Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 10^th April 2024

Good morning. Some fine weather ahead. Temperatures begin to rise this Wednesday “well above average for the time of year”, according to IPMA. From Thursday onwards, maximum temperatures ​​will vary between 25 and 28C, although possibly lower across the entire coastal strip and in the Algarve. In some places in the Douro Valley (innermost part) and Alto Alentejo, temperatures of 30 degrees are possible.

With the fine weather we ask people to take care when heading to beaches as there are no lifeguards in place at most beaches. A reminder to be on the lookout for rip currents and if caught in one do not try and swim against the current towards the shore, but instead swim parallel to the shore and when the current is no longer felt turn and head towards the shoreline.

Yesterday I made a visit to the GNR at their headquarters in Lisbon primarily to discuss the crime figures, which were published last week. It was confirmed that we will need to wait for the RASI Homeland Security Report, which contains more details. The GNR wanted emphasise was the cause of the crime increases. It appeared from our discussions that fraud was a main factor as well as opportunist crime, which we had already highlighted. Both of these crimes are preventable and the advice is for everyone to take more care of their belongings in public areas and ensure their property is secure when leaving home. As far as on-line fraud crime is concerned to take care that the sites visited are genuine.

Another factor highlighted was youth crime in particular those under 12 years of age, which is disturbing. Much of this it is believed from recent studies is attributable to stress resulting from the Covid pandemic period, with a consequential increase in violent behaviour. We will be examining this shortly, result from a study that has been undertaken in delinquency and violent behaviour.

Whilst in Lisbon I also visited the new British Ambassador Lisa Bandari and the new British Vice Consul Jocelyn McCall Ferreira. The meeting mainly focused on the work of the Safe Communities and its development since 2011. We also discussed climate change and the importance of awareness and preparedness for natural hazards in order to reduce the impact of disasters, the crime situation, the GNR Safe Residence Program and Safe Communities Emergency Medical card. Also discussed was the continuity of government programs affecting our work under the new government.

A reminder for those who have not yet undertaken our Preparedness for Natural Hazards Survey, to do so as soon as possible please. This will give more in depth information of the level of awareness of the foreign community on this subject and more important the level of awareness. The survey and explanatory note can be found here. https://forms.gle/aaZQCCkL9Xf53Dgo9

A reminder of our Safe Communities Portugal Protection against Natural Disasters Facebook group which now comprises some 3300 members. This group provides important information concerning the effects of climate change, extreme weather conditions and being prepared for disasters, such as rural fires, earthquakes as well as the drought situation. The aim is to develop knowledge on various topics including metrological conditions so people are forewarned well in advance, and can be more prepared thus reducing the impact of disasters. As we approach the main rural fire season preparedness is very important in order to reduce the risks to our properties, family and ourselves.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/safecommunitiesportugalprotectionnaturaldisasters

We wish you a safe week ahead.

News

European Union praises Portugal’s plan to prevent discrimination by security forces

In a European report on racism in the police, the agency recalled that the Portuguese plan includes measures that include “communication strategies to encourage greater diversity of recruits, both in terms of gender and racial or ethnic origin”

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights praised this Wednesday Portugal’s plan to prevent discrimination in security forces and services, promoting diversity in recruitment.

In a European report on racism in the police, the agency recalled that the Portuguese plan includes measures that include “communication strategies to encourage greater diversity of recruits, both in terms of gender and racial or ethnic origin”.

The “plan provides for the appointment of a person responsible for human rights” for the Judiciary Police, Public Security Police and National Republican Guard and “establishes and reinforces preventive intervention mechanisms in the event of discriminatory behaviour on the part of agents”.

“In 2022, the first annual monitoring report recommended that all police forces harmonize their internal rules on discrimination, adopt new measures to prevent discriminatory behaviour and promote training actions on the issue of discrimination”, highlights the agency.

In the report, the agency highlights that Portugal is one of the ten countries that have specific legislation on “the prohibition of racial or ethnic discrimination” and one of the four in which the “police law enshrines non-discrimination among the fundamental principles of their activities “.

The Plan to Prevent Manifestations of Discrimination in the Security Forces and Services has existed since 2020 and aims to combat racism and any type of discrimination in the police.

It was in this context that the General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI) began training last year with commanders of GNR posts and PSP police stations on combating any type of discrimination in the police.

