The Bosnian capital Sarajevo has been shrouded in thick smog since early December. The air quality is so bad that the city was number one on a list of the most polluted cities in the world for the second time in a row on Wednesday.
Swiss technology company IQAir, which compiles the list in real time, on Wednesday classified Sarajevo’s air quality index (AQI) at 301, corresponding to the “very unhealthy” category, followed by an AQI of 239 in the Indian metropolis of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta, note ).
“I felt like crying this morning because I had to inhale poison on the way to work,” said Amra Jaganjac, a resident of Sarajevo. “I know change takes time, but our authorities are too slow and pollution is killing us,” AP news agency quoted the woman as saying.
Air pollution is increasing by three percent every year
Dangerously high air pollution in the winter months has always been a seemingly unsolvable problem for Sarajevo, which lies in a valley surrounded by high mountains. However, the situation has steadily worsened as air pollution has increased by three percent annually over the past decade and tall new buildings block air circulation.
In addition, there are many technically outdated motor vehicles in the city, which hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics, and the increasing use of coal for heating contributes to high fine particle pollution. But not only Sarajevo, but also other cities in Bosnia suffer from high levels of air pollution.
The authorities and the EU are working to resolve the problem
Local governments have recently recognized air pollution as an acute problem and taken measures to tackle the problem, including by gradually improving public transport and increasing the number of energy-efficient buildings.
Sarajevo is one of 100 cities supported by the EU to achieve net-zero emissions by the end of this decade and is currently developing action and investment plans for climate neutrality in all possible areas. As part of a process involving the private sector, citizens and research organisations.
3,300 Bosnians die every year from bad air
According to the World Bank, an estimated 3,300 people in Bosnia die prematurely each year due to air pollution, accounting for nine percent of the country’s total annual mortality rate. Sarajevo and the northwestern city of Banja Luka are responsible for approximately 16 percent of this health burden.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
