The European Environment Agency (EEA) reports significant progress in reducing air pollution, with deaths linked to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) falling 45% since 2005.

Despite this, air pollution remains the top environmental health risk in Europe, causing nearly 240,000 premature deaths in 2022 due to PM2.5 exposure above WHO guidelines.

The EEA also attributes 70,000 deaths to ozone pollution and 48,000 to nitrogen dioxide exposure. Meeting WHO air quality standards could have prevented these fatalities.

The EU’s revised Air Quality Directive, now in effect, targets further reductions by 2030, introducing stricter monitoring and standards for pollutants like ultrafine particles and black carbon.

Air pollution also harms ecosystems, with 73% of EU ecosystems exceeding critical nitrogen loads in 2022, affecting biodiversity and agriculture.

Although emissions of sulphur dioxide have declined, the EU faces challenges in meeting nitrogen reduction targets and curbing ozone-induced crop damage and economic losses.