The air has become cleaner. However, the limit values for nitrogen Oxides to be further exceeded and the greatest need for action there is the fine dust.

Even if the air quality has improved significantly, there is no time to breathe photo: Arnulf Hettrich/imago

the air in The German cities became in the last year, much cleaner: The applicable fine dust limit values are nowhere exceeded, the nitrogen oxide limit values only in half as many cities, we've in the previous year. The Problem that had put the country in the last year in turmoil, on the table? And the big excitement was exaggerated and possibly even?

The answer to both questions is no. The fact that the pollutant will decrease concentrations, is a direct result of the political pressures: in particular the obligation for that new Diesel must comply with the nitrogen oxide limit values, not only in the laboratory, but also on the road, has brought much. Here the policy questions are, why such an obvious point has not been implemented much earlier. And a reason, now to lean back, the new values are not.

even now, eleven years after the introduction of the EU limit values for nitrogen oxide will be exceeded in up to 30 cities. The Federal government would have been able to prevent that, if you would have obliged the manufacturer to the technical retrofitting of the engines, to be content instead with the cheaper, but no effective change in the Software.

Even greater is the need for action in the fine dust. Because the limit values are complied with, are completely out of date. The more stringent recommendations of the world would have implemented health organization, would be more than half of the measuring stations is above the limit. And the particularly small, especially harmful particles not covered at all. And unlike the nitrogen oxides, it is not enough fine dust to concentrate only on the traffic. Also wood burning stoves and agriculture contribute greatly to the burden.

Up in the air in Germany is really clean, is so much political pressure is necessary. But after all, the previous development shows that such pressure can act.