Carbon Tracker: 42% of global coal-fired power plants unprofitable
Around 42% of global coal capacity is already unprofitable because of high fuel costs, while it costs more to run 35% of coal power plants than to build new renewable generation facilities, finds Carbon Tracker’s study of the profitability of 6,685 coal-fired power plants worldwide, representing 95% (1,900 GW) of all operating capacity and 90% […]
Sarajevo world’s most polluted city, poor air quality seen across Western Balkans
The Sarajevo authorities could introduce measures to limit the use of cars, and are already urging individuals and businesses to cut down on the use of solid fuels and drive less. Air quality measurements by the US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) continued to show Sarajevo to be the world’s most polluted city earlier […]
President Rumen Radev vetoes higher taxes for older cars sought over air pollution
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has vetoed changes to the corporate income tax law introducing higher taxes on older cars in a push to tackle air pollution in the country. According to the presidential office’s press release, higher levies would not have the desired environmental impact. In 2017, Bulgaria was the first country to be sentenced […]
Albania bans imports of cars over 10 years old, not meeting Euro 5 emission standard from 2019
The Albanian government has adopted a decision banning imports of cars older than 10 years and not meeting the Euro 5 emission standard as of January 1, 2019, in an effort to reduce air pollution, the Albanian media reported. Under the government’s decision, cars produced more than 10 years ago and imported into Albania by […]
SEPA report: Excessive air pollution registered in Belgrade, other Serbian cities in 2017
The Serbian capital Belgrade had excessive air pollution throughout the 2010-2017 period, except in 2014, mostly due to particulate matter PM10, but also due to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions, according to the Serbian Environmental Protection Agency’s (SEPA) 2017 Annual Report on the Environment. PM10, defined as inhalable particles with diameters generally 10 micrometers and smaller, […]
Užice announces EUR 2 million energy efficiency investment in schools for 2019
The City of Užice has announced a EUR 2 million energy efficiency investment in seven schools for 2019 as part of the energy efficiency program jointly implemented with the Swiss Cooperation Office. Užice Deputy Mayor Nemanja Nešić said that the energy efficiency program, financed by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), is designed […]
Measures to tackle air pollution inefficient, financing inadequate – analysis
An analysis of the National Audit Office (NAO) identifies the inefficiency of measures and the inadequacy of financing as key reasons for poor results in tackling air pollution in Bulgaria. The NAO analysis is part of a collective audit by 15 audit offices in the region and the EU, covering the period from 2014 to 2017. […]
Construction of Serbia’s first geothermal district heating system kicks off
The municipality of Bogatić should get Serbia’s first geothermal district heating system by the beginning of the heating season, with this renewable energy source to be first used to heat public facilities and later to be made available to individuals and businesses, representatives of the municipality announced. The new geothermal heating system will result in […]