Air pollution

The European Commission has announced an investment of € 116.1 million under the LIFE program for the environment and climate action, its press service announced, quoted by bTV. 

Air pollution from heating and transport is a significant problem in Bulgaria.

The European Commission on Thursday sent a formal notice to Greece, warning authorities over pollution levels in Athens and saying that they need to take action "to ensure good air quality and safeguard public health."

The reason for the discussion аre dozens of complaints from Bulgarian citizens, reported NOVA TV. 

Ombudsman Maya Manolova organized a public discussion on air pollution issues. There were dozens of complaints from citizens, among which the largest number of people from Sofia and in particular from residents of "Krasna Polyana" district.

There is air pollution in several cities of the country again, according to data of the European Environment Agency's "Air Quality" indicator. The most polluted is the air in the city of Blagoevgrad, South-West of Bulgari. For the past 24 hours over, the average daily levels of air pollutant concentrations exceed the norms 3 times, reports BNT. 

Air quality in Sofia improved last year compared to 2017. Exceedances of fine particulate matter standards were 17% lower in 2018 compared to the previous year.

Air pollution has been registered in 7 cities in Bulgaria, according to the European Commission's Air Quality Index.

Data from this morning show that in several cities the concentration of particulate matter (PM10) and (PM2.5) is above the standards.

 Increased concentration of particulate matter has been registered in several neighbourhoods of the capital city, according to information on Sofia Municipality's website.

 Air pollution is registered in the neighbourhoods of Mladost, Druzhba, Pavlovo, Hipodruma and Nadezhda, as well as in the area of Kopitoto.

Mayors will be fined BGN 5,000 to 10,000 if the municipalities fail to reduce air pollution, according to legal amendments voted by the Parliament today, Focus News Agency reports. By March 31, the mayors have to report on the implementation of municipal air quality programmes, otherwise they will be fined BGN 1,000 to 5,000.

Nine in 10 Greek citizens are concerned about environmental degradation and state that they are trying to do their part to protect nature, according to the findings of a survey released on Thursday.

Of the poll respondents, 91.1 percent said that they consider environmental degradation a real threat.

Residents of three districts in Sofia (Krasna Polyana, Zapaden Park and Ovcha Kupel) on 11th of December protested against poor air quality. The protesters gathered in front of the Ministry of Environment and Water, reports BNT.