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Funchal can probably thank its location, for receiving the bronze medal in the European Championships in low particle levels. Photo:© anitasstudio / Shutterstock.com

Only 11 European cities have clean air

October 2022

In July, the European Environment Agency (EEA) published its updated European City Air Quality Viewer report, which covers over 340 cities. Cities are ranked from the cleanest to the most polluted based on average levels of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) obtained from monitoring data over the past two calendar years. For air quality to be considered as good it needs to be below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) health-based guideline for long-term exposure to PM_2.5 of 5 micrograms per cubic metre of air (5 μg/m3 ). From 2020 to 2021, air quality was good in only 11 cities. The guideline was exceeded in 97% of the 343 European cities included inthe viewer. The European Union’s (EU) annual limit value for PM_2.5 is way higher than the WHO guideline, at 25 µg/ m3 , and was only exceeded in the three most polluted cities, including Nowy Sacz, Poland, and Cremona and Padova in Italy. Interested in your city?

The Air Quality Viewer is available to download at eea.europa.eu/highlights/air-pollution-which-europeancities?utm_ source=EEASubscriptions

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Image: © Lars-Erik Håkansson

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Photo: © Alexandros Michailidis /Suttertstock.com

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European Union prepares for winter

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100% renewables has become scientific mainstream. Photo: © onot / Shutterstock.com

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Above: Schematic view of the energy island. Below: Facility with Power-to-X technology.

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Evidence to a policymaker should be short and concise. Photo: © Unknown man / Shutterstock.com

Photo: © VRVIRUS / Shutterstock.com

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Indigenous Latin Americans at a climate demonstration. Photo:© Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com

Photo: © Eamon Mc / Shutterstock.com

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Photo: © SomprasongWittayanupakorn / Shutterstock.com

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The wear and tear on roads and tyres can be 20 per cent higher for electricified models. Photo: © emirhankaramuk / Shutterstock.com

Particles from electric vehicles

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Failure or success of air pollution policies in Delhi?

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Delhi has introduced many measures to limit emissions, but it is still difficult to say anything certain about the effect they have had. Photo:© Photo Delhi / Shutterstock.com

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PM2.5 levels in Bejing have decreased by 36% in just five years. Photo: © Tom Wang / Shutterstock.com

Cleaner air in Beijing and London

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Electryfing vehicle fleet could save 45 billion euro in external costs

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“Cost of clean shipping is negligible” says case study

Transport & Environment has assessed “…the likely cost increase in seaborne transport in a hypothetical fully decarbonized scenario”. More specifically, the assessment investigated a substantial ...

Lagos has committed to reducing traffic congestion by expanding the rapid transit bus network and piloting a low-emission bus system. Photo: © Resedenz / Shutterstock.com

Ten African mayors sign a clean air declaration

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Prohibited from 2024. Photo: © Dutchmen Photography / Shutterstock.com

Haarlem bans meat ads

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Aliens helping out with the EU methane pledge. Image: © ledokolua / Shutterstock.com

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