News

In recent days, the 6th monitoring visit of the LIFE IP project – Improving Air Quality took place, with the participation of a representative from the ELMEN organization, responsible for monitoring and presenting projects supported by the European Union under the LIFE program. The monitoring visit took place in a very constructive and positive atmosphere. The project is progressing successfully and the activities are being implemented according to the approved schedule.

In early December, a mobile monitoring station was installed in Ratnovce, western Slovakia, to measure PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 dust particles in the village for a defined period. This is an important milestone for the village, which has been increasingly active in the issue of air quality in recent years.

Under the title of the Meeting of Supporters of Environmental Education, Training and Awareness (EVVO), teachers, coordinators and professionals from all over Slovakia, across regions, departments and institutions, met on November 27, 2025, at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, for the purpose of education in the field of air protection. The awareness-raising event, organized as part of the LIFE Populair project activities, was carried out in the spirit of air topics.

An introductory meeting on the update of the Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) for the Trnava Region zone was held at the Trnava Self-Governing Region Office on December 4, 2025. The event was organized by the Trnava District Office in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic and the Trnava Self-Governing Region (TTSG) as part of the activities of the LIFE IP project – Air Quality Improvement (Populair). The currently valid program was issued by the Trnava District Office in 2013, therefore its update is one of the key tasks of the upcoming period.

In connection with the assessment of the impacts of strategic documents on the environment (SEA), a public discussion of the draft Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) and the Report on the Evaluation of the Strategic Document for the Trenčín Region Zone was held on November 20, 2025.

In recent days, from November 24 to 26, the international conference Air Protection 2025 was traditionally held in the High Tatras. The event, intended for so-called "air enthusiasts", confirmed the urgency of the problem of air quality in Slovakia and its impact on public health.

On November 11, the second meeting of the Heating and Energy Working Group took place. The basis for the discussion was a proposal for measures to improve air quality in the area of ​​household heating and energy. The meeting was also preceded by bilateral talks with members of the working group from the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic and the Institute of Environmental Policy.

In early November, an international conference of the same name was held on air quality and specifically air pollution from heating, which represents a significant environmental and health challenge, especially in areas with a high share of solid fuel combustion. The conference, organized as part of the LIFE Populair project, was intended for representatives of local governments and air protection experts who are looking for effective solutions to reduce emissions and improve air quality in their regions.

The Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) is a strategic planning tool developed for a zone and agglomeration in which the concentration of a pollutant exceeds the limit or target value for the protection of human health and vegetation. In the Trenčín Region, the main source of air pollution is local heating with solid fuels, which results in high concentrations of BaP, PM2,5 and PM10. The subject of the program is measures to achieve good air quality in risk areas.

The Slovak Environmental Agency, as the national coordinator of the European Mobility Week (EMW), yesterday ceremoniously evaluated the ETM 2025 campaign and awarded those who, with their activities, significantly contributed to sustainable mobility in Slovakia.