site.btaUPDATED EUR 78.36 Mln Disbursed under Environment Programme to Combat Air Pollution

Under the 2021-2027 Environment Programme, EUR 362.52 million has been allocated for measures to improve air quality, the Ministry of Environment and Water told BTA on the occasion of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, which is observed on Monday. To date, EUR 78.36 million has been disbursed or 21.6% of the allocated funds. A total of 45 projects in 21 municipalities with poor air quality are receiving funding.

The investments are prioritized for municipalities where, during the 2017–2021 period, exceedances of the daily and/or annual average standards for fine particulate matter were recorded.

Replacing old stoves and reducing transportation pollution

Measures to combat pollution from residential solid-fuel heating – including replacing such stoves with pellet-burning appliances, air conditioners, and heat pumps, as well as the provision of radiators – play a leading role.

Plans include green belt zones and walls, landscaping of so-called "mud patches", grass planting, and the creation and expansion of green spaces.

Another leading goal is reducing transportation pollution. In Sofia and Plovdiv, the measures include low-emission zones that restrict the movement of high-emission vehicles in congested areas during the heating season.

As of the end of August, 7,952 heating units were replaced out of a total of over 75,500 planned in the ongoing projects. The replacements are expected to save over 2,100 metric tonnes of fine particulate matter emissions annually. The planned green infrastructure covers an area of approximately 250 hectares. Upon successful completion of the projects, over 2.97 million residents are expected to benefit from these measures.

Modernization of the air quality monitoring system

The Ministry of Environment is upgrading the system for monitoring, analysing, and managing ambient air quality data. The project to supply mobile automatic stations equipped with specialized equipment has laid the foundation for the subsequent development and modernization of automatic monitoring stations throughout the country, which is already underway with financial support from the Swiss government.

Five contracts have been signed for the delivery of mobile automatic stations equipped with specialized equipment for ambient air quality monitoring. Work is also underway to modernize the National Quality Assurance and Quality Control System for Ambient Air Quality.

The initiative under the Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Programme will be publicly presented in October. With a budget of CHF 15 million, the National Quality Assurance and Quality Control System for Ambient Air Quality will be completely renovated and modernized, with a completion deadline set for the end of 2029.

Air quality information will be provided at an early stage to citizens, local authorities, the scientific community, non-governmental organizations, and all stakeholders so that informed decisions can be made regarding programmes and prevention. A mobile app will also be developed to assess the risk of air pollution, allowing everyone to view real-time air quality data.