Opole (Poland): Data‑Driven Path from Air Quality Awareness to Climate Action

Challenges

Like many European cities, Opole faced growing regulatory pressure to improve air quality and protect public health – in line with WHO Air Quality Guidelines and the revised EU Ambient Air Quality Directive (2024). At the same time, in 2025 the city observed declining citizen engagement in national subsidy schemes for replacing coal-fired heating systems, despite available funding.

The challenge was clear: how to move from awareness to action – and reconnect residents with local clean heating and renovation programmes.

Approach: data + education + timing

Opole adopted a holistic, data-driven model combining three mutually reinforcing elements.

1. Dense, hyperlocal air quality monitoring

The city deployed a dense network of 43 certified air quality sensors, complementing existing reference stations. This provided real-time, street-level data on PM2.5 and PM10, publicly available via online maps and mobile applications.

The network enabled early warnings during pollution episodes, supported municipal services in responding to high-emission events, and delivered far greater spatial resolution than traditional monitoring alone – allowing the city to understand pollution patterns at neighbourhood level.

2. Making data tangible through automated fact sheets

Using the Airly platform, Opole generated clear, accessible fact sheets presenting local air quality data for defined periods and locations – individual sensors, districts or the city as
a whole.

These reports translated complex environmental data into simple, visual narratives explaining pollution levels, trends and health impacts. They were distributed physically in schools, healthcare centres, cultural institutions and public offices, ensuring inclusion of residents beyond digital channels and turning abstract data into locally relevant evidence.

3. 
   

   A targeted educational programme launched before the smog season

Crucially, in 2025 Opole invested in education before the heating season. Between May and November, the city delivered a structured programme of workshops and events tailored to different age groups and social contexts.

• Senior workshops focused on health impacts of air pollution, heat loss in buildings, practical demonstrations using thermal imaging cameras, and available clean heating solutions.
• Educational sessions for children and youth used experiments and interactive activities to explain smog formation, air quality indicators and everyday behaviours influencing emissions.
• Family-oriented events combined science, theatre and practical advice to build shared understanding across generations.

Each activity explicitly connected hyperlocal air quality data with the role of household heating emissions and promoted available subsidies for boiler replacement and building retrofitting.

Results

The programme transformed air quality data into a daily, local point of reference for residents. Citizens gained a clearer understanding of how individual heating choices contribute to neighbourhood-level pollution and how cleaner technologies directly improve health and quality of life.

The city observed renewed interest in clean heating and renovation support schemes, stronger engagement across all age groups, and improved capacity to meet obligations under air protection policies and forthcoming EU standards.

Why this model works

Opole demonstrates that dense, real-time air quality monitoring becomes significantly more effective when combined with structured, data-driven education. Hyperlocal data builds trust and relevance, while well-timed communication – ahead of the smog season – supports informed decision-making and behaviour change.

This approach enables cities to move beyond compliance towards proactive public health protection and climate action.

A replicable blueprint for European cities

The Opole–Airly collaboration shows how cities can integrate monitoring infrastructure, automated reporting and education into a single, coherent policy tool.

It is a scalable, cost-effective model for municipalities seeking to meet stricter air quality standards, increase uptake of clean energy programmes and build long-term public support for environmental transition.