Serbia adopts 2030 Air Protection Program with action plan

The government adopted the Air Protection Program for the Republic of Serbia for the period 2022-2030 with an action plan, defining measures for the improvement in air quality.

Serbia got its first strategic document in the air protection segment, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said. The implementation of the Air Protection Program for the Republic of Serbia for the period 2022-2030, which the government has just passed alongside an action plan, will cost EUR 2.6 billion, according to the announcement.

The goal is to decrease emissions in the sectors like energy, stationary combustion facilities, transportation, large industrial facilities and agriculture, the ministry pointed out and added the activities are planned to be conducted in cooperation with other institutions, companies and citizens.

The program defines measures and activities aimed at helping municipal authorities in the development of air quality plans, short-term action plans and local air quality monitoring plans.

The approval process for the program took a while so 2022, the first year in its scope, is almost over

The document envisages accelerated replacement of heating devices in households. The measures include “the renewal of the vehicle fleet by deregistration,” as the ministry put it, explaining it means “delivering the oldest” diesel Euro 1, 2 and 3 passenger and light commercial vehicles and buses to recycling centers.

The program entails activities for education, the adoption of best practices and awareness raising aimed at achieving consensus on the importance of changing habits so that entire society would contribute to the efforts.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection said improving air quality is one of its key priorities.

However, the year 2022, the first in the scope of the program, is almost over. The draft was issued more than a year ago. Serbia’s air quality is among the worst in Europe.