March 18, 2026
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Environmental monitoring in 2026 put to the test: Albania has 59 stations on paper, only 9 operational

The government-approved National Environmental Monitoring Program for 2026 promises a nationwide network of measurement stations for air, water, soil and biodiversity but the gap between design and reality is stark. On paper the plan foresees 59 urban air-quality monitoring stations; in practice only nine are currently functioning, concentrated mainly in Tirana and a handful of other major cities. That shortfall makes 2026 a decisive year for whether the monitoring system will deliver real, transparent environmental data to the public and policy-makers.

Map of the distribution of monitoring stations for environmental indicators in the territory of Albania

Under the Program, urban air monitoring is to cover the principal pollutants: PM10 and PM2.5 (particulate matter), benzene, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone and carbon monoxide, along with priority heavy metals such as lead and arsenic. Noise monitoring is also a component: a planned national network of 67 noise-monitoring stations contrasts with current coverage of 43 stations across 11 urban centers; noise measurements will follow 14-day and continuous 24-hour cycles to assess daytime and nighttime population exposure.

Surface-water monitoring (rivers, lakes, lagoons, coastal waters) and groundwater are included in the Program with standard indicators — total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus, heavy metals and other priority substances and a monitoring frequency calibrated to basin and water-type characteristics. The Program also calls for an annual emissions inventory by economic sector (industry, energy, transport, services) following international methodologies under the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, plus greenhouse-gas emission tracking for 2020–2030. Biodiversity and forest monitoring components list systematic sampling plots for threatened species, migration monitoring for key bird species, wildlife surveillance in protected areas and targeted monitoring where chemical or heavy-metal concentrations are high.

Crucially, the Program states that collected data will be processed and incorporated into an annual State of the Environment Report to serve both national policy formulation and reporting obligations to the European Environment Agency. Whether the monitoring network can be brought up to its planned capacity and whether the resulting data will be published with full transparency and timely accessibility remains the central test for 2026

January 22, 2026
by in News

Serbia to put mining strategy to parliament vote

The government passed the draft Strategy for the Management of Mineral and Other Geological Resources of the Republic of Serbia for the period from 2025 to 2040, with projections until 2050, so the National Assembly is required to put it to vote. With full appreciation of economic, environmental and social aspects, the implementation needs to contribute to improving the legal framework, establishing a balance between economic growth and environmental protection, remediation of abandoned mining facilities and securing a stable supply of critical and strategic raw materials, Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović stressed.

After a turbulent public discussion process, the Government of Serbia adopted the draft Strategy for the Management of Mineral and Other Geological Resources of the Republic of Serbia for the period from 2025 to 2040, with projections until 2050. Several dozen objections and suggestions were accepted or partly accepted. However, the text of the strategy that will be passed on to the National Assembly for a vote hasn’t been published yet.

A special emphasis is on the development of risk management mechanisms, climate neutrality and the application of energy-efficient and low-carbon technologies, the government pointed out.

The strategy is based on the principles of sustainable utilization of natural wealth, biodiversity protection, climate resilience and the reduction of negative effects of mining activities, the announcement reads.

According to the report on the environmental impact of the strategy’s implementation, Serbia hosts many deposits of metallic, non-metallic and energy raw materials, groundwaters and geothermal energy. The authors of the accompanying document acknowledged that the exploitation of mineral raw materials in Serbia caused air, water and land pollution. Metals mining hub of Bor and Majdanpek and the Kolubara and Kostolac lignite basins are the most affected.

Another challenge highlighted in the environmental impact report are the abandoned mines, tailings dumps and mining facilities that require remediation and rehabilitation.

Strengthening state’s role in planning, oversight

The document sets a long-term framework for the responsible management of mineral resources and the strengthening the role of the state in planning, oversight and the improvement of the sector of mining and geology, in the interest of citizens and a sustainable development of local communities, the Ministry of Mining and Energy said.

A special emphasis is on critical and strategic raw materials, geothermal energy and rational utilization of natural resources

Minister Dubravka Đedović Handanović said the strategy defines programs and measures directed toward a secure supply of domestic companies and the energy system with mineral raw materials, job creation and a greater participation of the domestic industry in the value chain, as well as for reducing import dependency and strengthening the country’s economic stability.

She explained that the focus is particularly on critical and strategic raw materials, geothermal energy and rational utilization of natural resources, alongside the implementation of high environmental and security standards. This is the way, in her words, to protect the environment, improve work safeety and lower the risks for people’s health and the quality of life in local communities.

Treating protected areas responsibly

Dubravka Đedović Handanović added that the strategy clearly defines a responsible treatment of protected areas and the spaces of special natural value, through a principle of prevention and respect toward the protection regime, as well as the transparency in the processes of planning and decision making, so that the citizens would be informed timely and included in dialogue.