Coordinated by IGAI, the plan binds the GNR and PSP to reinforce areas of intervention from recruitment to training, the interaction of members of the security forces with other citizens and among themselves (including on social media), promoting the image of the police and communication, preventive and monitoring mechanisms for manifestations of discrimination.

Government program is approved today by the Council of Ministers and delivered to parliament

Lisbon, April 10, 2024 (Lusa) – The program of the XXIV Constitutional Government will be delivered to the Assembly of the Republic today at the end of the morning, after being approved by the Council of Ministers.

The document will be delivered to the President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, at 11:45 and, half an hour later, the press conference of the Council of Ministers is scheduled, which will meet at 09:00 hrs, at the prime minister’s official residence, to approve the document.

This Council of Ministers had been announced on Saturday by the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, at an informal meeting that brought together the entire Government in Óbidos, and in which he told the media that work on the program was already “very advanced”.

“There is always articulation, coordination and writing work, but we will continue the work in the coming days. We will have a meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday at 9:00 am where we will approve the Government Program and send it to parliament “, he then said.

On that occasion, the Prime Minister also assured that “the campaign commitments must be fulfilled”.

On Tuesday afternoon, the president of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, had already informed that a symbolic moment of delivery of the Government’s program to parliament by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Pedro Duarte, was being agreed, which will take place at the end of the leaders conference.

Last week, at the end of the executive’s first Council of Ministers, the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, refused to answer whether or not the Government’s program will have many differences in relation to the electoral program.

In the AD electoral program (pre-electoral coalition between PSD, CDS-PP and PPM for the March 10 elections), among other commitments, it is expected to present an Emergency Plan for the National Health Service (SNS) in the first 60 days of the executive and the full recovery of teachers’ frozen service time in a phased manner over the next five years (at a rate of 20% per year)

Reduction of IRS rates up to the 8th income bracket (between 0.5 and three percentage points), a maximum IRS of 15% for young people up to 35 years of age and the reduction of the IRC rate from the current 21% to 15 % in three years (at the rate of two percentage points per year) are other promises expressed in the AD electoral program, along with the increase in the National Minimum Wage to 1,000 euros by the end of the legislature, the evolution of the average salary to 1,750 euros and the increase from the reference value of the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly (CSI) to 820 euros in 2028.

The Program of the XXIV Constitutional Government will be presented and discussed in the Assembly of the Republic between Thursday and Friday and, once the debate is concluded, the executive will take on full functions. The PCP announced a motion to reject the document, but the PS has already said it cannot be made viable.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 3^rd April 2024

Good morning. We start this with the publication of the crime figures for 2023. According to statistics from the Directorate-General for Justice Policy, crimes recorded by the Portuguese police increased by around 8% last year compared to 2022 and reached the highest levels ​​in 10 years, totalling 371,995 incidents.  Although this will inevitably viewed with some concern, figures alone do not tell the whole story, and a deeper analysis will only be possible with the publication of the Annual Internal Security Report (RASI), which should be available in the next few days.

We congratulate the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) on its 17th anniversary (on Monday 1^stApril) and all the improvements that have been made over the last 17 years. Major challenges lay ahead resulting from climate change, but Portugal is well prepared as it has a structure in place that works, together with the commitment of all the agents and entities involved that comprise civil protection.

It is with some sadness that we bid farewell to Patricia Gaspar Secretary of State for Civil Protection, who has worked extremely hard in the post for over four years, and has been instrumental, working together closely with the President of the ANEPC General Duarte Costa, in bringing about many of the improvements we have seen over this period. For those who have not met her, she is perhaps one of the most inspirational leaders I have met. With the election of a new Government this has resulted in changes at Ministerial level and also Secretary of States. Patricia Gaspar has given much support to Safe Communities both in her current role and also whilst she was working in the ANEPC headquarters since we met in in 2016. An excellent leader, and with her vast experience in civil protection, including that as an operational commander, we await news of her future. A hard act to follow.

Turning to the weather the 15th storm of the 2023-2024 season has been named OLIVIA, which will directly affect the Azores today Wednesday, April 3^rd. Storm OLIVIA is expected to cause a significant increase in wind intensity, with gusts that could reach 110 km/h in the Western Group (Corvo and Flores) and 100 km/h in the Central Group (Pico, Faial, S. Jorge, Graciosa and Terceira). It is expected in the Azores, especially in the Western Islands, that rough seas waves that can reach up to 7m in height and up to 12m in maximum height. Indirectly it will affect Mainland Portugal, some wind, strong sea agitation and change of weather (again) at the weekend. Please monitor the situation through any warning issued by the IPMA and ANEPC, and keep well away from shore lines.

