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France to pay €20 million fine for failing to tackle air pollution
France's highest administrative court, the Council of State, has ordered on Monday (Oct 17) the government to pay millions of euros in fines for poor air quality in French cities.
France will pay €20 million (US$19.7 million) for failing to do enough to guarantee good air quality, according to the court's statement on Monday.
It is not the first time the European nation has found itself in this situation. The same court issued another €10 million fine last year for the same reason.
Despite improvements since the first sanction was issued, the situation has not improved sufficiently – the Conseil d’Etat said.
It justified its decision by reiterating “the seriousness of the consequences in terms of public health” and “the urgency that follows.”
Nitrogen dioxide emissions limits were breached in Paris, Lyon and Marseille between July 2021 and 2022. Next year, the Council of State will again review air quality in France.
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In France alone, poor air quality leads to approximately 48,000 deaths every year. The situation is especially dire in France’s capital Paris, but other metropolitan areas such as Toulouse, Lyon, and Aix-Marseille also remain particularly at risk.
The main cause of air pollution in France is transportation, followed by industries and heating. The three combined make up over 95% of the nation’s carbon dioxide output, which in turn contribute to the higher levels of PM2.5 in the air.
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