With full appreciation of economic, environmental and social aspects, the implementation needs to contribute to improving the legal framework, establishing a balance between economic growth and environmental protection, remediation of abandoned mining facilities and securing a stable supply of critical and strategic raw materials, the minister underscored. She said that in the long term it meant greater safety, a better quality of life and responsible development.

Post Views:232
January 16, 2026
by in News

Serbia to put mining strategy to parliament vote

The government passed the draft Strategy for the Management of Mineral and Other Geological Resources of the Republic of Serbia for the period from 2025 to 2040, with projections until 2050, so the National Assembly is required to put it to vote. With full appreciation of economic, environmental and social aspects, the implementation needs to contribute to improving the legal framework, establishing a balance between economic growth and environmental protection, remediation of abandoned mining facilities and securing a stable supply of critical and strategic raw materials, Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović stressed.

After a turbulent public discussion process, the Government of Serbia adopted the draft Strategy for the Management of Mineral and Other Geological Resources of the Republic of Serbia for the period from 2025 to 2040, with projections until 2050. Several dozen objections and suggestions were accepted or partly accepted. However, the text of the strategy that will be passed on to the National Assembly for a vote hasn’t been published yet.

A special emphasis is on the development of risk management mechanisms, climate neutrality and the application of energy-efficient and low-carbon technologies, the government pointed out.

The strategy is based on the principles of sustainable utilization of natural wealth, biodiversity protection, climate resilience and the reduction of negative effects of mining activities, the announcement reads.

According to the report on the environmental impact of the strategy’s implementation, Serbia hosts many deposits of metallic, non-metallic and energy raw materials, groundwaters and geothermal energy. The authors of the accompanying document acknowledged that the exploitation of mineral raw materials in Serbia caused air, water and land pollution. Metals mining hub of Bor and Majdanpek and the Kolubara and Kostolac lignite basins are the most affected.

Another challenge highlighted in the environmental impact report are the abandoned mines, tailings dumps and mining facilities that require remediation and rehabilitation.

Strengthening state’s role in planning, oversight

The document sets a long-term framework for the responsible management of mineral resources and the strengthening the role of the state in planning, oversight and the improvement of the sector of mining and geology, in the interest of citizens and a sustainable development of local communities, the Ministry of Mining and Energy said.

A special emphasis is on critical and strategic raw materials, geothermal energy and rational utilization of natural resources

Minister Dubravka Đedović Handanović said the strategy defines programs and measures directed toward a secure supply of domestic companies and the energy system with mineral raw materials, job creation and a greater participation of the domestic industry in the value chain, as well as for reducing import dependency and strengthening the country’s economic stability.

She explained that the focus is particularly on critical and strategic raw materials, geothermal energy and rational utilization of natural resources, alongside the implementation of high environmental and security standards. This is the way, in her words, to protect the environment, improve work safeety and lower the risks for people’s health and the quality of life in local communities.

Treating protected areas responsibly

Dubravka Đedović Handanović added that the strategy clearly defines a responsible treatment of protected areas and the spaces of special natural value, through a principle of prevention and respect toward the protection regime, as well as the transparency in the processes of planning and decision making, so that the citizens would be informed timely and included in dialogue.

With full appreciation of economic, environmental and social aspects, the implementation needs to contribute to improving the legal framework, establishing a balance between economic growth and environmental protection, remediation of abandoned mining facilities and securing a stable supply of critical and strategic raw materials, the minister underscored. She said that in the long term it meant greater safety, a better quality of life and responsible development.

Post Views:177
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.

Post Views:272
* 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 10, 2025
by in News

North Macedonia plans energy renovation of 14 major public buildings

North Macedonia’s Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Resources has finalized a plan for the reconstruction of 14 public buildings, describing it as the most extensive energy renovation of the country’s institutions to date.

The plan for the reconstruction of buildings used by the state administration for the period 2025–2028 establishes a clear, three-year framework for the most extensive energy renovation of institutions in the country to date, the Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Resources said.

The program covers 14 public buildings with a total usable area of nearly 103,000 square meters. They host 33 institutions with 5,000 employees.

The estimated value of the program is about EUR 11.11 million, including technical inspections, projects, supervision, and implementation, according to the ministry.

The plan aims to ensure less pollution, better air quality, and more efficient spending of public funds

The ministry pointed out that the goal of the energy renovation is to reduce energy costs, improve working conditions, reduce emissions, and modernize the public sector in line with European standards.

Less pollution, better air quality, and more efficient use of public money are the benefits that will be felt by both institutions and citizens, the ministry stressed.

