Urban challenges and air quality in selected European cities

More than half of the world's population currently resides in urban areas. Therefore, cities must be part of the solution if the increasingly urbanized world is to successfully address environmental challenges such as climate change. Air pollution poses a significant health risk to Europeans. Due to urbanization, population growth, traffic congestion, industrial activities, energy generation, and inadequate urban planning connected to environmental solutions modern cities confront a range of complex challenges concerning air quality. Achieving the zero-pollution vision for 2050 demands further endeavors to diminish air pollution to levels deemed safe for health. This article examines the multifaceted obstacles that modern cities encounter, with a particular emphasis on the critical issue of air quality. The study aims to analyze low-emission solutions aimed at improving the state of air quality in selected European cities. The study assessed changes in the concentrations of NO2, O3, PM 10, PM2.5 and benzo(a)pyrene in chosen European cities between 2013–2022 offering a comparative analysis of air quality challenges and solutions across selected cities. The value of the analysis lies in its ability to draw conclusions from current European urban trends related to air quality improvement and to develop a comprehensive set of recommendations tailored for policymakers.