According to data from the European Environment Agency, the best air quality in Europe in 2021 and 2022 belonged to Faro, Europe's least polluted city.
COP28, the Climate Change Conference of the Parties, in Dubai, is currently underway, bringing together representatives of signatory countries to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
One of the main objectives of COP28 is to advance the development of the energy transition and accelerate the progressive elimination of fossil fuels, which are the main sources of greenhouse gases and atmospheric pollutants. Based on data from the European Environment Agency between 2021 and 2022, the least polluted European city was Faro.
In addition to their impact on the climate, fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas also present significant pollution challenges; for example, burning it emits fine particles (PM2.5). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), prolonged exposure to these particles can trigger or worsen various health problems, such as hypertension or diabetes.
Although the WHO has recommended a maximum limit of five micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air for long-term exposure since 2021, most cities in the European Union (EU) substantially exceed this limit.
Many of the cities most impacted by PM2.5 are located in Poland, a country still heavily dependent on coal, which emits a considerable amount of fine particles when burned. Northern Italy, due to its geography and concentration of industrial activities, remains one of the most polluted regions in Europe by fine particles, resulting in the presence of two Italian cities at the top of the list.
However, based on data from the European Environment Agency compiled by the Toute l'Europe website, ten cities in Europe remained below the recommended level of fine particles by the WHO. In the period 2021-2022, Faro stood out as the least polluted European city in the study, with an average concentration of PM2.5 in the air of just 3.7 μg/m³, with Funchal being the fourth least polluted European city. In 2nd and 3rd place were two Swedish cities, Umeå (3.9 μg/m³) and Uppsala (4 μg/m³).
Data by Statista
