Ecological situation in European cities in 2013-2023: transition to green economy

The study is devoted to the study of the relationship between the structure of the economy and the level of pollution of European cities in the context of the environmental imperative. Based on comparative statistical analysis, the level of pollution in European cities in 2013 and 2023 was considered and cities with the most and least favorable environmental situation were defined. Studied cities were divided into 7 groups by pollution index; stable trend of their location was determined through carrying out a cartographic analysis: groups of the most polluted cities are located mainly in the southeast of Europe and the least - in the northwest. Five types of cities with different trends in pollution index dynamics were identified. Based on a comprehensive synthetic analysis of cities with maximum improvement and deterioration of the environmental situation, the main factors of multidirectional dynamics are described - activity of environmental policy, sectoral structure transformation of urban economy. Main spatial trends in the environmental situation of European cities were identified: cities with positive dynamics of pollution index predominantly concentrated in the southeast, with a negative - in the east. The analysis showed that 2/3 of the largest cities in Europe improved their ecological condition mainly due to the effectiveness of environmental measures, the green political movement, the development of the tertiary and quaternary sectors in their economy.