Estonia has long prided itself on its air quality. Now, a recent report puts this in stark perspective: Not only does Estonia have some of the world’s cleanest air – it’s one of only a handful of countries that can claim to have clean air at all.
The 2023 World Air Quality Report, published by Swiss air quality organisation AirIQ, summarised PM2.5 (fine inhalable particles with diameters of 2.5 micrometres and smaller) data from 7,812 cities in 134 countries, regions, and territories.
Based on data from more than 30,000 monitoring stations globally, the report shows that only seven countries – Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius and New Zealand – meet the World Health Organization’s guidelines of five micrograms of fine particulate matter per cubic metre of air. With 4.7 micrograms, Estonia ranks second in Europe behind Iceland and before Finland.
Puerto Rico, Bermuda and French Polynesia also fell within safe levels, while Sweden was the first country to fall short of the WHO limits.
Although overall pollution levels across Europe have fallen in recent decades, air pollution remains one of the greatest environmental threats to human health. Ambient and household air pollution are associated with 7 million premature deaths yearly, an estimated one in every nine deaths worldwide.
Estonia’s clean air is a national treasure, aided by low population density and a high percentage of forest cover. But the country isn’t resting on its laurels – Estonian companies are innovating relentlessly for a cleaner planet.
Take a look at exciting investment opportunities in Estonian CleanTech and GreenTech, and use our e-Consulting service to start making the greenest investments of your life.
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