The Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court has ruled that the German government must revise its National Air Quality Control Program to meet European standards for reducing air pollutants.

The court found that the current measures, established in 2019 and updated in May 2024, are insufficient to achieve the necessary reductions in harmful emissions such as ammonia, fine dust, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides.

This decision marks a significant victory for the German Environmental Aid (DUH), which has been advocating for stronger air quality measures.

DUH's managing director, Jürgen Resch, hailed the ruling as a "good day for clean air in Germany," emphasizing the need for effective actions by 2025. The ruling is not yet final, as the court has allowed for an appeal to the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig.