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SARAJEVO, January 26 (FENA) - In Slovenia, air quality measurement is constant and systematic, as well as public information and alert on air quality. Warnings on exceeding permitted limits for harmful substances begin from the moment these values are exceeded. That limit is the same in Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and amounts to 50 µg PM / m3 for more than 35 days a year, said Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to BiH Zorica Bukinac in an interview with FENA.
Interview by: Bisera Džidić
The first step to solve a problem is to know its causes and consequences.
To raise awareness, to inform, educate and confidence in the profession are important for expectations of local, national and international policies that have an environmental impact.
“This is extremely important for Slovenia, because it is a biodiversity in a relatively small area with a high dependence on communication and with a high degree of integration into international economic flows,” said the Ambassador.
She points out that awareness of vulnerability under the influence of various factors has increased.
“At the same time, the awareness with a systematic approach and unity of all factors is a way of reducing that vulnerability. Our environment is very exposed due to natural disasters. Human environmental impact further makes the situation weaker. Therefore, it was not difficult for people to connect air, water, soil pollution with the phenomena they felt on their own health, and even worse, on children's health, loss of income, material damage,” explains the Slovenian Ambassador, adding that any project that has an impact on the environment is automatically of great interest to general and professional public and individuals. Therefore, public debate with every investment is the fiercest when it comes to projects that have an obvious environmental impact.
Exposure to the international market and integration into international events have brought additional awareness of clean environment as a condition for healthy life and at the same time a factor for the development of the entire society. Slovenia, as EU Member State, is obliged to implement the Air Quality Directive. Failure to implement that directive has legal and financial consequences for the country, Ambassador Bukinac noted.
The example of Ljubljana as a city that successfully confronts environmental challenges is often mentioned in the media.
“When we talk about Ljubljana, the beginning of the effort for better air goes back to 1966 when our largest heating plant in the city was built. It was an extremely important object. In the last 50 years, the development and expansion of the district heating system, and later also the natural gas network, has taken place, replacing individual fireboxes and local boiler rooms. The energy source has been replaced over time in the heating plant, low sulfur coal is used, and filter systems have been upgraded. Our biggest problem in the past has been energy efficiency. The effects of these measures have a synergistic effect, encompass the impact of energy efficiency on the environment, health and economy - and it all remains to the local economy. And finally, there is a degree of reputation and attractiveness of the state for good investors, tourists, which is directly reflected in economy. Sarajevo is very dependent on tourism. This should not be neglected,” Ambassador Bukinac emphasized.
Energy concept is among effective decisions.
“The concept is based entirely on efficient energy use and priority of district heating and gas as the preferred heating mode where both systems are accessible. Numerous facilities have been renovated. The most obvious was the link between clean air and energy efficiency measures. The implementers of this project, the City of Ljubljana, Resalta and Petrol, have received the European Commission and the European Energy Service Award for 2019, for this project,” the Slovenian Ambassador explained.
She believes that Bosnia and Herzegovina has knowledge and information about this problem.
“Last spring, I attended the presentation of the report on integrated clean air management in the Sarajevo Canton, a study supported by Heinrich Böll Stiftung and conducted by your experts (a team of experts led by professor Arzudin Husika). Professor Aljaž Plevnik from the Slovenian Urban Planning Institute participated in the research too. The empirical part of the project was carried out in cooperation with the City of Ljubljana, when in 2018 a team of researchers and representatives of the Sarajevo Canton traveled to learn more about Ljubljana's solutions to this problem. The report also contains examples of Dublin, Graz and other cities. But it seems to me that sometimes the problem is that we deny within ourselves the urgency and seriousness of the problem and its consequences on all of us, and our environment. I would say that this is also due to the fact that laymen, users, voters, politicians talk more about these problems, and that we do not listen carefully the real experts. Experts need our help in articulating the problem and illustrating the link between cause and effect, as well as activating society. If I look back at the study mentioned above, which stated that with the continuous and systematic cooperation of all levels of government, professionals and citizens, people in Sarajevo could have cleaner air in five years. I find this to be the right step in the right direction. One has only to continue and persevere,” concluded Slovenian Ambassador to BiH Zorica Bukinac.
(FENA) A. B.
