La red de vigilancia del aire en Andalucía es la más extensa de España.

The Minister of Sustainability and Environment of the Andalusian Government, Catalina García, has stated that the Air Quality Monitoring and Control Network of Andalusia «is the most extensive in Spain», as the region has 94 fixed stations distributed throughout the area, which «ensure constant and real-time monitoring of air quality». This is achieved «with the support of two key institutions,» García continued, such as the Andalusian Air Quality Reference Laboratory (LARCA) and the Environmental Quality Data Center (CDCA).

During a parliamentary appearance to report on the actions of the Sustainability Department in air quality control, García explained that Andalusia faces a challenge in this area due to the region’s particular climatic conditions, such as high insolation, lack of rainfall, atmospheric stability, and proximity to the African continent. «These conditions worsen the situation compared to other European regions, and our health and well-being depend on the actions we take to ensure clean and healthy air,» García stated.

To this end, she recalled that the Andalusian Government approved the Andalusian Air Quality Strategy (EACA) in September 2020, with the aim of improving air quality and, consequently, the quality of life for the Andalusian population. Through this strategy, «specific improvement plans are developed in certain areas where action is needed to approach the values recommended by the World Health Organization, mainly through the Air Quality Index,» the minister pointed out.

Thanks to all these data, control, and monitoring centers, «Andalusia has consolidated a cutting-edge structure for environmental monitoring» that «efficiently addresses the challenges posed by air quality and its impact on public health and the environment,» García emphasized. In this regard, she highlighted the four-million-euro investment that the Government has implemented since 2019 to improve all these systems. Additionally, she noted that an even larger investment is planned, specifically 11 million euros until 2027, to continue making improvements in all these systems.

Likewise, she praised the LARCA, a reference laboratory since 2013, for «consolidating its position as one of the two national air quality reference centers.» «It plays a key role in ensuring data forecasting and coordinating interlaboratory intercomparison exercises, allowing Andalusia to lead in technology and methodology applied to air quality,» she explained. Similarly, she highlighted that this center recently organized a national-level intercomparison exercise «which has established Andalusia as a technical benchmark in the field.»

Regarding the Environmental Quality Data Center, she specified that it «monitors uninterrupted, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, all the information collected by the Monitoring Network» and that «this control system is a reference at the European level»

Reaction Capacity

Thanks to these infrastructures, the minister assured that Andalusia «has improved its reaction capacity to pollution episodes» and effective strategic plans have been designed to improve air quality. She also added that «the commitment to precise and continuous monitoring of air quality and the necessary systems to make data available to the population allow for accurate information to be provided to citizens and effective measures to be established for the protection of health and the environment.»

She also wanted to highlight the work of the technicians from AMAYA and the Sustainability and Environment Department, as they «have played a key role in launching specific measurement campaigns and improving action protocols in environmental quality matters.»

In this commitment to improving air quality in Andalusia, the minister also explained that «a series of plans and strategies have been established to protect public health and comply with European and national environmental regulations.» Therefore, in areas with values exceeding the established limits, Air Quality Improvement Plans have been developed.

With these plans, «in addition to reducing pollution levels, the main emission sources responsible for exceeding these limits are identified, specific actions are established, and the necessary interventions are implemented for each of the affected areas, as well as the relevant preventive measures,» the minister explained.

In this line, she announced that there are currently 11 air quality improvement plans being processed in the Bay of Cadiz, Malaga and Costa del Sol, Granada and Metropolitan Area, nuclei of 50,000 to 250,000 inhabitants, Seville and Metropolitan Area, Villanueva del Arzobispo and its surroundings, Industrial Zone of Bailén, Industrial Zone of the Bay of Algeciras, Industrial Zone of Carboneras, Industrial Zone of Huelva, and new rural areas. The one for Córdoba, on the other hand, although it has been developed by the department, must be approved by the municipality as it is a single-municipal area.

Finally, before concluding her appearance, Catalina García wanted to emphasize the importance of responsibly using resources and that «air quality is not a luxury, but a necessity.» Thus, she stressed that in Andalusia, «It is being shown that it is possible to progress with determination and commitment» and that the community is a leader in «environmental research, applied technology, and sustainable management.»