WILLEMSTAD - The foundation Clean Air Everywhere has expressed serious concerns in a letter to the Curaçao Parliament about the proposed National Ordinance on air quality standards. The foundation, dedicated to improving air quality on the island, warns that if the law is adopted in its current form, they will take legal action.
The draft National Ordinance, currently awaiting approval from the Parliament, is criticized for having limit and target values for substances such as sulfur dioxide and particulate matter that are considered too high until 2035. Moreover, the law allegedly does not establish standards for carbon dioxide emissions, despite previous commitments.
Clean Air Everywhere argues that the law does not meet the standards of Article 8 ECHR and calls for substantive adjustments. The foundation emphasizes that recent economic developments downwind of the Schottegat area, such as new hotels and housing projects, are at stake if the current transition period is maintained. Additionally, the foundation is concerned that there is currently no way to verify air quality due to the lack of up-to-date data on the official monitoring website.
Clean Air Everywhere urges the Parliament not to adopt the law in its current form and is open to discussions about the content of the National Ordinance. If the law is approved, Clean Air Everywhere will take the case to the competent court.