Air Quality Improves Across Europe, but Wildfires Drive Pollution Spikes in Some Regions

Reductions in ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, among other things, have improved air quality in Europe, according to a report from Copernicus.

Since 2015, emissions of sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides have decreased by 3 to 5 percent per year across the EU. Emissions from industry and road transport have declined in particular.

Despite a reduction in total emissions, parts of Europe are exposed to periods of high air pollution. These are due to combinations of emissions and, for example, heatwaves or extreme cold.

For example, record forest fires in Portugal and Spain in the summer of 2025 led to widespread exceedances of daily limit values for particulate matter.