site.btaAir Pollution in Skopje, Other Towns in North Macedonia Is Among Top Media Stories

Skopje is once again among the ten cities in the world with the highest air pollution, with an index of 124 on Wednesday, the news media in the Republic of North Macedonia reported, citing data published on the IQAir website.

Measurements taken by the Ministry of the Environment during nighttime hours show significantly elevated concentrations of PM10 in all locations with measuring stations. While the permissible limit is 50 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/cu m), the concentration was 133 µg/cu m in Lisiche Municipality and 98.54 µg/cu m in the Centre municipality.

High air pollution levels were registered in Kavadarci, Kichevo, Bitola, Strumica, Kumanovo, Ohrid and Gostivar, media in North Macedonia report.

In October, the Ombudsman of North Macedonia received forty environment-related complaints, half of them about air quality. Ombudsman Naser Ziberi talked to the media before the start of an international conference in Skopje on ombudspersons and national institutions responsible for human rights and the environment.

Due to construction, the intensive use of natural resources, illegal landfills, burning of accumulated waste, lack of regional landfills and excessive gas emissions, air pollution in Skopje exceeds the permissible level several-fold. The residents of Tetovo, Strumica and Kochani also breathe polluted air, said Ziberi.

Before the start of the conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Environment and Physical Planning Minister Izet Medziti told the media that the government's policies address the causes of air pollution and the solution lies in gas supply to cities.

Air pollution is one of the main issues in North Macedonia, and the media say that "polluted air fills the pulmonology clinic in Skopje" with patients. At a news conference on Wednesday, pulmonologists urged citizens to wear masks.