New

Air pollution is a societal issue that transcends national borders. International cooperation is therefore essential in finding effective and, above all, practically proven measures. Last multilateral meeting of projects focused on improving air quality took place in October 2024 in Budapest, organized by the LIFE HungAiry project.

The goal of the second multilateral workshop was to exchange experiences in the following areas:

• Air quality improvement strategies
• Raising awareness and changing behavior in air protection
• Air quality monitoring and data sharing
• Enforcement of measures – control of emissions from road traffic and households
• Funding for air quality improvement measures and support schemes

The first discussion block, led by Ildikó Babcsány from LIFE HungAiry, focused on air quality improvement programs, including the designation of zones and competencies, identification of measures, and the role of eco-managers (the equivalent of air quality managers in Hungary and Slovenia) in the process of creating strategic documents. Other topics included awareness-raising campaigns, cooperation with schools, and low-cost air quality monitoring at the local level. Due to the significant potential for cooperation in bordering regions, trans-boundary pollution and language barriers were also discussed.

The second block was led by representatives from the Slovenian Ministry of Environment. Dejan Zupanc opened discussions on the control of emissions from households that burn solid fuels, as well as the monitoring of emissions from road traffic. The quality of firewood and pellets, low public awareness of proper heating practices, and the issues of energy poverty and vulnerable population groups were among the topics discussed. In the context of road transport, the positive evaluation of environmental education for children and the development of cycling infrastructure were highlighted.

In the final block, Júlia Čaplová, coordinator of the LIFE Populair project, presented collaboration with the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences at Comenius University in the area of behavioral strategies aimed at changing behavior related to transport and heating. Work on the so-called Air Quality Roadmap (a national program for improving air quality) was discussed, as well as the successful formation of working groups within the Task Force of the LIFE IP – Improvement of Air Quality project. Attention was also given to support schemes for socially disadvantaged populations in regions with poor air quality.

The workshop also included presentations of good practice examples. As part of the topic of household heating, participants visited the MH Teplárenský holding plant in Martin, which operates heat production sources. The company produces heat in combination with electricity, which is then supplied to the district heating system. The company has recently undergone extensive ecological modernization.

Organizing and participating in such workshops greatly supports the establishment of cooperation between projects that share a common goal – to improve air quality, which knows no borders, and to protect public health.

We would like to express our gratitude to the representatives of the LIFE HungAiry project from Hungary and the representatives of the Ministry of Environment from Slovenia for their active participation and for sharing their valuable experience.