ETC HE Report 2024/5: Status report of air quality in Europe for year 2023, using validated and up-to-date data

This report presents summarised information on the status of air quality in Europe in 2023, based on Up-To-Date data (i.e. prior to final quality control) and validated air quality monitoring data officially reported by the member and cooperating countries of the EEA. It aims at giving more timely and preliminary information on the status of ambient air quality in Europe in 2023 for five key air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2 and SO2). The report also gives a preliminary assessment of the progress towards meeting the European air quality standards for the protection of health and the World Health Organization air quality guideline levels, and compares the air quality status in 2023 with the previous years.

30 May 2024

Jaume Targa (4sfera Innova), María Colina (4sfera Innova), Lorena Banyuls (4sfera Innova), Alberto González Ortiz (EEA), Joana Soares (NILU)

This report presents summarised information on the status of air quality in Europe in 2023, based on Up-To-Date (i.e. prior to final quality control) and validated air quality monitoring data reported by the member and cooperating countries of the EEA. It aims at giving more timely and preliminary information on the status of ambient air quality in Europe in 2023 for five key air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2 and SO2). The report also gives a preliminary assessment of the progress towards meeting the European air quality standards for the protection of health and the World Health Organization air quality guideline levels, and compares the air quality status in 2022 with the previous years. The preliminary data reported for 2023 shows that 5% and 17% of the monitoring stations exceeded the EU standards for PM10 and O3, respectively. The WHO AQG for PM2.5, PM10, O3 and SO2 were exceeded by 92%, 58%, 94% and 4%, respectively. Exceedances of the NO2 limit value still occur in 8 reporting countries and NO2 WHO AQG occur in all reporting countries.