Clean Air Agreement

What is the Clean Air Agreement?

The Clean Air Agreement (hereinafter: SLA) is a national agreement between the national government, provinces, and municipalities to achieve at least a 50% improvement in public health by 2030 through cleaner air, compared to 2016. The agreement focuses on reducing particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide.

On July 7, 2020, the municipality of Leudal became the second municipality in Limburg to decide to participate in the SLA.

As part of participation in the SLA, it is mandatory to adopt an annual implementation plan that outlines measures for each theme. This is because air quality has a significant impact on residents’ health and their living environment.

More information about the SLA can be found on the schoneluchtakkoord.nl website at .

Air Quality Measurements 2027

What about air quality in our own area? And how do activities in the places where we live and work affect it? The municipalities of Leudal, Roermond, and Venlo will investigate this in 2027. In doing so, they will examine various sources that may influence local air quality. The project is part of the commitment to the Clean Air Agreement, under which governments are working together to achieve cleaner air and a healthier living environment.

Online Information Session

Leudal, Roermond, and Venlo will launch a study in January 2027 to examine the impact of ports, industrial areas, and transportation hubs. They will conduct this study in collaboration with residents, business owners, and expert organizations, including the RIVM and the GGD Limburg-Noord. An online information session will be held on November 16. The goal is to gain a better understanding of local issues and what we can do together to improve our living environment. You can register for the November 16 session using the registration button below.

Register for the online information session

Stay in the loop

A great deal is already known about air quality in the Netherlands and in Limburg. However, there may be local differences—for example, between a residential neighborhood and rural areas, or between a quiet street and a busy road. The municipalities want to better understand these differences. They are doing this by combining local measurements with existing data and residents’ local perceptions. This study is not intended to monitor individual residents or businesses. The results will be carefully reviewed with experts and stakeholders. The municipalities will then examine what the results mean and what options are available to improve the living environment.

In the municipality of Leudal, we are conducting measurements around the industrial park Zevenellen. You can view the area at Map . This is an area where several companies are already located and which will be further developed in the coming years. The exact measurement locations will be announced at a later date.

Aerial view of the industrial park Zevenellen

Starting January 1, 2027, monitoring equipment will be installed in the area to measure particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and traffic patterns. It will remain in place for one year. This will allow us to collect data throughout all seasons and observe how air quality changes on a daily and hourly basis. Residents will install some of the monitoring equipment themselves. We’ll compare the results with existing data and with what you experience in your neighborhood. Experts will help us interpret the findings accurately.

Follow-up meeting on December 1 at De Roffert Community Center in Buggenum

This meeting on Tuesday, December 1, will take a closer look at the area in Buggenum where we are conducting measurements. The meeting is for residents who want to actively participate in this subproject, for example, by installing measuring equipment themselves. You can register after the online meeting on November 16.

What do air quality measurements actually measure—and what don't they measure?

We measure to understand. Then we interpret the data and explore possible solutions. We measure to learn, not to monitor. The goal is:  

  • gain a better understanding of local air quality;
  • supplement national and regional information with local data;
  • better understand patterns and differences;
  • bring together the knowledge and experiences of residents, business owners, government agencies, and experts;
  • conduct the discussion on air quality based on information that is as reliable as possible;
  • examine what options for action are available if the results warrant it.