Ambient air pollution (AAP) is a serious global health problem that accounts for an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide per year. People in Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans are frequently exposed to air pollution levels above those considered safe, particularly in the winter.
... Exibir mais + The increased exposure to air pollution and its linkage to higher prevalence of lung, respiratory, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is also likely to increase the vulnerability of the affected population to the currently emerging COVID19 pandemic. In the Western Balkans, the residential sector is the largest source of harmful PM2.5 emissions. While not yet the dominant source of air pollution in the Western Balkans, transport-based emissions are gaining in prominence and in contrast to heating represent a year-round growing environmental challenge. The EU accession process provides an incentive to improve air quality in the Western Balkans by adapting legislation and learning from the experience of other EU countries. In addition to strengthening the legal and policy framework for air quality management (AQM) at the national level, it is important to develop subnational solutions, particularly for urban pollution hot spots. By acting on air pollution reduction, countries prepare the grounds for the long-term transition to a low-carbon economy and climate change mitigation, yet the synergies and trade-offs have to be carefully evaluated and understood.
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Improving the efficiency and equity of public spending and strengthening revenue mobilization remains a priority in all Western Balkan countries.
... Exibir mais + Public sector wage bills and pensions constitute the largest share of public spending in the region. Tighter controls on wage bills, reducing tax expenditures, and better targeting of social benefits would open space for more public investment, improve equity, and enable the build-up of fiscal buffers to mitigate rising risks. As outlined in this report, fiscal rules can help anchor spending and fiscal sustainability. However, their credibility in the region needs to be restored after they have been repeatedly breached in some countries. Fiscal management reforms are needed as a part of broader structural reforms that help increase the region's export competitiveness. This includes strengthening state institutions that protect the rule of law and private sector competition to unleash productivity growth and innovation by enabling a level playing field between firms. Together, these reforms would help unlock stronger, more equitable, and more sustainable growth, ensuring faster convergence with EU income levels. A strong commitment to sound macro-fiscal policy and structural reforms was always important—rising uncertainties have made it an imperative.
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Cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) experience high ambient concentrations of health-damaging fine particulate air pollution in Europe. This report is one in a series of three reports on air quality management in BiH, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.
... Exibir mais + This report examines the nature and magnitude of ambient air pollution (AAP) in BiH. It provides estimates of the health burden, and economic cost associated with the health impacts, of AAP, that is, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in BiH. It also provides an analysis of the impacts of various sources of PM2.5 emissions on ambient air quality in BiH at a country level. The institutional and policy framework for air quality management (AQM) in the country is examined, including contributions of other development institutions in supporting BiH's efforts to address air pollution. Furthermore, this report presents experiences of selected countries that have applied different policy, investment, and technical interventions for air pollution, prevention, reduction, and abatement. Finally, it provides recommendations for reducing air pollution in BiH. Cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) experience high ambient concentrations of health-damaging fine particulate air pollution in Europe. This report is one in a series of three reports on air quality management in BiH, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. This report examines the nature and magnitude of ambient air pollution (AAP) in BiH. It provides estimates of the health burden, and economic cost associated with the health impacts, of AAP, that is, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in BiH. It also provides an analysis of the impacts of various sources of PM2.5 emissions on ambient air quality in BiH at a country level. The institutional and policy framework for air quality management (AQM) in the country is examined, including contributions of other development institutions in supporting BiH's efforts to address air pollution. Furthermore, this report presents experiences of selected countries that have applied different policy, investment, and technical interventions for air pollution, prevention, reduction, and abatement. Finally, it provides recommendations for reducing air pollution in BiH.
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Air pollution is a significant problem in cities and urban centers in the Republic of North Macedonia. This report is one in a series of three reports on air quality management (AQM) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.
... Exibir mais + It examines the nature and magnitude of ambient air pollution (AAP) in North Macedonia. It provides estimates of the health burden, and economic cost associated with the health impacts, of AAP, that is, particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less (PM2.5) in North Macedonia. It also analyzes the roles of various sources of PM2.5 emissions on ambient air quality in North Macedonia at the national level. The institutional and policy framework for AQM in the country is examined, including contributions of other development institutions in supporting North Macedonia’s efforts to address air pollution. Furthermore, the report presents experiences of selected countries that have applied different policy, investment, and technical interventions for air pollution, prevention, reduction, and abatement. Finally, it provides recommendations for reducing air pollution in North Macedonia. People in North Macedonia and living in the Balkans and Eastern Europe are typically breathing more toxic particulate air pollution than their neighbors in Western Europe. This is due to fewer air pollution reduction policies and more solid fuel heating and cooking (meaning many more residential wood and coal stoves) in Eastern European and Balkan countries compared to the rest of Europe. Western Europe has mostly moved away from coal-fired power plants (or at least has pledged to reduce coal consumption to meet climate goals), but in the Balkans and in Eastern Europe they are still widely in use. In fact, the Balkan region is home to many coal and lignite-fired units and to 7 of the 10 most polluting coal-fired power stations in Europe.
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