Expanding access to Air Quality Information (AQI)

Description of the action and objectives

Green Deal action

The goal is to improve public access to air quality information, increase the number of monitors, and expand the monitoring network. A further objective is to reduce the number of days when health-based standards are exceeded due to traffic pollution.

 

Implementation period

Planned completion in the first half of 2026

Status: In progress

Status report on July 1, 2025

The Public Health Authority is managing the installation of new air quality monitors and has secured funding to upgrade equipment. This upgrade will add one complete monitoring station, while an older station will be repurposed for particulate matter measurements. Long-term, the authority aims to invest further in additional air quality monitoring stations to densify the monitoring network. In addition, the authority has studied the feasibility of cheaper but less precise monitors that could be placed in high-traffic areas frequented by vulnerable groups, such as preschools, nursing homes, and sports clubs near major arterial roads. Access to information remains unchanged, with data available on the Environment Agency's website at loftgaedi.is. The number of days when limits are exceeded varies between years, as pollution can come from different sources, and volcanic eruptions in recent years have played a role in these fluctuations.

Older status reports

Below you can find older status reports with information on the progress of the action since its inception (if you're using your phone, it's better to turn it sideways).
  Timeline Progress description
  July 2025 The Public Health Authority is managing the installation of new air quality monitors and has secured funding to upgrade equipment. This upgrade will add one complete monitoring station, while an older station will be repurposed for particulate matter measurements. Long-term, the authority aims to invest further in additional air quality monitoring stations to densify the monitoring network. In addition, the authority has studied the feasibility of cheaper but less precise monitors that could be placed in high-traffic areas frequented by vulnerable groups, such as preschools, nursing homes, and sports clubs near major arterial roads. Access to information remains unchanged, with data available on the Environment Agency's website at loftgaedi.is. The number of days when limits are exceeded varies between years, as pollution can come from different sources, and volcanic eruptions in recent years have played a role in these fluctuations.

 

Connection of action to Reykjavík City's policies:

 

Reykjavík City departments:

 

Related actions

The table below contains actions related to this initiative, and you can access more information by clicking on the "action title" in the table (if you're using your phone, it's better to turn it sideways).
Action name Status Completion Updated Departments
Ocean related outdoor activities In progress 2026 July 2025 Department of Environment & Planning
Office of the Mayor & Chief Executive Officer
Expanding access to Air Quality Information (AQI) In progress 2026 July 2025 Reykjavík Public Health
Tender and implementation for a kitchen management system for Departments of Welfare and Education & Youth In progress 2025 July 2025 Department of Education & Youth
Department of Welfare
Training of institutional chefs in primary schools and preschools Completed 2022 January 2023 Department of Education & Youth
Health labels on shopping lists for cafeterias Completed 2025 January 2024 Department of Education & Youth
Development of a 6 week menu Completed 2022 January 2023 Department of Education & Youth