Algeria flagEnvironment & Sustainability Guide · Algeria

Environment & Sustainability Guide in Algeria

Air quality, green spaces, and environmental policies

Algeria faces significant environmental challenges including water scarcity, desertification, and vulnerability to climate change impacts like droughts and floods. With a population of 44.7 million, the country is predominantly arid with limited forest cover and relies heavily on fossil fuels. Government efforts focus on renewable energy expansion and water management, but data gaps exist in air quality and recycling metrics.

Air Quality Index

0510
Moderate
5.5/10(AQI: N/A)
Stable trend

Air quality in Algeria shows a stable trend per database records, with urban areas like Algiers facing moderate pollution from traffic and industry. PM2.5 levels average 20-40 µg/m³ in cities, below hazardous but requiring monitoring. Rural areas generally cleaner.

Water Quality

0510
Moderate
5.5/10

Water quality varies; urban drinking water meets WHO standards after treatment, but rural access is limited. Major pollution from agriculture and industry affects groundwater. 90% urban access to safe water, 70% rural.

Treated municipal water safe; bottled recommended in south due to salinity.

Recycling System

Recycling infrastructure limited; formal rate under 10%, focused on urban waste collection. Plastic and paper collected in major cities, but low public participation.

Recycling Rate: %

Green Spaces

Forest coverage low at 1.5% due to desertification; 11 national parks protect biodiversity in northern Tell Atlas. Protected areas cover 4.3% of land.

Forest Coverage: 1.5%
National Parks: 11
Key sites: Tassili n'Ajjer, Ahaggar National Parks (UNESCO). Reforestation programs target 250,000 ha.

Environmental Policies

Algeria ratified Paris Agreement, targets 27% renewables by 2030. National Climate Plan addresses desertification; plastic bag ban since 2022.

Key Policies:
  • National Renewable Energy Program
  • Law 05-12 on Environment Protection
Renewable Energy: 15% by 2030 (solar/wind focus), current 3% mix.

Natural Disaster Risk

MODERATE

Common risks: earthquakes (north), floods (coastal), droughts (south), wildfires. 2024 floods killed 8, displaced thousands.

earthquakesfloodsdroughtswildfires
Climate Change Impacts: Temperatures rose 1.5°C since 1991, with 2°C in south (World Bank 2022). Drought frequency doubled past 20 years, reducing precipitation 20% (IPCC AR6). Heatwaves increased 3-fold since 2000, extreme events like 2023 drought affected 2M people. Sea level rise 3-5mm/year impacts 1,200km coast.

Sustainability Initiatives

Renewable Energy

National program targets 22GW solar by 2030, with 160MW installed 2023. Sonelgaz leads hybrid plants.

Water Management

Desalination capacity 2.2M m³/day (2024), 220 dams built. National Water Plan saves 1B m³/year.

Reforestation

Green Dam project planted 200K ha since 1970s to combat desertification.

Wildlife & Nature

Algerian NuthatchEndangered
Cuvier's GazelleEndangered
Fennec FoxCommon
Saharan UromastyxVulnerable