On 1 and 2 December, ECMWF and the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) are hosting the EU Clean Air Forum in Bonn, Germany.
The Forum brings together scientists, policymakers and industry representatives to assess progress on air-quality objectives to reduce exposure to air pollution and explore how new scientific advances can strengthen implementation of European air-quality legislation.
Air quality across the EU has improved significantly over the last few decades. However, air pollution continues to have significant implications for human health and ecosystems both in Europe and globally, contributing to numerous non-communicable diseases, premature deaths and biodiversity loss.
Florence Rabier, ECMWF Director-General and a keynote speaker at the forum, said: "At ECMWF, we are proud to support the European Union through scientific excellence and world-leading atmospheric monitoring capabilities. Our high-quality data and robust modelling do not just explain what is happening in our atmosphere; they empower governments, communities, and businesses to take effective, timely action. The EU Clean Air Forum is a reminder that science and policy must move forward together. ECMWF, with the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, stands ready to work with its own Member States as well as the European Commission to continue to make informed decisions for a cleaner, safer future.”
ECMWF Director-General Florence Rabier delivering a keynote talk at the Clean Air Forum. © Andreas Jahn
About CAMS
Implemented by ECMWF on behalf of the European Union, CAMS provides policymakers, businesses, scientists and the public with reliable information about the composition of the atmosphere and how it is changing. It monitors and forecasts constituents such as greenhouse gases, reactive gases, ozone and aerosols.
Its data and forecasts are widely used to understand pollution episodes, support public-health services, track long-range transport of harmful pollutants, and help countries evaluate whether existing regulations are delivering improvements.
Every day, CAMS produces real-time analyses and forecasts of atmospheric composition for the globe as well as a more detailed regional view of European air quality.
ECMWF’s modelling and advanced data assimilation, delivered through CAMS plays a central part in shaping European air-quality policy. Together with partners from national agencies, environment institutes, space agencies, and research laboratories, ECMWF provides decision-makers with the robust information needed to evaluate progress and strengthen future action.
CAMS Director at ECMWF, Laurence Rouil, added: “There have been strides towards cleaner air, such as through nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide or particulate matter, where, for example, between 2014 and 2024, levels have fallen substantially. We need to continue to reinforce the need for continuous atmospheric monitoring which gives us clues about the actual impact of the legislation and support knowledge to anticipate future issues in a climate changing world. Stronger regulations, cleaner technologies, and sustained cooperation across countries and sectors are essential for dealing with the health and environmental goals the society strives to reach.”
ECMWF and CAMS booth at the EU Clean Air Forum.
An important milestone for air quality
This year’s Clean Air Forum is a pivotal moment for EU air quality, as countries review progress towards long-term emission-reduction commitments and assess progress made under the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive, adopted last year to introduce strengthened air-quality standards.
Sessions at the forum will cover the following topics:
- Earth observation and clean air
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning for air quality analysis
- Clean air innovation and investments for a competitive Europe
- Do our policies work? Evaluation of the NEC Directive
- Regional action on clean air
- Climate and clean air: tackling super pollutants and extreme events
- Improving how we talk about clean air and health
ECMWF experts will present on the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning and share the latest advances in atmospheric science.
Watch the Clean Air Forum livestream
To find out more about CAMS and its forecasts and tools visit the CAMS website.
To learn more about CAMS and the Clean Air Forum, read the news article 2014–2024: A decade of air quality improvements in Europe.