Air pollution has already reached alarming levels, with road traffic accounting for 60% of harmful emissions. Urban nature remains insufficient compared to European Union recommendations, grey infrastructure and waste are overcrowding the city, and climate change poses significant risks to Bucharest residents, according to the second edition of the “State of the environment in Bucharest” report, published by the Bucharest Community Foundation through the Environmental Platform for Bucharest.

The report highlights the urgent need for a clear strategy to improve air quality and calls for structural action from authorities, organizations, and citizens through long-term, sustainable measures.

Heavy traffic, waste burning, and the operations of large industrial heating plants are making Bucharest’s air increasingly difficult to breathe.

The city is suffocated daily by a high number of vehicles, more than half of which are over 10 years old, and over a third run on diesel engines, with road traffic accounting for 60% of air pollution, according to the “State of the environment in Bucharest” report.

Thermal power plants are also significant polluters, being the main source of over three-quarters of sulphur dioxide emissions and a large share of toxic gases such as nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. On top of this, smoke from waste burning in surrounding localities adds hazardous substances to the air.

In many neighbourhoods across Bucharest, legal limits for several air pollutants are frequently exceeded. Ground-level ozone, which forms during hot summer days is also an increasingly pressing issue. It contributes to the formation of photochemical smog, a dangerous type of pollution that poses serious health risks, especially for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory conditions.

These risks come as Bucharest faces the accelerating effects of climate change, leading to increasingly hotter summers. 2024 was the hottest year on record for the city, with an average temperature of 27.43°C, nearly 6°C above the historical average.

Nearly 80% of Bucharest’s surface is covered by asphalt or buildings, meaning less natural cooling and more urban discomfort. At the same time, the city faces a significant shortage of urban vegetation. The State of the environment report reveals that Bucharest has lost over 500 hectares of green space since 1990.

Today, only 60% of apartments and 55% of houses are located within one kilometre of a park. Moreover, the city has an average of just 0.88 trees per resident, more than three times below the European Union’s recommendation for 3 trees per inhabitant. In 2024, the number of dead trees proposed for removal was nearly equal to the number planted, highlighting a worrying lack of balance.

Although rarely mentioned, urban biodiversity is a vital part of the city’s ecosystem. Last year, over 60 emergency calls were made to report sightings of wild animals such as snakes, foxes, or deer, a clear sign that nature is present even in the most unexpected places in Bucharest, yet there is still no clear plan in place to protect urban wildlife.

New construction developments crowd the city, while sustainable transport remains overlooked

Between 2010 and 2023, over 268,000 housing units were built in the Capital, many on former green or industrial land, often without adequate investment in supporting infrastructure. At the same time, sustainable mobility remains neglected.

Only 1% of residents use bicycles, and the dedicated infrastructure is insufficient. Bucharest has yet to begin a real transition from motorized transport to more sustainable options that could improve environmental quality.

Just 1.25% of registered vehicles are electric, and the city’s transport network needs major improvements. A shift toward non-polluting, efficient mobility solutions is urgently needed.

Last but not least, waste management also remains a major challenge. Of the nearly 564,000 tons of waste generated annually in Bucharest, only 42% is treated, the rest ends up in landfills. Selective collection is poorly implemented, and urban agriculture is nearly non-existent.

Bucharest remains dependent on external sources for food supply, and although the circular economy is mentioned in strategic plans, much work is still needed to make it a reality, according to the Bucharest Community Foundation’s report.

“The capital urgently needs a healthier environment. The current state is a strong call for change across multiple key areas that impact the environment, for a better quality of life and a better city to live in. The report we are launching today is not only a mirror reflecting the environmental reality we all experience in Bucharest, but also a tool we hope will become a reference point. With a strategy grounded in clear data, we can move together toward concrete actions for a better future and a healthier environment in the capital”, says Alina Kasprovschi, Executive Director of the Bucharest Community Foundation.

Civic organizations consistently raise awareness about environmental issues in Bucharest and are actively involved in identifying and analysing relevant measures to protect and improve environmental quality.

A survey conducted among 26 NGOs and 9 civic initiative groups shows that the biggest challenges are the lack of green spaces, air pollution, and poor waste management.

However, nearly 73% of responding organizations believe these problems can be solved and are already working, in partnership with public institutions, to shape decisions and develop public policies for a healthier environment in Bucharest.

The full report is available at www.platformademediu.ro, in the Research section.

The Environmental Platform for Bucharest is a strategic program developed by the Bucharest Community Foundation, launched in 2021. The program aims to transform the environmental issues people face into viable projects for the city and its residents.

The platform was created to bring together experts from civil society, academia, and the private sector, alongside citizens, activists, policymakers, and public authorities, to act in a coordinated way to address the complex environmental challenges affecting Bucharest.

Through key pillars such as research, funding, and collaboration, the Platform gathers data and concrete examples to better understand environmental challenges and the solutions proposed by civil society.

It mobilizes financial resources to implement and scale these solutions and creates a collaborative framework connecting NGOs, private companies, and public authorities. To date, the Platform has funded 39 projects with over ten million lei.