The World Health Organization (WHO) sets a guideline value of five micrograms of particulate matter per cubic meter of air for non-hazardous particulate matter pollution. In Europe, just two countries meet these standards, Iceland and Estonia. Bosnia brings up the rear, with the rest of Europe in the middle of the field. Germany, together with most southern, western and northern European countries, is still in second place on the five-level scale, while Italy, together with eastern Europe and the Balkans, falls into the third category. The city with the highest particulate matter pollution in Germany in 2024 was Augsburg, while the cleanest air was in Hamburg (source: iqair.com). The question is, of course, what do Iceland and Estonia have over the rest of Europe and why does Italy, for example, perform so poorly?
Iceland relies on renewable energy
Iceland has two advantages when it comes to renewable energy. Its geographical location is theoretically ideal for wind energy and its volcanic subsoil is a paradise for geothermal energy enthusiasts. Iceland was an early adopter of renewable energy and is now reaping the rewards in the form of energy surpluses, roads that are heated in winter to keep them free of ice and the cleanest air in Europe. However, the focus has so far been on geothermal energy. In 2024, however, a contract was signed with a German manufacturer for the creation of a gigantic offshore wind farm to make optimum use of this energy source as well.
Estonia’s clean air is based on three factors
Of course, the use of renewable energy is a decisive factor for clean air, no questions asked. Research and continuous improvement are an essential part of Estonian energy policy. In Estonia, however, two other things also play a role in air purity. The country is very sparsely populated. The population density is just 31 people per square kilometer (1.32 million inhabitants as of 2022). The third factor is Estonia’s densely wooded landscape. Forests are known to be the world’s air filters. Where there is little heating due to fewer inhabitants, it is much easier for a forest to keep the air clean.
Italy as Western Europe’s climatic problem child
Just as there are several reasons for the extremely clean air in Estonia and Iceland, there are several reasons for Italy’s poor performance compared to other Western European nations. Let’s start in the north with the Brenner freeway. The A22 was used by 15 million vehicles in 2022, an absolute record according to Südtirolnews. The journey from Brenner to Verona leads through a picturesque valley, lined with mountains to the left and right – and therein lies the problem: air exchange is limited and air pollution in Trentino – Alto Adige is fatal.
Italy mainly uses natural gas and coal for heating. Although the country had pledged to shut down all coal-fired power plants by 2025, it reactivated three power plants that had already been shut down during the war in Ukraine.
However, the Italian population is aware of its inglorious role. The picturesque houses in the old towns are impressive in appearance. However, the interior is anything but beautiful in terms of energy efficiency. The Conte government therefore launched the “110% super bonus” in the wake of coronavirus. The construction industry, which had hit rock bottom due to the coronavirus, was to be “reanimated” by boosting energy efficiency measures and at the same time optimizing the poor building fabric of many Italian houses. The state supported this with a bonus for owners amounting to 110 percent of the costs, 100 percent cost coverage and ten percent for any ancillary costs. However, due to the huge demand, which exceeded all forecasts – 480,000 buildings and castles were renovated – the state scaled back the program (source: Südtirolnews).
Nevertheless, the program was successful, the construction industry recovered and air pollution was reduced through energy-saving structural changes.
Europe should reach the limit values
If we look at our map again, it should be an incentive for Western Europe to become one of the “blue states” on a large scale. After all, all countries are close to the clean air threshold. The trend towards clean energies – wind, sun and water, to name but three – is not only continuing, but is becoming ever stronger.
