Image by Janka Ambrózová, Environment & Me/EEA
Over the past decades, air quality in Europe has improved significantly, but polluted air remains the biggest environmental health hazard in Europe and worldwide. According to the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) analysis of air quality for 2022 and 2023, published today, air quality in Europe continues to improve, but in many regions, especially urban areas, pollution remains above recommended safety levels.
The EEA briefing “State of Air Quality in Europe 2024” presents data on the levels of key air pollutants in Europe for 2022 and 2023 and compares these concentrations with EU air quality standards and World Health Organisation (WHO) health-based guideline levels. The 2022 data is final and has been verified by reporting countries, while the 2023 analysis is based on provisional data.
Although air quality in Europe is improving, it still does not meet EU standards across the continent, EEA analysis shows. In 2022, only 2% of European monitoring stations recorded fine particle concentrations above the EU’s annual limit. However, almost all Europeans living in urban areas (96%) are exposed to concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) above WHO guideline levels.
Fine particulate matter is the air pollutant with the most adverse health effects across Europe. These particles come mainly from solid fuels used for home heating, industrial activity and road transport.
The EEA report also shows large variations between countries and regions, with higher pollution levels in parts of Central and Eastern Europe. In 2022, only Iceland recorded fine particle concentrations below WHO guideline levels. Concentrations above the EU limit were measured in three EU member states: Croatia, Italy and Poland.
The European Green Deal’s Zero Pollution Action Plan sets out the goal of reducing premature deaths from fine particulate matter by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 2005, with the longer-term goal of eliminating serious health damage by 2050. Earlier this year, EU institutions reached agreement on a proposal to update the Air Quality Directive, with the aim of bringing EU air quality standards closer to WHO guideline levels and helping to achieve the objectives of the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
The EEA briefing is the first analysis of the EEA’s “Air Quality in Europe 2024” package. Later this year, the EEA will publish a briefing on air pollutant emissions and the impacts of air pollution on ecosystems and human health, including estimates of deaths and health damage attributable to poor air quality.
