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.

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.

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.

September 7 marks International Day of Clean Air. On this day, UN member states draw attention to measures for improving air quality. The common goal is to enhance living conditions for residents and minimize the negative effects of air pollution on health and the environment. This year’s slogan, “Racing for Air”, emphasizes the need to accelerate solutions and take joint action to ensure clean air for everyone.

To maintain good air quality in the Trnava Region, the District Office of Trnava signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic. The purpose of the memorandum is to collaborate on preparing a draft Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) for the Trnava Region zone. The strategic document aims to improve air quality at local and regional levels and reduce public exposure to harmful pollutants. The currently valid program was issued in 2013, so its update is a key task for the upcoming period.

The District Office of Nitra issued and published the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) on July 30, 2025. This marked the conclusion of a more than two-year process since the start of work on preparing the AQMP draft for the Nitra Region zone. The goal of the AQMP is to achieve good air quality in the defined area through the proposed measures. A new aspect compared to previous programs was the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process, which also contributed to the extended release time.

From June 3 to 5, 2025, a multilateral workshop was held in Martin, organized by the LIFE IP – Air Quality Improvement project, with the participation of representatives from air quality projects in Hungary and Slovenia. The aim of the meeting was to share challenges, good practices, and proposals for potential collaboration.