Bosnian and Herzegovina suffers from toxic air pollution

Five days in January in BiH saw readings of over 100 g m Air pollution at this level, making it difficult to breathe, according to the report from Human Rights Watch. Even short periods of exposure can lead to eye, throat, and nose irritation. These levels can cause serious health problems over the long term.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's winter air pollution is due to its continued reliance on burning coal and wood for heat and coal to generate electricity.

The country has the fifth-highest mortality rate from air pollution in the world. An estimated 3,300 people in the country die from air pollution every year, and 9 percent of all deaths are caused by air pollution.

Thousands of people are living with increased respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Human Rights Watch has documented how the toxic air in Bosnia and Herzegovina has devastating effects on its residents' right to health and life, particularly older people and children.

Air pollution and climate change are some of the biggest contributors to global warming and air pollution that kills an estimated 7 million people every year, and burning coal is a major contributor to both climate change and air pollution.

While the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina have taken some steps to reduce air pollution, they are also prolonging the use of coal to produce electricity.

The government extended the life of two outdated and highly polluting coal plants, Tuzla 4 and Kakanj in March 2022, despite the Energy Community Treaty mandating that these plants close in 2022. Energy security concerns are cited as justification for the continued operation of the government-owned electricity provider.

The government of Republika Srpska has yet to cancel a permit for the construction of the Ugljevik 3 coal plant despite a recent court decision to annul the government's approval of the coal plant's environmental impact assessment.

The decision was due to a lack of consultation with interested parties in neighboring countries, particularly Croatia.

People in Bosnia and Herzegovina shouldn't have to face another winter breathing in deadly air when the country has a lot of potential for renewable energy. Time for Bosnia and Herzegovina to embrace its clean energy potential and the jobs it can create, and put an end to coal and toxic air forever.