The lab within Goce Delchev University of Shtip is performing analysis of the sources of air pollution by obtained samples from Kaprosh and Lisiche air quality monitoring stations in order to get reliable data to create adequate policies and effective measures to tackle air pollution.
The new high-tech lab equipment was promoted Friday at the University of Shtip, within the project “Tackling air pollution in the City of Skopje.”
The project is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and the City of Skopje.
“Air pollution is a great threat to health of the people. Around 19 cities in the Western Balkans have high numbers of air pollution above the EU. For Sweden it is important to support your efforts and give attention to this problem. We support the efforts and North Macedonia’s preparations for the chapter 27 of the EU acquis,” Swedish Ambassador Kristin Forsgren Bengtsson said during the visit to lab within University of Shtip.
She stressed that the responsibility for air pollution is shared – it is important for all citizens to be responsible, to take care of waste, plastic, to educate children and it is very important to raise public awareness and involve scientific institutions and CSOs with their expertise.
UNDP Resident Representative Narine Sahakyan said that solving the problem of air pollution requires an interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach and therefore the project presented today is comprehensive and includes the Ministry of Environment, business community, academia.
“The lab at the Goce Delchev University is analyzing samples coming from the monitoring stations in Lisiche and Karposh in Skopje, in order to get more information on the possible sources of pollution. It is important to have quality reliable data that will then help the government to make decisions and policies on how to tackle this problem. It will also help us, as an implementation partner, to have an appropriate approach, and will influence the policies of the local authorities and the behavior of the citizens in the country,” Sahakyan said.
Within the project, she added that 160 households in Lisiche will be supported to adjust their heating systems or to use energy efficiency solutions to address inside air pollution. 60 households have been selected and we are in the process of adjusting the solutions to their needs. The open call will be open until April 5 and another 100 households will be selected to be supported and this time the project is targeting most economically and vulnerable households, Sahakyan added.
Minister of Environment Naser Nuredini said that scientific data on air pollution will be obtained within the project.
“We have indicators for the sources of pollution, and with this project we have the opportunity to identify exactly who the polluters are and based on that data we will create appropriate policies and guidelines on how to change the heating systems of buildings. This is a pilot project that is being implemented in Skopje, but it affects the whole country,” Nuredini said.
He pointed out that the Ministry of Environment has a strategy and programme for this problem and that it cooperates with the Ministries of Economy and Ministry of Transport and Communications in investing in the installation of the gas pipeline in the country.