This strategic document is envisaged by the reform agenda and represents a legal obligation to renovate at least 3% of the total usable area of public buildings each year.

The ministry recalled that the plan marks an important step in the transposition of European Union legislation on energy efficiency – Directive 2018/2002/EU and Regulation 2018/1999/EU – and that it is aligned with the country’s obligations towards the Energy Community.

The plan covers three groups of buildings

The plan groups buildings into three categories according to their condition and the urgency of renovation.

The first group includes the buildings used by the Ministry of Health (along with the Institute for Public Health and the state sanitary and health inspectorate), the State Statistical Office, the Agency for Real Estate Cadastre, and the hydrometeorological administration.

The second group includes part of the Ministry of Economy, the building housing the administration agency, the state inspectorate for energy, mining and mineral resources, as well as a broad administrative bloc — including the Ministry of Public Administration, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Local Self‑Government, the State Election Commission, the Agency for Medicines, and the secretariat for legislation.

The third group includes eight buildings that were previously renovated but require energy upgrades and modern systems.

Each building will undergo an energy audit, after which specific measures will be defined – ranging from thermal insulation of façades and window replacement to the installation of solar thermal systems, PV panels on roof structures, and modern heating, lighting, and automated consumption-control systems, the ministry explained.

Post Views:102
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.

Post Views:71
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.

Post Views:26
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.

Post Views:50
December 2, 2025
by in News

Tens of thousands of tons of waste motor oil unaccounted for in Serbia

Waste motor oil is classified as hazardous waste as it can contaminate soil, water, and air. Although Serbian regulations for its management are clear, tens of thousands of tons are unaccounted for every year. Auto repair shops, obliged to dispose of it, often sell the material to individuals who use it for heating. Burning used motor oil is extremely dangerous because of the release of substances similar to chemical warfare agents into the air, warns Dejan Lekić from the National Ecological Association.

Just one liter of used motor oil can pollute up to one million liters of drinking water, making it one of the most harmful pollutants.

UAS, a Serbian association of auto repair shops, pointed out after the public debate on the draft Law on Waste Management that Serbia does not need cosmetic legal changes, but solutions to prevent the country from being buried under all types of hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

According to the latest report by the Serbian Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), about 40,311 tons of oil were placed on the Serbian market in 2023. Of the 40,311 tons, only 440 tons of waste motor oil were processed in Serbia, and 1,660 tons were exported. It means 38,000 tons likely ended up in soil, sewage systems, waterways, or household furnaces.

Burning waste motor oil releases toxic substances

Dejan Lekić from the National Ecological Association, the creator of the xEco app for real-time air pollution monitoring, warned that waste motor oil must never be used as fuel in household stoves, nor discharged into soil or sewage.

“The only correct approach is to collect it and hand it over to licensed operators. Once the operator takes it, the oil can follow two paths: regeneration or destruction. Ideally, it is regenerated – technologically purified to produce base oil for reuse,” he explained.

Waste oil can be regenerated or destroyed

Regenerating waste oil is an example of the circular economy. From one ton of crude oil, only 2% can be turned into base oil, while 65% of collected waste oil can be processed into base oil.

“The second option is using it as a fuel, but only in specialized industrial facilities such as cement plants, which have furnaces operating above 1,200 degrees Celsius and appropriate filtration systems. Such facilities are the only ones that can safely destroy hazardous substances and prevent their release into the atmosphere,” Lekić asserted.

Using waste oil as fuel in household stoves is extremely dangerous to health

As it is cheap and easily available, waste motor oil is often used for heating in Serbia. But when burned in ordinary stoves, it releases large amounts of carcinogenic gases and heavy metals. According to Dejan Lekić, using waste oil for heating poses a serious threat to human health.

He explained that waste motor oil contains heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, along with various additives. Regular stoves cannot reach temperatures high enough to burn these substances safely, so they are released directly into the air.

Lekić warned that incomplete combustion also produces extremely toxic compounds, including dioxins and furans – substances known to cause cancer and linked to severe neurological damage, hormonal disorders, and fertility problems. “People who burn this oil are literally releasing chemical warfare agents into their surroundings,” he said.

Serbia is among the top European countries in premature deaths caused by air pollution

Serbia is among the top European countries in premature deaths caused by air pollution, and it ranks first in Europe for lung cancer mortality linked to pollution, according to the World Health Organization. UAS, the Serbian group of car repair shops, described the situation as a “silent ecological catastrophe” that has been ongoing for decades and added that the system remains unable to stop it.

During the recent public debate on the new Law on Waste Management, the relevant ministry rejected most of the association’s proposals for managing waste oils. UAS emphasized that these suggestions were based on the best practices for reducing hazardous waste in the European Union and the region.

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