It was reported yesterday that it will cost 14 million euros to replace the sand that “disappeared from Quarteira beach following the storms that affected the Algarve last week”. While most people think of the beach as a place to relax, it has always served a more purposeful role: a buffer against storms. It’s a role that will become even more important as climate change continues to disrupt nature’s delicate balance, inciting sea level rise and stronger, more frequent storms on the coasts. We hope in this case in addition to replacing the sand some innovative solutions can be found to avoid such loses in the future given the more likely occurrence due to extreme weather conditions.

We know that at this time of year many of you are looking to spruce up your garden, greenhouse or window sill, and we are delighted to announce that you will have the opportunity during the forthcoming Plant Fair, which will take place at the Museu do Traje in São Bràs de Alportel, on the 6th of April, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We are very grateful to Susan Finlay in inviting Safe Communities Portugal to the Fair. Our stand is in the indoor section and we will be available to answer any questions you may have on land cleaning (deadline 30^th April), and civil protection, crime prevention and Safe Residence Program matters. We look forward to seeing you at the fair.

Our team at Safe Communities Portugal wishes you a safe and happy week ahead.

News

Google will destroy data relating to millions of users obtained online

Google will destroy millions of users’ data it saved while they browsed online, under the terms of an agreement reached on Monday to end a legal conflict over the confidentiality of personal information.

The class action lawsuit filed in 2020 focuses on the ‘Incognito’ mode in Google’s Chrome browser, which gives users the impression that they are not being followed by the online search conglomerate – wrongly, according to the plaintiffs.

They accuse the worldwide number of those published online and having misled them due to the way Chrome guided people who used this private browsing option.

“The plaintiffs’ efforts allowed them to obtain key confessions from Google employees, including documents where ‘Incognito’ was described as “a lie in practice”, a “problem of professional ethics and elementary honesty” and “a bazaar ripe for confusion”, the lawyers reported in the agreement filed Monday before a San Francisco court.

Google has committed to “immediately” reformulating the information available about ‘Incognito’ mode, to “inform users that it collects private browsing data”.

And the company must block third-party cookies by default in ‘Incognito’ mode — those computer programs used in particular to track users online and target them in advertising. Google has already started the transition to end these highly criticized programs.

Gaia Heliport will have connection to emergency and intensive medicine in 20 seconds

The Gaia Espinho Local Health Unit heliport, which can operate at night, is being built on top of a five-story building, where the emergency department is located, as well as the intensive care and neurocritical care units.

The Gaia hospital helipad is being installed on top of a building with elevators that will allow the patient to be taken to the emergency room or intensive medicine in around 20 seconds, it was announced this Tuesday.

The project, budgeted at almost 1.5 million euros, received a favourable opinion from the National Civil Aviation Authority in July last year, a source from the Gaia Espinho Local Health Unit (ULSGE) revealed to Lusa.

“The helipad will be installed at the top of the building where the critical patient treatment area is located, which allows quick vertical access, via elevators: after landing, it will take no more than 20 seconds to reach the Emergency Room or Service of Intensive Medicine” , described the source about the work, which started at the end of March.

Currently, a patient who has to be helitransported to the Santos Silva Hospital, in Vila Nova de Gaia, arrives at the Serra do Pilar Barracks track, next to the Luís I bridge, and then has to face traffic constraints to reach the hospital unit in ambulance

The ULSGE heliport, which can operate at night, is being built on top of a five-story building, where the emergency department is located, as well as the intensive care and neurocritical care units.

The works are taking place on the roof “without causing constraints on the services” installed in the building that houses, for example, the maternity ward, guaranteed ULSGE.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 27^th March 2024

Good morning. We have experienced a very changeable week since our last weekly report starting with a massive dust storm originating from the Saharan Desert which moved into Europe. The storm reached the Spanish Canary Islands and the Iberian Peninsula, bringing hazy, orange skies. In Portugal, the Directorate-General of Health issued an air quality warning and recommended limiting time outdoors. In some of the affected areas, rain combined with dust caused orange-coloured “mud rain”. This was combined with temperatures well above average reaching 30C in the far north of the mainland, warmer than the Algarve.

