January 5, 2026
by in News

More than 330,000 Europeans died due to air pollution in 2023

Air pollution remains one of the greatest threats to the health of Europeans. According to the latest report by the European Environment Agency (EEA), 333,000 cases of premature death in 2023 were linked to exposure to particulate matter, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. The Western Balkans are among the most affected regions, with more than 22,000 premature deaths caused by air pollution, despite an average 50% decrease in PM2.5-related mortality between 2005 and 2023.

The European Environment Agency has published the report Harm to human health from air pollution in Europe: burden of disease status, 2025.

The report analyses three pollutants—particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3)—and their contribution to premature mortality and health impacts in 41 European countries.

In 2023, Europeans were exposed to concentrations of these pollutants far exceeding the levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Recommended maximum concentrations are 5 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre of outdoor air, 60 micrograms for O3, and 10 micrograms per cubic metre for NO2.

The number of premature deaths in the EU linked to fine particulate matter decreased by 57% between 2005 and 2023

The number of premature deaths associated with fine particulate matter in the EU fell by 57% between 2005 and 2023, surpassing the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan target for 2030, set at 55%. The revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), which entered into force last year, brings the EU’s limit values more in line with WHO recommendations.

Still, 95% of residents in European cities remain exposed to levels above these guidelines.

At the EU level alone, compliance with WHO guidelines in 2023 would have prevented 182,000 deaths linked to PM2.5, another 63,000 caused by ozone, and 34,000 resulting from NO2 exposure.

Across the 40 countries covered by the report, 206,000 deaths were attributed to PM2.5 concentrations above recommended levels. Turkey was excluded because the number of monitoring stations with available data was too low to create concentration maps. O3 exposure caused 71,000 deaths, and nitrogen dioxide caused 56,000.

Across the whole of Europe, a total of 333,000 people died prematurely.

People in Southeastern Europe suffer the greatest health impacts due to high pollution levels

Across all 40 countries, the highest number of PM2.5-related deaths in 2023 occurred in Italy, Poland, and Germany. However, the highest relative impact—measured in years of life lost per 100,000 inhabitants over 30 years—was recorded in Southeastern Europe. Years of life lost represent the estimated average number of additional years people would statistically live if they did not die before reaching life expectancy.

Residents of North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania lost the most years of life. Among EU member states, Bulgaria ranked first, followed by Greece and Romania.

The highest absolute number of NO2-related deaths in 2023 was recorded in Turkey, Italy, and Germany. In terms of years of life lost, the greatest burden fell on populations in Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Serbia, and Italy.

Germany, Italy, and France recorded the highest number of deaths linked to O3 emissions. The highest number of years of life lost per 100,000 inhabitants over 25 years occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Croatia, and Hungary.

In the Western Balkans, particulate matter caused 22,426 premature deaths

In the Western Balkans, exposure to particulate matter caused 22,426 premature deaths. The highest number was recorded in Serbia (8,735), followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina (4,783), Albania (3,551), North Macedonia (2,667), Kosovo* (2,135), and Montenegro (555).

However, significant progress has been recorded since 2005. Mortality linked to PM2.5 fell the most in North Macedonia (57.2%), followed by Kosovo* (55.3%), Montenegro (53.6%), Albania (53.2%), and Serbia (50.2%). The smallest improvement was observed in Bosnia and Herzegovina (34.8%). On average, across all six Western Balkan countries, mortality associated with PM2.5 decreased by 50.72% during this period.

Air pollution can cause dementia

In addition to premature mortality, the report analyses diseases linked to air pollution and their impact on quality and length of life.

According to the findings, PM2.5 contributes the most to the burden of ischaemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and childhood asthma. For NO2, the greatest health impacts occur in diabetes, followed by stroke, COPD, and asthma in both children and adults. Ozone exposure is linked to 7,000 deaths from COPD—the only disease included in the analysis for this pollutant.

Each additional 10 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre increases the risk of dementia by 17%

For diseases caused or worsened by pollution, such as asthma, the primary impact is reduced health and well-being. For others, such as ischaemic heart disease and lung cancer, the result is premature death.

New evidence shows that air pollution may also cause dementia, whose burden is estimated to be greater than that of other relevant diseases. Research conducted this year by scientists at the University of Cambridge found that the risk of dementia increases by 17% for every additional 10 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre of air.

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* This designation is without prejudice to positions onstatus and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
December 10, 2025
by in News

More than 330,000 Europeans died due to air pollution in 2023

Air pollution remains one of the greatest threats to the health of Europeans. According to the latest report by the European Environment Agency (EEA), 333,000 cases of premature death in 2023 were linked to exposure to particulate matter, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. The Western Balkans are among the most affected regions, with more than 22,000 premature deaths caused by air pollution, despite an average 50% decrease in PM2.5-related mortality between 2005 and 2023.

The European Environment Agency has published the report Harm to human health from air pollution in Europe: burden of disease status, 2025.

The report analyses three pollutants—particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3)—and their contribution to premature mortality and health impacts in 41 European countries.

In 2023, Europeans were exposed to concentrations of these pollutants far exceeding the levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Recommended maximum concentrations are 5 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre of outdoor air, 60 micrograms for O3, and 10 micrograms per cubic metre for NO2.

The number of premature deaths in the EU linked to fine particulate matter decreased by 57% between 2005 and 2023

The number of premature deaths associated with fine particulate matter in the EU fell by 57% between 2005 and 2023, surpassing the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan target for 2030, set at 55%. The revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), which entered into force last year, brings the EU’s limit values more in line with WHO recommendations.

Still, 95% of residents in European cities remain exposed to levels above these guidelines.

At the EU level alone, compliance with WHO guidelines in 2023 would have prevented 182,000 deaths linked to PM2.5, another 63,000 caused by ozone, and 34,000 resulting from NO2 exposure.

Across the 40 countries covered by the report, 206,000 deaths were attributed to PM2.5 concentrations above recommended levels. Turkey was excluded because the number of monitoring stations with available data was too low to create concentration maps. O3 exposure caused 71,000 deaths, and nitrogen dioxide caused 56,000.

Across the whole of Europe, a total of 333,000 people died prematurely.

People in Southeastern Europe suffer the greatest health impacts due to high pollution levels

Across all 40 countries, the highest number of PM2.5-related deaths in 2023 occurred in Italy, Poland, and Germany. However, the highest relative impact—measured in years of life lost per 100,000 inhabitants over 30 years—was recorded in Southeastern Europe. Years of life lost represent the estimated average number of additional years people would statistically live if they did not die before reaching life expectancy.

Residents of North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania lost the most years of life. Among EU member states, Bulgaria ranked first, followed by Greece and Romania.

The highest absolute number of NO2-related deaths in 2023 was recorded in Turkey, Italy, and Germany. In terms of years of life lost, the greatest burden fell on populations in Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Serbia, and Italy.

Germany, Italy, and France recorded the highest number of deaths linked to O3 emissions. The highest number of years of life lost per 100,000 inhabitants over 25 years occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Croatia, and Hungary.

In the Western Balkans, particulate matter caused 22,426 premature deaths

In the Western Balkans, exposure to particulate matter caused 22,426 premature deaths. The highest number was recorded in Serbia (8,735), followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina (4,783), Albania (3,551), North Macedonia (2,667), Kosovo* (2,135), and Montenegro (555).

However, significant progress has been recorded since 2005. Mortality linked to PM2.5 fell the most in North Macedonia (57.2%), followed by Kosovo* (55.3%), Montenegro (53.6%), Albania (53.2%), and Serbia (50.2%). The smallest improvement was observed in Bosnia and Herzegovina (34.8%). On average, across all six Western Balkan countries, mortality associated with PM2.5 decreased by 50.72% during this period.

Air pollution can cause dementia

In addition to premature mortality, the report analyses diseases linked to air pollution and their impact on quality and length of life.

According to the findings, PM2.5 contributes the most to the burden of ischaemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and childhood asthma. For NO2, the greatest health impacts occur in diabetes, followed by stroke, COPD, and asthma in both children and adults. Ozone exposure is linked to 7,000 deaths from COPD—the only disease included in the analysis for this pollutant.

Each additional 10 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre increases the risk of dementia by 17%

For diseases caused or worsened by pollution, such as asthma, the primary impact is reduced health and well-being. For others, such as ischaemic heart disease and lung cancer, the result is premature death.

New evidence shows that air pollution may also cause dementia, whose burden is estimated to be greater than that of other relevant diseases. Research conducted this year by scientists at the University of Cambridge found that the risk of dementia increases by 17% for every additional 10 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre of air.

Post Views:75
* This designation is without prejudice to positions onstatus and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
December 8, 2025
by in News

Coal plant Kakanj in BiH halts electricity production amid record air pollution

Due to record air pollution levels in recent days, the Municipality of Kakanj requested that the local coal-fired power plant’s activity be reduced to supplying thermal energy for district heating only. The thermal power plant says it has already done so.

After “unprecedented” amounts of pollutants were measured in Kakanj, Mayor Mirnes Bajtarević asked the management of the Kakanj thermal power plant and state power utility Elektroprivreda Bosne i Hercegovine (EPBiH), as well as Federation of BiH Minister of Environment and Tourism Nasiha Pozder, to ensure that the operation of the power plant is urgently reduced to a minimum, only for the needs of the district heating system in Kakanj.

The power plant said that since Sunday, the only block in operation has been Unit 6, which supplies thermal energy for district heating in Kakanj, news portal Akta reported.

Kakanj, the second-largest electricity producer in the EPBiH portfolio, has three operational units with a total capacity of 450 MW. Unit 6 has a capacity of 110 MW.

The municipal authorities said in the statement that, if necessary, it would invite residents to protest in front of the thermal power plant, which is seen as the main culprit for the alarming air pollution levels in recent months.

The local cement plant is urged to stop using alternative fuels

According to BiH media reports, recent sulfur dioxide (SO₂) levels in Kakanj have exceeded all permitted limits, posing an immediate threat to public health.

The municipality also issued a fresh request to the FBiH inspection body to inspect the operation of the thermal power plant, as well as Heidelberg Materials Cement, which has been asked to stop using alternative fuels.

The municipality will also demand a report on the desulfurization project at Kakanj

The municipality said it would demand that the thermal power plant provide a report on the progress and timeline of works on the ongoing desulfurization project, including the expected completion date.

EPBiH is implementing the desulfurization project at units 6 and 7 at Kakanj, hoping to reduce SO2 emissions by about 98.5%. SO2 emissions will be reduced to below 150 mg/Nm3, or nearly 60 times lower than current levels, EPBiH said in October.

Last year, the company was the largest power producer in BiH. Kakanj generated 1,431 GWh or 27% of EPBiH’s output.

One of the largest SO2 emitters in the region

Three years ago, the Energy Community Secretariat opened a case against Bosnia and Herzegovina for failing to shut down two units at the Kakanj and Tuzla thermal power plants despite the expiry of the 20,000 operating hours permitted after January 1, 2018, under the opt-out mechanism.

Kakanj was also mentioned in Bankwatch’s annual Comply or Close report, published in June this year.

According to the report, six power generation units in the Western Balkans exceeded their individual ceilings for SO2 emissions by more than ten times – Ugljevik, Gacko, Tuzla 6 and Kakanj 7 in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Kostolac A2 in Serbia; and Bitola B1 and B2 in North Macedonia.

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December 2, 2025
by in News

Air pollution spikes throughout Croatia

The Croatian Ministry of the Environment and Green Transition has warned of air pollution across most of the country in previous days. It expects improvement over the weekend.

“In recent days, with the arrival of colder weather and the start of the heating season, a significant increase in the concentrations of air pollutants has been recorded, especially particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) across most of Croatia,” the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition said.

Measuring stations of the State Network for Continuous Monitoring of Air Quality, as well as local stations in most of Croatia’s mainland, are recording a significant increase in the concentrations of air pollutants, including PM10 and PM2.5 particles.

Especially in Zagreb, Sisak, Kutina, Koprivnica, Bjelovar, and Slavonski Brod, monitoring stations registered levels as high as 100 micrograms per cubic meter at times. It is several times above the limit defined by the regulations, the update reads.

The increase in concentrations is primarily driven by emissions from household heating

Two to three times higher values than usual were also recorded at the station in the village of Desinić, on the border with Slovenia. It demonstrates that PM particulate air pollution in Croatia is not exclusively a local or urban issue, but a regional challenge, the ministry stressed.

The cause of the increase in concentrations are primarily emissions from household heating, particularly fueled by solid fuels: wood and coal, the update underlines. The situation is further aggravated by stable weather conditions, the lack of wind, and the occurrence of a temperature inversion.

An additional contribution to air pollution comes from traffic

In urban areas, especially in Zagreb, transportation enhances air pollution. Its impact has intensified in recent years due to the constant growth in the number of vehicles, according to the ministry.

Although wood heating remains the most significant source of PM, all emission sources, including traffic and industry, are amplified in such stable meteorological conditions, the ministry added.

Wind and warmer weather are expected to improve air quality

The ministry claims that current concentrations aren’t causing acute health problems. However, long-term exposure to excessive concentrations of PM increases the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and shortens life expectancy.

Particularly vulnerable are sensitive population groups such as the elderly, children, adolescents, pregnant women, and people suffering from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

The ministry advised citizens to monitor the air quality forecasts of the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) and the information on the Air Quality Portal. The portal offers an overview of the current air quality situation in the country with real-time data.

The ministry also recommended that citizens, particularly people with chronic illnesses, the elderly, and children, reduce outdoor activities during periods of such excessive concentrations.

In cooperation with the state institutions and local authorities, the ministry is implementing measures defined in air quality action plans to reduce emissions. DHMZ is currently implementing several projects on air protection and is preparing new ones.

An improvement in air quality is expected over the weekend, when temperatures will rise and the southwesterly wind will strengthen, the ministry said.

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December 2, 2025
by in News

Federation of BiH to upgrade air quality monitoring with EUR 1.1 million

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is investing BAM 2.2 million to upgrade the air quality monitoring system.

Federal Minister of Environment and Tourism Nasiha Pozder has signed contracts worth BAM 2.19 million (EUR 1.1 million) for the procurement of up-to-date equipment to upgrade the measurement program of the stations in the Federal Air Quality Monitoring Network.

The units are managed by the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute (FHMZ).

The procurement of the equipment is financed by a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), as part of the Air Quality Improvement Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is being implemented with the support of the World Bank.

The equipment will be supplied by two firms

The contracts envisage the purchase of air quality equipment worth BAM 1.8 million KM (about EUR 920,000) to be supplied by Sarajevo-based firm E3, and laboratory equipment worth BAM 142.422 KM (about EUR 73,000), to be delivered by Altium International, registered in Sarajevo. The third one – worth BAM 218,040 KM (EUR 111,500) – is for spare parts, and the supplier is also E3.

The equipment will enable the full implementation of the measurement program at all stations of the federal network, including all key parameters for assessing air quality, according to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

Mostar and Tuzla will get two stations

The system has been further expanded with the installation of two fixed stations in Mostar and Tuzla. FHMZ also received one mobile station for emergency field measurements in case of accidents.

The FHMZ laboratory has also been improved. Now it has the capacity to conduct analyses of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), important indicators of pollution and health risks to the population.

The equipment represents a significant step toward a more comprehensive, reliable, and modern air quality monitoring system in FBiH, the ministry underlined.

Pozder: Faster response to increases in air pollution

Minister Pozder stressed it is one of the most concrete steps toward strengthening the infrastructure for air quality monitoring.

She recalled that the public has the right to accurate information about the air it breathes and that institutions are obligated to provide reliable data and modern systems.

“Today, we are entering a new phase of modernization that will enable better planning and faster responses to increased air pollution,” Pozder said.

Almir Bijedić, director of FHMZ, pointed out that the new equipment and information system would significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of the institution’s work. It is the largest investment to date, he added.

Bijedić: It is very important that now we have the ability to analyze the concentration of PAHs

“FHMZ will be able to provide higher quality and faster information to citizens and institutions. It is very important that the new system enables the analysis of PAHs, allowing us for the first time to fully monitor the parameters critical for assessing health risks. This is a major step forward for the institute and the Federation of BiH,” Bijedić said.

The ministry noted it is completing the procurement of a new air quality information system, estimated at BAM 150,000 (EUR 77,000). It will significantly improve the digital capabilities of the monitoring system.

The new software will enable faster and more reliable validation and verification of data, real-time data display, centralized management, and more secure data storage, as well as more detailed trend analyses and automated reporting to the European Environment Agency (EEA), the Ministry of Environment and Tourism explained.

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May 11, 2025
by in News

Sarajevo rolls out fully digital system to track air-polluting emissions

Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has developed a register of air-polluting emissions and an information system to track pollutants. The register aims to reduce air pollution in Sarajevo, which very often tops the list of the world’s most polluted cities.

The project to develop the emissions register and the air-pollutant information system for the Sarajevo Canton took two years, according to the government of the Sarajevo Canton. During that period, comprehensive data were collected on various air pollution sources, including home fireplaces, boiler rooms, industry, traffic, and agriculture.

In creating the register, nearly 100,000 individual emission sources were analyzed. The emissions of all pollutants from those sources were calculated in line with the European Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.

The project has created emissions distribution maps for key pollutants

Compared with previous versions, the new register offers significant improvements. It uses the latest methodologies for the spatial distribution of emissions and data verification, complemented by the establishment of a central GIS database and an interactive web portal.

For the first time, the public can compare emissions data for different pollutants on a high-resolution spatial grid (100×100 meters). In addition to the detailed register of emissions, distribution maps for key pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx), are also available.

The information system is set to be publicly available within a month

According to the government, the system allows for the identification of areas with excessive air pollution. A robust emissions register serves as a foundation for strategic financing of projects aimed at improving air quality, including implementing the Strategy for Limiting the Use of Coal and Other Solid Fuels in the Sarajevo Canton (2023-2033), the government added. The strategy was adopted in February 2024.

The new emissions register and air quality categorization map will provide essential data inputs for future planning and strategies across various sectors, including spatial planning, energy, transportation, and healthcare.

Jansson: Air pollution remains one of the most urgent public health challenges in Sarajevo

Birgitta Jansson, deputy head of development cooperation at the Swedish Embassy in BiH, highlighted air pollution as one of the most urgent public health and environmental challenges in the Sarajevo Canton.

“By taking a pioneering step to make environmental data publicly accessible, the canton is enabling transparent, informed, and long-term action toward cleaner air and climate neutrality – and Sweden is proud to support this important initiative,” she noted.

The Prime Minister of the Sarajevo Canton, Nihad Uk, stressed that the new register allows the government to plan measures more accurately, apply for international funding, and make sustainable decisions based on relevant data.

Softić Kadenić: A unique project in BiH

The Minister of Justice and Administration of the Sarajevo Canton, Darja Softić Kadenić, described the project as unique in BiH, since for the first time it introduces a fully digital, accurate, and comprehensive system for monitoring annual emissions into the air.

It is placing Sarajevo Canton among the more advanced European cities, she added.

According to Raduška Cupać, head of the Energy and Environment Sector at UNDP in BiH, the system is more than a technical tool – it is a strategic asset that empowers institutions, companies, and citizens to take concrete steps toward environmental protection.

The register was developed by a consortium of companies Ceteor, E3, and GDI.

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