Bad Air in the Western Balkans

Out Of The Borders

by Milica Velimirovic

Worryingly, poor air quality in the Western Balkans puts the region at the top of the list of the most polluted places in Europe. Estimates from the European Environment Agency say that 30,000 people die prematurely every year due to air pollution in the Western Balkans. Air pollution leads to increased mortality, shortened life expectancy, an increase in the number of chronic diseases, as well as climate change itself.

Let’s look at when and how it all started. The period after World War II was marked by the accelerated growth of the world economy. The increasing use of natural resources, mostly coal and oil had very negative consequences for health as well as for the environment itself. At the same time, the reconstruction of the collapsed states in the Balkans began, most of which provided their energy needs from thermal and hydro power plants.

Aerial view of the thermal power plant in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina October 18, 2021. Picture taken with a drone on October 18, 2021.

© Reuters Images/Dado Ruvic

The use of coal for the operation of thermal power plants has created a problem that has accumulated today. Long-term energy dependence on these energy sources in most Western Balkan countries have created a problem for today’s generations. The topic of air pollution has become a major one in this region in recent years, and citizens themselves are increasingly aware of the consequences it has.

When it comes to environmental problems, there are often attempts to hide data on certain real situations. Whether the goal is to protect someone’s private interests or to avoid punishment, such acts often have serious repercussions both for the citizens and for the environment itself. According to the Aarhus Convention, citizens should have the right not only to be informed about environmental issues, but also to participate in the decision-making process in the directly affected regulatory area (European Commission, 2020).

Photo of - Photo of Sarajevo 14 jan 2020.

© Elvis Barukcic / AFP

How often this convention is not respected and can best be seen in the example of air pollution and its consequences. A campaign was formed called The Balkans United for Clean Air and it aims to inform Western Balkan citizens on the causes and consequences of air pollution, and the possible solutions.

Photo of Polluted Belgrade

© Marko Djurica 2020

In 2021 climate protests broke out in waves around the region, the largest of these were in Serbia, my home country. These protests were peppered across the five largest cities; Belgrade, Novi Sad, Cacak, Nis and Valjevo and brought together people from all walks of life to protect that which we ultimately all relied upon - the environment.

As I write this, Serbia ranks 25th in the world in terms of air pollution. A devastating and very worrying reality sets in when we understand that it is one of the smallest countries in the world and its global footprint is disproportionately negative to its size. Yet, the official response has been persistently ignorant, calling the climate activists’ calls for more regulation on industrial by-products, flue gas and tighter transport controls ‘the statements of ideological enemies’. At the forefront of the argument in favor of ignorance comes the idea that the increase in pollution is largely due to the variations in seasonal particulate matter and changes in air circulation pathways. The government’s policies, on the other hand, are seldom criticized.

View of Pljevlia and the existing power plant

© Diana Milev-Cavor, EcoTeam

Steps of action

•Check the air quality. There are some apps that can provide you information about air quality in any city. Such as AirVisual. This app also has health recommendations and can show you the steps you can take to avoid get source: ting sick. Depending on the air quality situation you can advise sensitive groups to stay indoors.

Protest for clean air, Belgrade,

N1, 2021

•Educate yourself and people around you about the topic. The goal is to raise awareness of how air pollution affects our environment and health.

•Be an active citizen. Go on the protest, be involved in the decision making process. Believe that each one of us can make a difference.

Protest for clean air

© source Vesna Andjic, 2021

There are no real limits that can stop the air. We may have borders, they are real in the way to stop humans, but not nature itself. In the whole world you can see and feel the change. We call it climate change. Before you even think that this problem doesn’t affect you, take this matter in consideration.