WILLEMSTAD - The government is not intimidated by the environmental group Clean Air Everywhere (CAE). The organization has indicated that it may take legal action if the current version of the National Ordinance on Air Quality is approved.
In a letter to the Parliament, the government stated that the air quality standards in the draft have been established after thorough research. “They are based on scientific literature, international guidelines, and consultations with stakeholders,” the government noted.
According to the government, the proposed standards should contribute to current scientific insights and international standards. “Therefore, the government is confident that the established standards will withstand any legal scrutiny,” the government added.
In May, during a technical briefing for the Central Committee of the Parliament, CAE announced that it would ask the court to annul the National Ordinance. However, the government asserts that the current draft meets the ruling of the court of first instance from July 19, 2022.
In that ruling, the judge determined that the ministerial regulation did not comply with formal and substantive requirements. The regulation was flawed because it had not been established by the formal legislator. Additionally, for sulfur dioxide and particulate matter, daily average limits needed to be included alongside annual average limits.