Else Beekman
More than 30 million people in Spain were exposed to dangerously polluted air last year, well above the limits set out in new European legislation aimed at cleaning up the continent’s skies by 2030.
Figures from the European Environment Agency (EEA) reveal that 64% of the population, around 31.2 million people, breathed air that breached the thresholds defined in the EU’s revised air quality directive. Though the rules are not yet fully enforced in Spain, they are already sounding alarm bells across the country.
The culprits are familiar: nitrogen dioxide, ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter, pollutants known to cause or worsen serious health problems, from heart disease to respiratory illnesses.
20,000 lives cut short
The health consequences are sobering. In 2024, air pollution contributed to 300,000 premature deaths across Europe. Of those, around 20,000 were in Spain.
According to Carolyn Daher of the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, air pollution has become the second leading cause of lung cancer and other respiratory conditions, after smoking. “It’s not just a matter of hazy city skylines. It’s a matter of public health – and it’s costing Europe more than €100 billion a year,” she said.
Farmland and forests also suffering
The damage extends beyond human health. According to ecologists, more than 83,000 square kilometres of Spanish territory, roughly one-sixth of the country, recorded ozone levels above safe limits in 2024.
The result? Weakened forests, underperforming crops, and declining biodiversity. “We’re seeing clear signs of stress in natural systems, and that’s before we even factor in climate change,” said one environmental campaigner.
Stricter rules, slow progress
The EU’s revised air quality directive, adopted in 2024, sets far tougher limits on harmful pollutants including PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and ozone. Some values have been halved compared to previous standards. While still not in line with World Health Organization guidelines, the move is widely seen as a step in the right direction.
The legislation also calls for:
- Regular five-year reviews to incorporate the latest science
- Action plans in any area where pollution exceeds legal limits
- Expanded air monitoring networks in cities and rural hotspots
- Closer cooperation across borders to manage shared airspace
David Cáceres, head of air quality at Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition, said the directive would provide “sharper tools” for both assessment and enforcement.
Time running out
Spain must now move fast. The country has until 11 December 2026 to transpose the directive into national law. A roadmap must follow by 31 December 2028, with full compliance required by 1 January 2030.
“There’s no time to lose,” warned Margherita Tolotto of the European Environmental Bureau. “These deadlines aren’t suggestions, they’re legally binding. And the health of millions depends on meeting them.”
With pollution still impacting daily life for much of the population, campaigners say Spain can’t afford to delay. The call for cleaner air is no longer just environmental, it’s personal.
Air pollution in Spain leads to 62,000 hospital admissions annually