The European Environment Agency (EEA) says that Uppsala and Umeå in Sweden, and Faro in Portugal, have some of the cleanest air in Europe. Three out of four people living in cities are exposed to dangerous pollution levels. The EEA’s rankings, based on tiny particles called PM2.5, show that only 13 cities in Europe meet the WHO’s strict air quality guidelines. This includes northern cities like Reykjavik, Tallinn, Stockholm, and Helsinki.

The European Green Deal plans to cut deaths caused by PM2.5 pollution by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 2005. The ultimate goal is to eliminate most health problems caused by air pollution by 2050. To help with this, the European Union is updating its air quality rules to better match WHO recommendations. The EEA tracks air quality, focusing on PM2.5, since it is the most harmful to health.