From 2010 to 2021, the capital violated the pollution thresholds set by the European Union, which led European justice to condemn Spain for the pollution of Madrid and Barcelona. But this gray past is behind us. Today, the … the city experienced two years with the lowest NO2 levels in its history; This is the fourth consecutive period in which the limits indicated by the EU are respected, and the year closed with 14 of the 24 stations of the air quality network with the lowest NO2 levels in the historical series, all below or close to the limit set by the new European directive.
Over the past decade, the worst year for air quality was 2017, when this restriction was exceeded in 15 of the city’s 24 stations. In 2018, the last reference year included in the condemnation of Spain by the European Court of Justice for the repeated non-compliance of Madrid, Barcelona and Bajos del Llobregat since 2010, it was exceeded by seven.
In 2025, none of the network’s 24 measurement points exceeded 32 micrograms per cubic meter, while in 2019, 19 of them exceeded this value. In the overall calculation of the 24 atmospheric control points, nitrogen dioxide decreased by 1.6 percent compared to 2024.
This data comes after the EU approved a new air quality directive in 2024 that tightened pollution limits for different polluting gases (PM2.5, PM10 and NO2). In this way, it aligns with the recommendations of the World Health Organization, even if it does not fully correspond to them. The goal is now to reduce these substances to a maximum of 20 micrograms per cubic meter by 2030.
The delegate highlights citizen efforts, electrification of the fleet and heating as keys to the result
The delegate for Urban Planning, Environment and Mobility, Borja Carabante, thanked all those who move around the city in a sustainable way and those who are committed to improving energy efficiency: “Thanks to your commitment, Madrid has different, purer air.” But he also highlighted the importance of all the measures that the municipality has implemented since February 2020 through the Madrid 360 environmental sustainability strategy to reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels.
These policies involve the complete elimination of combustion engines in the fleet of the capital’s Municipal Transport Company (EMT) and its gradual electrification; the expansion of Bicimad to all districts; Cambia 360 Aid, to which the municipality has allocated more than 117 million euros since 2020 to promote the renewal of private vehicles, buses, utility vehicles and taxis; installation of efficient thermal and heating systems; the installation of electric charging stations and the acquisition of micromobility vehicles.
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