Ljubljana in the last sixth of European cities in terms of air quality

Copenhagen – The cleanest air in urban areas is found in Swedish cities Uppsala and Umea and the Portuguese city of Faro, according to the latest air quality ranking in European cities by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Ljubljana is among the last sixth of 372 cities. Three-quarters of Europeans live in urban environments, and the majority are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution.

The air quality viewer in European cities ranks 372 cities from the cleanest to the most polluted based on average levels of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). The data shows that only 13 European cities had average particle concentrations that complied with the WHO guideline of up to five micrograms per cubic meter of air. Among these cities are four northern capitals: Reykjavik, Tallinn, Stockholm, and Helsinki.

With 15.4 micrograms, Ljubljana ranked 310th, placing it among 71 countries with poor air quality. Ljubljana is a relatively poorly ventilated city, with major polluters being individual heating systems, even outside the urban center, and traffic. As Slovenia’s second-largest city, Maribor is ranked 253rd with a concentration of fine particles of 12.1 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

The zero pollution action plan from the European Green Deal aims to reduce premature deaths caused by fine particles by at least 55 percent compared to 2005 levels by 2030, while the long-term goal foresees no major health impacts by 2050. At the beginning of the year, the EU Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement to raise EU air quality standards. Among other things, the proposed new rules will bring the union’s air quality standards for 2030 closer to WHO guidelines. (August 29)