The vast majority of Europe鈥檚 urban population is exposed to levels of air pollutants above new World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, according to an updated European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis on air quality in Europe released today.
The EEA听听report updates and expands on anby comparing pollutant concentrations in ambient air across Europe against the听听published in September 2021. It finds that the majority of Europeans are exposed to levels of air pollutants known to damage health.
- In the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU), 97% of the urban population is exposed to levels of听fine particulate matter听above the WHO guideline. Levels of particulate matter are driven by emissions from energy use, road transport, industry and agriculture.
- Regarding听nitrogen dioxide, 94% of the urban population is exposed to levels above the WHO guideline, due predominantly to emissions from road transport.
- 99% of the urban population is exposed to levels of听ozone听above the WHO guideline, linked to emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, including methane, and high temperatures associated with climate change.
The report finds that听human activities听are the听key driver听behind the dangerous levels of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone in urban air. Overall emissions of all听key air pollutants听across the EU听declined in 2019, maintaining the trend seen since 2005. Nevertheless, delivering clean and safe air for Europe will require ongoing and additional reductions in emissions. Looking ahead, the report says听more action is required听by all Member States if they are to meet future emission reduction commitments听
The EU has also set听听for key air pollutants in the听EU鈥檚听. Under the European Green Deal鈥檚听, the European Commission set the听2030 goal of reducing the number of premature deaths听caused by PM2.5听by at least 55% compared with 2005 levels.
To this end, the European Commission initiated a revision of the听, which includes a听revision of EU air quality standards听to align them more closely with WHO recommendations.听Citizens and stakeholders are invited to express their views through a听听run by the European Commission until 16 December 2021.
In 2019, air pollution continued to drive听. In the EU,听307,000 premature deaths were linked to exposure to fine particulate matter in 2019, a decrease of 33% on 2005.
eea.europa.eu