All this changed overnight Monday/Tuesday with the arrival of a polar air mass resulting in a drop in temperatures in excess of 15C and on Tuesday the issue of various IPMA Weather warnings including for snow affecting 11 districts. Currently there are orange level warnings in place for 10 districts for rough seas. The ANEPC has issued warnings and has given advice regarding how to keep safe, which we shared. We emphasise the importance of following this advice, particularly avoiding getting to close to shorelines, where there are strong winds carrying beach debris that can be swept in high waves onto coastal roads/promenades etc.

With the abundance of snow and ice on roads in the centre and north please take particular care on the roads. The ANEPC has issued safety advice on this subject, which we have shared – please follow this in order to reduce accidents.

We would like to that Civil Protection Albufeira for organising the really excellent “Albufeira Civil Protection Knowledge Fair” held on 21^st to 23^rd March. This was well planned and the quality of the exhibits were first class. With a wide range of presentations including our own from Safe Communities, this was an excellent “learning opportunities” for local communities attending the Fair. There were many school groups of various ages, who visited the stands and good opportunity therefore for Safe Communities Portugal to explain our work to the younger generation.

Our next event will be on 6^th April 2024 where we will be attending the Plant Fair being held at the Sao Bras Museu, in Sao Bras, from 1000 hrs to 1800 hrs. We are pleased to be invited to this as it comes at a time when those in rural areas need to clean land, the deadline being 30^th April. We look forward therefore to meeting people and answering the various questions. I cannot emphasise the importance of land cleaning, especially in priority areas, where the fire risk is particularly high. Land cleaning is proven as one of the most important ways to reduce the risk of fires reaching your home.

A man and a woman of French nationality, aged 58 and 56 respectively, have been missing since this Sunday in Calhau, in São Vicente, Madeira. In addition there have been two tourists injured whilst walking, as well as two German tourists who lost their way yesterday in the mountains of São Vicente, North Coast. In this case the alert was given to the Volunteer Firefighters of São Vicente and Porto Moniz. The rescue was therefore carried out under wind and rain, but it was a third factor – the fog – that precipitated the disorientation of these two tourists, who were lost for approximately three hours. The German women were always in contact with the authorities, who located them using the GPS coordinates of their mobile devices. It is very important when trail walking to check the weather conditions and inform friends/relatives where you are going. This applies equally to the Azores where there haven similar incidents.

A reminder of our survey. As a resident of Portugal, we are exposed to the risk not only of wildfires, but also earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural hazards. These can have disastrous effects, causing massive losses and damage. While practitioners, such as national authorities at all levels, and non-governmental organizations and associations, are working together to minimize the impacts of these risks, these efforts to build a more resilient society are limited if the local population is not aware of and involved in disaster risk management.

To help with this a survey has been developed by Kirsten Cook, who has a background in wildfire preparedness, in which Safe Communities Portugal would like to learn about your concerns, level of preparedness, and ideas to become more aware and prepared for natural hazards. Please take a few minutes to fill in this survey and help us evaluate the readiness of residents of Portugal to cope with natural hazards and reducing the impacts of such disasters. The results will be shared with Civil Protection and made public. If you have not completed please kindly do so here: Please ONLY complete if you own or rent a property in Portugal

https://forms.gle/aaZQCCkL9Xf53Dgo9

Our team at Safe Communities wishes you a safe and enjoyable week ahead.

News

The year 2023 was the second hottest ever in Portugal according to the IPMA report

The year 2023 was the second hottest on record in Portugal, with seven heat waves occurring, according to the annual climate bulletin from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

According to the document released today, only the year 2022 was hotter than 2023, with last year the average annual air temperature reaching 16.59 °C (degrees Celsius), 1.04 °C higher than the normal value in 1981 -2010.

The average maximum air temperature was the second highest since 1931 and the minimum temperature was the ninth highest.

Heat waves occurred in spring (three), summer (also three) and autumn (one).

As for precipitation, the year 2023 had the ninth lowest value since 2000. The total annual precipitation, 735.8 millimetres, was lower than the normal value (1981-2010) with an anomaly of minus 105.7 millimetres.

In 2023, 30 new precipitation extremes were recorded, 13 monthly extremes in October and 17 daily extremes (January and October).

The year was also one of extremes in terms of high temperatures, with nine absolute daily extremes in August of maximum temperature, but also in the same month of August an absolute extreme of minimum temperature.

