Number of deaths due to air pollution in North Macedonia higher than in Europe
Compared to most European countries, North Macedonia has 5 to 10 times more deaths due to air pollution.
This was stated by Tatyana Cekuleva from the organization “O2” during the debate at the Permanent Inquiry Committee for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms. She underlined that in most cities out of 365 days of the year, citizens breathe clean air only 2 to 9 days a year.
“According to the latest report of the European Environment Agency, in 2022, 3600 people died earlier due to chronic exposure to PM 2,5 particles. If we exclude Lazaropole, where it is measured, in other measurement locations, we have clean air for a maximum of one and a half months a year, and that only in Kocani and Miladinovci, then from half a month in Ohrid and on the outskirts of Bitola, in all other measurement locations, it ranges from only 2 to 9 days a year,” stated Tatjana Cekulev, O2 Non-Governmental Sector.
Bojan Trpeshki from the civil sector said that two lawsuits related to air pollution have been filed before the country’s courts. The first lawsuit was filed at the Civil Court in Skopje against the Government, the Ministry of Environment and the City of Skopje. While the second lawsuit was filed at the Bitola Court against the Government, the Ministry of Environment and the Municipality of Bitola.
“Unfortunately, all the court proceedings filed have been dismissed. Currently, the procedure filed in Skopje is before the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg… Meanwhile, last week we received a negative decision from the Court of Appeal in Bitola,” said Bojan Tërpeski, Non-Governmental Sector.
The head of the Committee, Dimitar Apasiev from the Left, said that despite attempts to prevent the debate from taking place, he decided to call the session, as 20 MPs had requested it and if he did not do so, he risked criminal charges.
“If I don’t do this, I risk criminal charges for failure to perform my official duty by the 20 MPs who have asked me to call this debate,” said Dimitar Apasiev, Left.
40 guests were invited to the debate, but not all agreed to participate. The debate was boycotted by the members of the parliamentary majority, while Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Minister of the Environment, Izet Mexhiti, and Minister of Energy, Sanja Bozhinovska, were also invited, but they did not participate either. /Alsat.mk