The World Bank approved a loan of 46.10 million euros ($50 million) to Bosnia and Herzegovina for the Air Improvement Project, to help overcome air pollution challenges and mitigate health and economic consequences in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As stated in the press release, the negative impacts of ambient air pollution are significant and far-reaching. Exposure to PM2.5 particles (small particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers that enter the respiratory tract) is a serious health risk and leads to respiratory infections, cancer, cardiovascular disease and premature death.
The main sources of pollution are household heating, with a share of approximately 50 percent in PM2.5 emissions, and the transport sector, with a share of around 20 percent. In addition, the institutional framework and policies for air quality management in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are fragmented and decentralized.
Therefore, in order to solve these challenges, the goal of the project is to provide support to the authorities in the Federation of BiH in establishing a comprehensive and sustainable air quality management system and implementing measures to reduce pollution emissions from household heating and the transport sector.
As the head of the World Bank Office for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, Christopher Sheldon, said, by investing in measures to improve air quality and reduce pollution emissions, the project will contribute to the well-being of the population and overall environmental sustainability.
“Investments in clean energy and transport will not only reduce pollution emissions, but will also bring other benefits such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saving energy, improving living conditions and creating jobs,” said Sheldon.
The project is aimed at strengthening mechanisms and institutions for air quality management in all included cantons in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Tuzla, Zenica-Doboj, Herzegovina-Neretva and Sarajevo Cantons.
This includes direct investments in household heating and transport activities, helping to reduce local PM2.5 emissions by 19,000 tons over the lifetime of the investment. This reduction will be achieved through investments in sustainable heating and energy efficiency measures in households, in the expansion of cycling infrastructure, in support for low-emission zones, as well as the procurement of cleaner-powered urban transport vehicles in Sarajevo Canton, according to the World Bank.
The portfolio of active projects of the World Bank in BiH consists of thirteen projects with a total value of about 770 million dollars. Projects cover areas such as health, road modernization, employment and social protection, energy efficiency, local infrastructure, agriculture and the environment.
