ZAGREB, 10 Jan (Hina) - The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition, in collaboration with the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, is launching a programme this year aimed at improving air quality, with a total budget exceeding €220 million.

This initiative is deemed essential for safeguarding both public health and the environment.

Although air quality in Croatia has improved over the past decade due to reduced emissions, the use of cleaner fuels, and the implementation of the Clean Air Directive and NEC Directive, the Ministry notes that concentrations of pollutants in certain cities have exceeded prescribed levels in recent weeks.

As in previous winters, most air pollution caused by particulate matter exceeding limit values (PM10 and PM2.5) occurs in continental cities. The primary sources of this pollution are emissions from small household heating systems using solid fuels, such as wood, and emissions from traffic. The issue is exacerbated by a combination of cold weather and stable atmospheric conditions, which trap pollutants close to the ground, while a lack of wind and precipitation hinders natural air purification.

To address these challenges, the Ministry, in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Fund and the State Hydrometeorological Institute (DHMZ), plans to update the legislative, strategic, and planning framework for air protection and emission reduction. Additionally, further international cooperation will be initiated, and the conditions for monitoring the implementation of air quality programmes will be improved.

To ensure rapid adoption of measures and minimise the duration of any potential exceedances of pollution limits, numerous projects will be financed over the 2025 - 2026 period.

This ambitious programme aligns with Croatia's broader green transition strategy and aims to secure a sustainable and healthier future for its citizens.