Addressing air pollution is crucial for protecting public health and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, which takes place on 7 September, focuses on finding solutions because every breath matters. WHO/Europe continues to maintain its engagement in advocating for clean air and protecting health in the WHO European Region
An unequal picture
The European Region is one of the most active WHO regions in addressing air pollution and climate change, and air quality improvements have been achieved where policies and measures have been implemented. For example, levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) have generally decreased in Europe and central Asia over the past decade, but other areas have not seen the same improvement. Emissions of major air pollutants have also decreased in most countries of the Region, except for parts of central Asia, but there has been a region-wide increase in ammonia emissions from agriculture. Overall, improvements have been partly offset by important differences in both exposure to air pollution and actions taken to reduce it
As a result, the Region still bears a significant health burden of over 700 000 attributable deaths each year, associated mostly with ambient air pollution (roughly 570 000 deaths per year). Household air pollution accounts for additional 154 000 deaths per year. The vast majority of these deaths are linked to noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and lung cancer. This burden is unequally distributed among and within countries and cities.
The Region’s dependence on fossil fuels results in significant emissions of air pollution and greenhouse gases, making it an important contributor to climate change. In addition, the Region is already experiencing many climate change effects. With temperatures increasing at a rate more than twice the global average over the last 3 decades, it holds the grim record for the highest temperature rise among all WHO regions. In turn, climate change can both increase air pollution and amplify its adverse effects, creating a negative spiral that can only be stopped by addressing its root causes.
Racing for solution
Taking immediate action to move away from fossil fuels is crucial for the health and well-being of current and future generations. A faster and more equitable transition to clean and sustainable energy sources would lead to economic savings, tens of thousands of lives saved, better health and a more stable climate – through a significant reduction of air pollution and mitigation of climate change.
With these aims, countries in the Region committed at the Seventh Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health (2023) to revise policies towards stricter air quality standards and improved control of air pollution sources; support the transition and equitable access to renewable energy; and improve indoor air quality to protect health. A voluntary target to halve the health impacts of air pollution by 2040 has been included in the Updated Road Map for an Enhanced Global Response to the Adverse Health Effects of Air Pollution, adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2025
WHO/Europe works with countries towards achieving these goals, supporting them in assessing the health risks of air pollution and developing tailored measures, in line with the WHO Air Quality Guidelines and with a view to mitigating climate change
Concrete actions and expected achievements
The implementation of new legislation and revised international agreements is expected to reduce air pollution levels across the European Region in the coming years, with benefits for health, the environment and the climate
The revised European Union (EU) Ambient Air Quality Directive, which entered into force in December 2024, was informed by the WHO Air Quality Guidelines released in 2021. Being mandatory for about half of the countries in the Region, the Directive has the potential to address transboundary air pollution and impact legislation, including beyond EU borders. Its implementation is expected to significantly reduce air pollution in the Region in the years to come, creating a healthier environment and contributing to climate change mitigation. EU countries are required to transpose the Directive into national law by December 2026 and comply with new standards by 2030
Air quality improvements across the Region are further expected following the upcoming (2026) revision of the Air Convention Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-Level Ozone (Gothenburg Protocol), which will set more ambitious emission reduction commitments for several air pollutants. The Joint Task Force on the Health Aspects of Air Pollution, led by the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health within the Air Convention, is contributing to this revision. The Air Convention is the only regional agreement to tackle air pollution that has health specifically integrated in the science-policy framework, with a dedicated task force
A new WHO global series of science and policy summaries, including contributions from WHO/Europe, distils key evidence on air pollution, energy and health and offers practical, sector-specific solutions to guide action. It also emphasizes climate linkages and regional perspectives and supports coordinated efforts to improve air quality and public health
The historical momentum, with pressures to respond to multiple crises and progress in science and technology, can help trigger additional action. WHO continues its efforts to protect health from air pollution by synthesizing scientific knowledge, translating it into policy advice, developing practical tools and supporting countries in implementing clean air policies