OULU CLAIMS EUROPE’S CLEANEST AIR TWICE IN A ROW

Fresh air and Finland seem to go hand in hand. Oulu has once again been named the European city with the cleanest air — for the second year running.

The latest European Environment Agency (EEA) ranking looked at 761 cities, and Finland had an impressive six cities in the top 10. Along with Oulu, the list includes Jyväskylä, Tampere, Kuopio, Espoo and Lahti.

So, what’s Oulu’s secret?

The city has worked to reduce pollution from transport and heating, while investing in public transport, cycling and district heating. Cleaner fuels are also becoming more common.

Oulu’s northern location gives it another advantage. Being far from Europe’s major cities and industrial areas means the city gets less pollution drifting in from elsewhere.

For a country known for its forests, lakes and fresh air, having six cities among Europe’s cleanest is certainly something to celebrate.