Krakow, once known as Poland’s “smog capital,” has dramatically improved air quality over ten years and prevented nearly 6,000 premature deaths. The main measure was moving away from coal- and wood-fired heating: restrictions began in 2013, and the ban came fully into force in 2019.
The city replaced tens of thousands of stoves and boilers with cleaner systems, while the authorities subsidized the transition, sometimes covering the costs in full. This brought a rapid effect: the number of days with dangerous pollution levels fell from around 150 to 30 a year.
The decline in black carbon — tiny soot particles that are harmful to the lungs and to the climate — was a key factor in the improvement. Studies found that among children, asthma cases fell by 17%, and allergic rhinitis by 28%.
In 2024, Krakow recorded no exceedances for the first time for benzo[a]pyrene, a carcinogen linked to fuel combustion. Another step was a low-emission zone covering about 60% of the city.
Although some pollution comes from neighboring areas, Krakow’s experience is already inspiring other regions. The example shows that even a chronic environmental problem can be turned around if action is taken consistently.
