Discover the Breath of Freshness: Which European City Has the Cleanest Air? -

Clean air is essential for our health and the environment, yet air pollution remains a significant issue across Europe. Which European city has the cleanest air? This question has become increasingly important as we strive to tackle air pollution and its damaging effects.

Exploring the air quality in various European cities, this article will examine progress on emission reduction commitments and reporting under the UNECE Air Convention to determine the cities leading the way in providing fresh, breathable air for their residents.

Which European cities have the cleanest air?

Air quality data from European cities

According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), over 340 cities across Europe are included in the European city air quality viewer. This viewer ranks cities from the cleanest to the most polluted based on average levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) over the past two calendar years. The data behind the ranking is collected from over 400 monitoring stations across EEA member countries.

Ranking of cities based on PM2.5 levels

The ranking system used by the EEA is based on the levels of PM2.5, which is considered the air pollutant with the highest impact on health in terms of premature death and disease. Cities are ranked from the cleanest to the most polluted, with the focus being on long-term air quality, as long-term exposure to air pollution causes the most serious health effects.

The cleanest cities in Europe, according to the data from 2020 and 2021, were:

1 Umeå, Sweden

2 Faro, Portugal

3 Funchal, Portugal

On the other hand, the most polluted cities were:

1 Nowy Sącz, Poland

2 Cremona, Italy

3 Padova, Italy

As always, when travelling to any location with high air pollution, be sure to cover yourself with quality travel insurance.

Comparison with WHO guidelines and EU standards

In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its health-based guidelines for air quality, recommending a maximum level of 5 μg/m³ for PM2.5 for long-term exposure to protect health. However, the data shows that this guideline was exceeded in 97% of the 343 European cities included in the viewer.

The European Union (EU) has set an annual limit value for PM2.5 at 25 μg/m³ under its policies to deliver clean air in Europe. This limit was only exceeded in the three most polluted cities mentioned above, highlighting the difference between the WHO guideline and the EU standard.

Progress on emission reduction commitments

Overview of National Emission reduction Commitments (NEC) Directive

The National Emission reduction Commitments (NEC) Directive sets national emission reduction commitments for European Union (EU) Member States and the EU for five significant air pollutants: nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). These pollutants contribute to poor air quality, leading to substantial negative impacts on human health and the environment.

The NEC Directive highlights the importance of Member States regularly reporting air pollutant emission inventories to assess progress in reducing air pollution in the EU and to ascertain whether Member States are in compliance with their commitments. It requires Member States to follow the methodologies agreed upon by the UNECE LRTAP Convention and use the EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook in preparing their inventories.

Member States’ performance in meeting emission targets

1. 2020-2029 Commitments:

In 2021, 13 EU Member States met their respective 2020-2029 national emission reduction commitments for all five main pollutants.
13 Member States failed to meet their commitments for at least one pollutant.

2. Emission Reductions Required:

Table 1 presents the percentage reductions still required for Member States to reach their 2020-2029 and 2030 emission reduction commitments.
3.

Pollutant	Member States Requiring Reductions (2020-2029)	Reductions Required
NH3	10 Member States	Varies by country
NMVOCs	Poland, Lithuania	~13%, ~14%
NOx	Lithuania, Romania	~32%, ~7%
PM2.5	Romania, Poland, Croatia	Varies by country
SO2	Cyprus	Varies by country

4
2030 Commitments:

All Member States except Belgium and Finland need to reduce emissions for at least one pollutant to fulfil their 2030 commitments.
The greatest challenge will be reducing NH3, NOx, and PM2.5 emissions.

Challenges in reducing specific pollutants

1 Ammonia (NH3) Emissions:

Reducing ammonia emissions remains the biggest challenge for most Member States.
The agriculture sector is responsible for 93% of total ammonia emissions in the EU.
Since 2005, ammonia emissions have only slightly decreased in many Member States and, in some cases, have even increased.

2. Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Emissions:

Significant effort and more effective policies, particularly in the transport and energy sectors, are essential for Member States to meet their long-term emission reduction commitments for NOx and PM2.5.
3. Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) Emissions:

Many countries are already compliant with their 2030 reduction commitments for sulphur dioxide emissions.

Overall, while progress has been made in reducing emissions of certain pollutants, achieving further reductions for 2030 and beyond will be a significant challenge for nearly all EU countries for nearly all pollutants, as the reduction rate for some pollutant emissions is now levelling off.

Reporting under UNECE Air Convention

Trends in key air pollutant emissions

The European Union (EU) has made significant progress in reducing emissions of several key air pollutants over the past decade and a half. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), the following trends have been observed:

1 Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5): Emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 fell by 30% and 32%, respectively, from 2005 to 2020.

2 Sulphur Dioxide (SO2): Emissions of SO2 saw a substantial decline of 79% between 2005 and 2020, mainly due to reduced coal usage.

3 Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): NOx emissions decreased by 48% during the same period.

4 Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOCs): NMVOCs emissions declined by 31%.

However, the reduction in emissions of certain pollutants has been less significant:

1 Ammonia (NH3): NH3 emissions, primarily from the agriculture sector, decreased by only 8% from 2005 to 2020.

2 Methane (CH4): Emissions of CH4, a potent greenhouse gas and ozone precursor, fell by 17%.

Sectors contributing to emissions

The economic sectors contributing to air pollutant emissions vary depending on the specific pollutant:

1 Particulate Matter (PM2.5): Over 50% of PM2.5 emissions originate from energy consumption, including domestic heating and power generation.

2 Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): More than 40% of NOx emissions across Europe come from road traffic, particularly in urban areas and along busy streets, with diesel cars being a major source.

3 Ammonia (NH3): Over 90% of NH3 emissions in the EU come from the agriculture sector, with 75% from manure and 20% from inorganic fertilisers.

4 Sulphur Oxides (SOx): Over 30,000 industrial installations in the EU account for 50% of total SOx emissions and 30% of NOx and PM2.5 emissions.

Future outlook and recommendations

While emissions of several air pollutants have decreased, the EEA reports that significant effort and more effective policies are essential for EU Member States to meet their long-term emission reduction commitments and the targets of the European Green Deal and Zero Pollution Action Plan. The main challenges include:

1 Reducing ammonia emissions, with 11 Member States needing to further cut emission levels for the 2020-2029 period.

2 Reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter, and ammonia, as nearly two-thirds of Member States will need to reduce emissions of these pollutants to meet their 2030 commitments.

Recommendations to address these challenges include:

Investing in renewable energy sources to reduce emissions from the energy sector.
Improving residential heating efficiency through insulation, efficient boilers, and clean energy sources for district heating.
Traffic management, speed limits, low-emission zones, and promoting clean public transport, walking, and biking to reduce emissions from road traffic.
Implementing closed manure storage, precise application of manure and fertilisers, and improved livestock feeding strategies to reduce emissions from the agriculture sector.
Adopting clean energy sources, pollution control technologies, and non-toxic materials in industrial processes to reduce emissions from the industrial sector.

Conclusion

The pursuit of clean, breathable air is a shared responsibility that requires collective action. While progress has been made in reducing emissions of certain pollutants, the data reveals the persistent challenges in achieving air quality standards across European cities. As we move forward, a sustained commitment from governments, industries, and individuals is crucial to combat air pollution effectively.

Implementing comprehensive strategies, embracing clean technologies, and fostering public awareness are essential steps towards safeguarding public health and preserving the natural environment. By prioritising air quality, we can pave the way for healthier communities and a more sustainable future for generations to come.