SARAJEVO, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Sarajevo Canton in central Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on Monday unveiled a new emission register and pollutant information system based on GIS technology, marking a significant step towards improving air quality and achieving climate neutrality goals.
This digital tool provides a systematic and spatial overview of all emission sources across the Canton. It introduces a fully digitized and comprehensive system for monitoring annual air emissions, aligning the region with standards seen in more advanced European cities.
The system includes dispersion maps for key pollutants such as PM10, SO2, and NOx, enabling precise identification of pollution hotspots throughout the Canton.
Raduska Cupac, a representative of the United Nations Development Programme, said the system offers a transparent and detailed insight into pollution sources and the data will be crucial for decision-making in areas like urban development, energy, transport, and public health.
The project is supported by the Swedish government, with a focus on public access to environmental information. Birgitte Jansson, deputy head of the Development Cooperation Department at the Swedish Embassy in BiH, noted the initiative will empower decision-makers and citizens to tackle air pollution.
Throughout the past years, when temperatures drop and the heating season begins, cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) have faced a sharp decline in air quality, with Sarajevo ranked among the most polluted cities.
A World Bank report published on Jan. 3 revealed that many residents of BiH are exposed to more toxic particulate matter (PM) air pollution than their neighbors in Western Europe. The burning of solid fuels - often of poor quality - for domestic heating and cooking, the prevalence of inefficient stoves and boilers, industry, and aging vehicle fleets are the main contributors to ambient air pollution.
