According to the latest "Urban Air Pollution Report" released by the Italian environmental organization Legambiente, air pollution in Italian cities has improved, but a fundamental transformation is far from complete.
By 2025, the number of Italian provincial capitals exceeding daily PM10 (particulate matter) standards will drop to 13, down from 25 in 2024, 18 in 2023, and 29 in 2022. This is one of the most positive figures in recent years, but the organization emphasizes that vigilance should not be relaxed.
Palermo, Milan, and Naples have the most days exceeding standards, indicating slow emission reduction efforts, with the Po River basin remaining a major problem area.
Legambiente reiterates its call for the government to strengthen air quality control policies, intervene at all major emission sources, and ensure sufficient resources, especially in the most polluted areas such as the Po River basin. Recent government funding cuts could jeopardize the progress already made and make the 2030 targets even more unattainable.
