Member states of the European Union often label themselves as the world’s top Green Leaders. Air Protection in the European Union Member States examines the EU members' air protection policies by taking into consideration wider political, social, and economic perspectives.

The book is divided into four chapters, each focusing on different aspects of the European Union's environmental policies and the member states' air protection efforts: "Green and Smart – The Development of the European Union’s Environmental Policies", "Ever Cleaner Union and the Air Protection Concept", "Trends of Air Pollution in the European Union – Comparative Perspective", and "In-Depth Case Studies". These chapters provide a comparative approach to emerging emission trends within the European Union, paying particular attention to key events spanning 2020–2023, such as the implementation of the Green Deal, the reinterpretation of the meaning of public health caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the strategic withdrawal from hydrocarbons accelerated by the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Throughout the book, three main categories of states are characterized: leaders, second-raters, and laggards.

Air Protection in the European Union Member States presents a combination of general discussions, legislative analyses, comparative studies, and detailed case studies, demonstrating the origin, development, and trends in air protection policies within the European Union. This uniquely interdisciplinary book will be a vital guide for students, researchers, and teachers in the fields of global studies, international relations, and political and economic science.