North Macedonia: Utilizing A Systems Approach to Assess the Nexus between Air Pollution and Human Mobility and Mainstream the Nexus into Policy Development

  • Start Date
    2022
  • End Date
    2024
  • Project Status
    Active
  • Project Type
    Environment and Climate Change
  • Budget Amount (USD)
    100000.00
  • Coverage
    National
  • Year
    2021
  • IDF Region
    Europe
  • Prima ID
    MK10P0531
  • Projects ID
    NC.0064
  • Benefiting Member States
    North Macedonia
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) reports that annual mean concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 (Particulate Matter with a diameter of 2.5 to 10 micrometres) in the cities of North Macedonia have consistently and significantly exceeded the annual limit values in all urban monitoring sites since monitoring began (2019). Skopje, Bitola, and Tetovo are among the 10 most polluted cities in Europe. Air quality has been detrimentally impacted by polluting household practices, energy generation and modes of transport. The result is that 75% of the citizens of North Macedonia are exposed daily to air pollution at levels shown to cause adverse health outcomes, and research from other countries shows that highly mobile communities tend to be at even greater risk. This project will contribute to addressing the knowledge and policy gaps pertaining to the complex inter-linkages between human mobility, air pollution and clean energy in the context of the Government of North Macedonia’s vision on clean air. A case study will first be conducted in the city of Tetovo to generate data and evidence on these interlinkages, which will be the first of its kind in North Macedonia. This will lead to policy recommendations and briefing sessions for relevant government officials, aiming to transmit the findings into policy and practice. A public-facing awareness campaign will also be developed based on the data, following a whole-of-society approach to tackling the problem.