Lithuania's air quality is stable, with long-term monitoring indicating overall positive trends despite some elevated pollutant levels in specific areas.
According to recent data from the State Environmental Air Monitoring, air quality in Lithuania has remained stable, with many locations adhering to established environmental quality norms up to 2030 set by the European Parliament and Council. However, certain monitoring stations recorded pollutant concentrations that exceeded acceptable limits. Notably, the annual concentration of particulate matter (PM10) in 2025 ranged from 12 to 21 micrograms per cubic meter in OKT stations, remaining under the threshold of 40 micrograms, suggesting improvements compared to the previous year.
The report indicates that exceedances of daily limits mostly occurred during the colder months, attributed to factors such as transportation, poorly maintained roads, thermal energy production, and the transboundary movement of pollutants. Highlights from the renewed Ambient Air Directive indicate that annual PM10 limits were exceeded in specific stations like Vilnius' Ε½irmΕ«nai and Kaunas' Dainava, raising concerns about localized air quality despite the general stability across the nation.
While the overall air quality trend is positive, challenges remain in certain urban areas where localized pollution spikes occur. This duality presents a complex scenario for policymakers aiming to balance economic activities with the need for improved air quality, prompting calls for enhanced regulations and local community engagement to address specific pollution sources effectively.