The year 2023 in mainland Portugal was classified, according to the IPMA document, as extremely hot in relation to air temperature and dry in relation to precipitation.

The winter on the continent was very warm in terms of air temperature and rainy in terms of precipitation. The spring was extremely hot and dry, being the second hottest spring since 1931 (only 1997 was hotter).

The summer was very hot in terms of air temperature and normal in terms of precipitation. It was the sixth hottest summer in the last 93 years. And the autumn was very warm and rainy, being the fourth warmest in the last 93 years and the new wettest.

Regarding drought, 30 to 40% of the territory was in severe and extreme drought between the months of April and August, covering the southern region.

More than 250 arrests between Friday and Monday in the PSP Easter operation

Lisbon, 26 March 2024 (Lusa) – The Public Security Police (PSP) made 264 arrests, 125 of which were for road crimes and 70 for driving under the influence of alcohol between Friday and Monday as part of “Operation Easter in safety”.

In a statement, the PSP said that of the 264 arrests, 55 were due to lack of driving license.

Since Friday, the day the operation began, and until Monday, 28 suspects were arrested for drug trafficking, with more than 3,607 individual doses seized. 16 arrests were also made for crimes against property (fraud, theft and robbery).

During that period, eight firearms and six bladed weapons were also seized, either as a precautionary measure or following the five arrests made for possession of prohibited weapons.

As part of the operation, the PSP inspected 10,731 drivers throughout the territory and controlled 23,431 by radar. Of these, 298 were speeding.

In total, 1,927 administrative offenses were recorded, of which 48 were for driving under the influence of alcohol, 205 for lack of mandatory periodic inspection, 70 for lack of civil liability insurance, 54 for using a cell phone while driving and 27 for not wearing a safety belt.

Regarding road accidents, between Friday and Monday, in the PSP’s area of ​​responsibility, 509 accidents were recorded, resulting in 148 minor injuries and seven serious injuries, with no fatalities recorded.

In the note, the PSP again appeals to citizens to drive safely, adapting their driving to the weather conditions and the characteristics of the road. Also remember that driving at excessive speed is one of the main causes of road accidents

 

Portugal safety and security report Wednesday 20^th March 2024

Good morning. Yesterday the World Meteorlogical Organisation (WMO) released its Report and it makes sombre reading.

The WMO warns that heat waves, floods, droughts, forest fires and the rapid intensification of tropical cyclones are sowing “misery and chaos”, disrupting the daily lives of millions of people and causing economic losses worth several billion dollars, warns the World Meteorological Organization. Record ocean temperatures, rising sea levels and retreating glaciers in 2023 culminated a decade that was the hottest ever, taking the planet “to the brink of the abyss”, the UN warned this Tuesday.

A new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a United Nations agency, shows that records have been broken, and in some cases “pulverized,” in terms of greenhouse gas levels, surface temperatures, heat content and ocean acidification, sea level rise, extension of the Antarctic ice sheet and retreat of glaciers.

The planet is “on the verge of collapse” and “pollution caused by fossil fuels is causing unprecedented climate chaos”, warned UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “There is still time to throw a lifeline to people and the planet” said António Guterres, stating that it is necessary to act now.

The long-term increase in global temperature is due to the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which reached record levels in 2022. And she also left a warning: “The global meteorological community is warning the entire world and sounding the alarm: we are on red alert.” The full press release can be read here: https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/climate-change-indicators-reached-record-levels-2023-wmo

We are also in Portugal at present experiencing dust from the Sahara which will be us for at least well into the weekend. Although this is a moderately high concentration it is not close extreme levels we experienced in 2022 when the sky was almost orange in some places. We will continue to monitor.

Despite this Portugal is among the 20 countries in the world with the best air quality, according to a list released yesterday that analyses the air of 134 countries. The analysis, for 2023, is part of the 6th Annual Report on Air Quality in the World, carried out by IQAir, a Swiss technology organization whose mission is to empower people, organizations and governments to improve air quality. For the results now released, in some cases worrying, IQAir used data from 30,000 air quality monitoring stations in 7,812 locations in 134 countries, territories and regions. In last place, in position 134, comes Bangladesh, followed by Pakistan, India, Tajikistan and Burkina Faso. You can read the full press release following this introduction.

