Air Pollution Goes Down as Europe Takes Hard Measures to Combat Coronavirus

The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) data confirm large decreases in air pollutant concentrations — of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in particular — largely due to reduced traffic and other activities, especially in major cities under lockdown measures. Reductions of around half have been seen in some locations. The EEA’s data are measured hourly, on the ground, at about 3,000 monitoring stations across European countries.

The EEA has received many questions about the impacts of the stark measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on air quality in Europe.

“The EEA’s data show an accurate picture of the drop in air pollution, especially due to reduced traffic in cities. However, addressing long-term air quality problems requires ambitious policies and forward-looking investments. As such, the current crisis and its multiple impacts on our society work against what we are trying to achieve, which is a just and well-managed transition towards a resilient and sustainable society”, stated Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director.

The EEA’s data for recent weeks show how concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), a pollutant mainly emitted by road transport, have decreased in many Italian cities. For example:

• In Milan, average concentrations of NO₂ for the past four weeks have been at least 24 % lower than four weeks earlier this year. The average concentration during the week of 16-22 March was 21 % lower than for the same week in 2019;
• In Bergamo, there has been a constant decline in NO₂ pollution over the past four weeks. The average concentration during the week of 16-22 March was 47 % lower than for the same week in 2019;
• In Rome, average NO₂ concentrations for the past four weeks were 26-35 % lower than for the same weeks in 2019.

Similar trends can be seen in other European cities where lockdown measures have been implemented during the week of 16-22 March.

• In Barcelona, average NO₂ levels went down by 40 % from one week to the next. Compared with the same week in 2019, the reduction was 55 %;
• In Madrid, average NO₂ levels went down by 56 % from one week to the next. Compared with the same week in 2019, the reduction was 41 %;
• In Lisbon, average NO₂ levels went down by 40 % from one week to the next. Compared with the same week in 2019, the reduction was 51 %.