"Air pollutants are estimated to cause close to half a million premature deaths each year as well as severe damage to the environment through eutrophication, acidification and ground-level ozone throughout Europe", the letter says.
"The revision of key legislation on emissions is therefore needed and would help Member States comply with limit values on ambient air quality which are currently exceeded in most parts of Europe", it reads.
Click here to download the letter.
NGOs urge EC to adopt stricter legislation on air pollution
In a letter sent to the European Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potocnik, T&E - together with a coalition of NGOs - has urged the Commission to stop postponing the adoption of legislation in the field of air pollution and has called for stricter national emission ceilings.