For those of you in the Algarve I hope you are able to attend the Albufeira Civil Protection Knowledge Fair which is being held on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of March 2024.  There will be a diverse range of activities and will take place at the EMA – Espaço Multiusos de Albufeira, (next Lidl supermarket) from 10am to 7pm.

Safe Communities Portugal will be making a presentation of our work at the fair on Friday 22^nd March at 2pm. This will be in English and I hope that you are able to attend. I can assure you that it will be an informative session with plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

In addition to the presentations those visiting have access to the Exhibition of Equipment and Resources for Civil Protection Agents and Cooperating Entities, the Virtual Risk Room, the Algarve Seismic and Tsunami Risk Study Simulator, the Crash Simulator for Children and Young people, Tornado and Volcano Simulator and visiting the GNR Cavalry. Highlighted is the possibility of participating in various screenings and awareness-raising actions, namely on smoking cessation, blood pressure, blood glucose and oximetry, oral health, diabetes, prevention, bathing safety, rescue and relief, awareness-raising action on the Asian mosquito, prevention accidents, first aid, reading labels, among others.

So you can see there are good reasons to attend.

Our team look forward to meeting you at the event.

News.

2023 World Air Quality Report

Steinach, Switzerland, March 19, 2024 (Lusa) – Portugal is among the 20 countries in the world with the best air quality, according to a list released today that analyses the air of 134 countries.

The analysis, for 2023, is part of the 6th Annual Report on Air Quality in the World, carried out by IQAir, a Swiss technology organization whose mission is to empower people, organizations and governments to improve air quality.

For the results now released, in some cases worrying, IQAir used data from 30,000 air quality monitoring stations in 7,812 locations in 134 countries, territories and regions.

In last place, in position 134, comes Bangladesh, followed by Pakistan, India, Tajikistan and Burkina Faso.

To prepare the list, the organization’s main indicator is the so-called fine particles (PM2.5), measured in micrograms per cubic meter. They are linked in particular to combustion engines and have significant impacts on human health.

According to the report, Bangladesh had 79.9 micrograms per cubic meter of annual average, more than 15 times higher than that approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), which recommends a maximum of five micrograms.

In the European Union, the maximum permitted levels are 25 micrograms.

On the map of countries, on a colour scale where the best positions are in green, there are more than 90 with a less good classification.

Russia (10 micrograms, in position 94) is the first nation in green, followed by others such as Spain (9.9 micrograms), France in position 99 (9.5 micrograms), and the United Kingdom (7 .7 micrograms). Portugal, in position 118, accounts for 6.8 micrograms.

The best classification goes to French Polynesia, in place 134, with 3.2 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter.

This means that only 16 countries/regions have better air than Portugal, in the list now released.

By capital cities, New Delhi, in India, is the most polluted, followed by Dhaka, in Bangladesh, and Ouagadougou, in Burkina Faso. Rome, Berlin and Paris are on the yellow list and Lisbon appears on the green list, ahead of other green capitals such as London, Madrid, Copenhagen or Luxembourg.

San Juan (Puerto Rico) appears as the least polluted, followed by Wellington, Canberra and Reykjavik.

If only the European continent is taken into account (represented by 2,006 cities in 43 countries), Bosnia-Herzegovina appears as the most polluted country, while the least polluted is Iceland (average concentration of 04 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air). In Europe Portugal is in 37th place out of 43 (1 being the best and 43 being the worst), just behind Iceland, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Ireland.

In terms of European cities, last year only 7% (135) reached the WHO values, including all cities in Iceland. Cities in Portugal are classified as green, but not at the value recommended by the WHO.

Among the main conclusions of the global report, it is highlighted that only seven countries complied with the WHO’s annual directive (Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius and New Zealand), that a third of the population in Africa does not have access to data on air quality, that PM2.5 concentrations have increased in almost all Southeast Asian countries, and that the 10 most polluted cities in the world are in Asia.

Begusarai, India, was the most polluted metropolitan area of ​​2023, with India being the country of the four most polluted cities in the world.

The European Union should soon have a new law on the matter, and a new directive on ambient air quality should be voted on in April by the European Parliament.

Air pollution is responsible for around 300,000 premature deaths per year in Europe, making it the main environmental threat to health, warns the European environmental organization EEB.

It contributes, he says, to health problems that include heart attacks, strokes, respiratory diseases, diabetes, dementia, cancer and delays in children’s cognitive development.