Hungary and Poland among countries with most polluted air

The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago reported in a new study that Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary belong to those European countries where the air is the most polluted. Other countries include Belarus, Lithuania and Latvia.

• Several Hungarian cities hit by poor air quality

Kafkadesk reported that Poland stands out as the most polluted country in Europe. The study writes that “the cities of Warsaw and Lodz, and their surrounding areas, see high levels of particulate pullulation,” furthermore “residents in Warsaw may loose 1.2 years life expectancy.” Poland is followed by Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. As Poland’s reliance on coal power is accounting for more than 70 per cent of energy supply, this seems to be the reason behind the country’s bad air quality. 

Additionally, the report finds that the most polluted areas are Moravskoslezský in the Czech Republic, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County in Hungary, Košický in Slovakia, and Warsaw in Poland.

There is some good news, though. Compared to the situation two decades ago, Europeans as a whole have gained nine months in life expectancy. Just in the Silesian province of southern Poland, inhabitants gained two years. During the first few months of the coronavirus epidemic, the V4 countries, especially Poland and Slovakia, have seen a considerable improvement in air quality as many people stayed at home and did not drive a car for weeks, even months.

• Budapest has the worst air quality in Europe after the epidemic

As part of the European Green Deal, Poland will also be among the primary recipients of funds that aims the transition from coal to cleaner energy sources.

Read the full study HERE

Read alsoSeveral Hungarian cities hit by poor air quality

Source: www.kafkadesk.org