years previously.
This is partly due to the expectation that, by 2030, there will be more electric vehicles in the Netherlands than expected previously. The calculations also made use of new scientific insights. All intended plans will still need to be implemented to achieve the target, however.
New calculations by the Netherlands’ Emissions Registration show lower emissions of nitrogen oxides. The increase in the number of electric vehicles has also been faster than expected. Currently, the calculated nitrogen oxide emissions for 2030 are expected to be approximately 8% lower than under the former assessment. Provided that all policy plans are implemented, the Netherlands is on track to achieve its target of 50% health gains compared to 2016. At the same time, new scientific research shows that nitrogen dioxide is more harmful to human health than previously assumed. It therefore remains important to continue implementing measures to improve air quality.
Besides the target from the Clean Air Agreement, the Netherlands will also need to comply with new, stricter European air quality standards in 2030. These new standards will not be fully met everywhere in the country under the current policy. That applies specifically to certain areas around Amsterdam and Schiphol, in the Rijnmond and IJmond regions and along various sections of motorway. Additional measures will therefore need to be taken.
More participants increase success of Clean Air Agreement
The Clean Air Agreement (SLA) launched in 2020. At the moment, all Dutch provinces and over 130 municipalities have committed to air quality improvement. Thanks to all these parties’ efforts and new insights, the target is within reach. Based on current insights, RIVM calculated a health gain of 55% in 2030 compared to 2016.
Ultimately, that means people in the Netherlands can expect to live four months longer on average. There are also benefits with regard to asthma prevention in children and cardiovascular diseases, for example.
New tool offers insight into air pollution sources
The measures taken by municipalities and provinces contribute to cleaner air and greater health gains. Still, air quality has not improved equally in all areas.
In 2024, RIVM developed a tool to show which sectors are contributing to air pollution at a municipal level. This tool was further refined in the past year. Now it also shows the sources of air pollution; from within the relevant municipality, surrounding municipalities, elsewhere in the Netherlands or even from abroad.
This offers authorities more guidance in determining at which government level and in which sectors to implement air quality improvement measures for the greatest impact. The tool is available for use at apps.rivm.nl/sla/gcn-tool
Population exposure to air pollution in 2024
RIVM calculates the Dutch population’s exposure to nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter each year. Along with the SLA progress assessment, RIVM has published its report Population exposure to air pollution in 2024 (Bevolkingsblootstelling aan luchtvervuiling 2024). RIVM does these calculations for every residential address in the Netherlands based on pollutant emissions from various sources.
Pollutant emissions decreased in 2024. This is barely reflected in the population exposure levels. That is because the weather in 2024 was generally calm, so the dispersion of air pollution was slower.
Lower exposure to air pollution over a long period of time results in health gains. The SLA progress assessment calculates the health gains in 2030 compared to 2016.
The exposure calculations are supplementary to the Monitoring report MLK 2025.