Ellona joins the Clean Tech for Clean Air (CT4CA) coalition to support the implementation of the European Union’s new Ambient Air Quality Directive
On July 15, Ellona participated in the official launch of the Clean Tech for Clean Air (CT4CA) coalition in Brussels, followed by a series of meetings with representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament. These exchanges marked an important step toward greater recognition of the role that high-quality environmental sensor systems can play in supporting the implementation of the European Union’s new Ambient Air Quality Directive.
A new European ambition to improve Air Quality
Air quality is now at the heart of the European Union’s environmental priorities.
With the revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), the European Union has set ambitious new objectives to better protect public health and progressively align European air quality standards with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). Member States are now required to implement these new requirements through their national legislation and achieve more stringent air quality targets by 2030.
This regulatory evolution goes beyond lowering limit values for several air pollutants. It also calls for a fundamental rethink of how air quality is assessed, modelled, and monitored across Europe.
To achieve these objectives, public authorities will need environmental data that is increasingly accurate, locally representative, and available in near real time.
A technical and policy challenge
The successful implementation of the new Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) will largely depend on how it is translated into practice.
Over the coming months, the European Commission will adopt a series of Implementing Acts to define the Directive’s technical requirements, including air quality modelling methodologies, the spatial representativeness of measurements, data quality objectives, reporting procedures, and the use of indicative measurements.
These implementing measures will play a key role in determining the tools and methodologies that Member States will rely on to achieve the Directive’s new air quality objectives.
They also represent an important opportunity to promote innovative technologies capable of providing a more detailed understanding of air pollution at the local level.
Air pollution is becoming increasingly local
Regulatory air quality monitoring stations have long formed the backbone of official air quality monitoring systems and remain essential.
However, air pollution is characterized by significant spatial variability. Concentrations can change considerably over just a few hundred meters, depending on factors such as road traffic, industrial activities, port and airport operations, weather conditions, and the urban landscape.
Understanding these local variations has become essential to:
- identify the most exposed areas;
- better protect vulnerable populations;
- improve the spatial representativeness of monitoring networks;
- identify pollution sources;
- assess the effectiveness of air quality action plans.
High-quality environmental sensor systems complement regulatory monitoring networks by providing continuous, real-time, and locally representative data. They enable a much more detailed understanding of air pollution patterns and support more informed decision-making.
CT4CA: A unique European coalition
It is in this context that Clean Tech for Clean Air (CT4CA) was established.
The coalition brings together five international companies specializing in environmental monitoring technologies:
- Airly
- Clarity Movement
- Ecomesure
- Ellona
- Kunak Technologies
Although they compete in many markets, these companies have chosen to combine their expertise around a shared objective: to contribute to the European dialogue on air quality by sharing their field experience and technical expertise in environmental monitoring technologies.
Collectively, CT4CA members represent tens of thousands of environmental monitoring system deployments worldwide. Through the coalition, they aim to place this expertise at the service of European policymakers to support the implementation of the new Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD).
Beyond their respective commercial activities, the coalition’s members share a common conviction: the challenges of public health and air quality call for a collaborative approach to advancing environmental monitoring practices across Europe.
Brussels: A day of dialogue with European institutions
On 15 July 2026, representatives of CT4CA gathered in Brussels for a day of meetings with key stakeholders from the European institutions.
The agenda included:
- a meeting with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV.C3 – Clean Air & Urban Policy);
- an exchange with Pernille Weiss-Ehler, member of the Cabinet of Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy;
- a meeting at the European Parliament with the team of Member of the European Parliament Elżbieta Łukacijewska.
The purpose of these meetings was to introduce the coalition, share the practical experience of its members, and foster a constructive dialogue on the implementation of the European Union’s new Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD).
Discussions focused on the growing need for locally representative environmental data, the complementary roles of regulatory monitoring networks and high-quality environmental sensor systems, and the contribution these technologies can make to improving the understanding of air pollution and supporting more informed and effective decision-making.
Three key messages from the coalition
In Brussels, CT4CA members presented a shared vision built around three key priorities.
Strengthening the recognition of High-Quality Sensor Systems
The coalition believes that high-quality environmental sensor systems are now an essential complement to regulatory monitoring networks. They enhance the spatial coverage of air quality measurements, help identify pollution hotspots, and provide a more representative picture of citizens’ actual exposure to air pollution.
Building on existing technical standards
CT4CA encourages both European and national authorities to promote the use of existing technical specifications, particularly CEN/TS 17660, which provides a recognized framework for evaluating the performance of air quality sensor systems. Building on these established specifications would facilitate the deployment of high-quality sensor systems while ensuring a high level of data quality.
Turning data into action
The coalition advocates for an evidence-based approach built on reliable, locally representative, and actionable environmental data. Such data can help local authorities and public decision-makers identify pollution hotspots, prioritize investments, assess the effectiveness of air quality measures, and ultimately better protect citizens.
Ellona's contribution: Turning data into Environmental Intelligence
By joining CT4CA, Ellona reaffirms its commitment to actively contributing to the European dialogue on the future of environmental monitoring.
As a specialist in Environmental Intelligence, Ellona develops solutions deployed in complex environments, including industrial sites, ports, airports, critical infrastructure, construction sites, and urban areas.
Combining proprietary multi-sensor systems, advanced data analytics, and the EllonaSoft platform, Ellona’s solutions provide real-time monitoring of gases, odours, particulate matter, and noise. They also enable users to characterize emissions, identify their sources, and transform environmental data into actionable intelligence for better decision-making.
Built on the experience gained through numerous international deployments, this expertise represents a tangible contribution to the ongoing European discussions shaping the future of air quality policies.
A European momentum set to continue
The creation of Clean Tech for Clean Air (CT4CA) marks the beginning of a structured dialogue between Europe’s environmental technology sector and the European institutions.
As Member States enter a decisive phase in the implementation of the new Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), the discussions initiated in Brussels reflect a shared commitment to strengthening the links between innovation, scientific expertise, and public policy.
For Ellona, this participation reflects a strong conviction: effective environmental decision-making begins with reliable, representative, and actionable data.
By joining CT4CA, Ellona reaffirms its commitment to putting Environmental Intelligence at the service of public authorities, industry, and policymakers. Through this initiative, the company aims to contribute to smarter, more responsive, and more effective air quality monitoring for the benefit of communities and citizens alike.
