Four years ago, we decided to turn our dissatisfaction with air pollution into action that could further improve air quality.
We started with what we knew best and what was troubling us the most – energy poverty. The energy poverty affects all those people who, for various reasons, consume more time and resources to produce less heat and more pollution in their homes and their immediate environment.
Back then, we summed up what we understood as the three most important points:
LET’S MEASURE – air quality
LET’S MEASURE – efficiency of stoves and furnaces
LET’S MEASURE – energy poverty levels
Air quality monitoring standard by the Serbian Environmental Protection Agency was at its lowest level. In 2016, the availability of valid hourly values from air quality measuring stations of the national network was 23%, only to decline to 22% in the following year. Air quality programmes were barely used, while civil monitoring was non-existent.
When we raised the question of energy-efficient stoves and furnaces in public, people were very reluctant to tackle it.
Today, four years later, our society understands these points better.
Last winter, the discussions about air quality and achievements in this field reached our gyms, beauty salons, coffee shops and restaurants. This winter, there will be a discussion about stoves and furnaces, as well.
It’s time for a change. We have no excuse to put this issue aside furthermore. We have to immediately start preparing everything we need to welcome the next heating season with a ready programme to reduce pollution from stoves and furnaces so that in the 2022/2023 season we have visible results in improving air quality. Let’s change.
Reckless controlled-field burning is not a necessity, but a choice that owners make in a given socio-economic situation. Let’s change the criteria they consider when making a decision.
Lignite-fired power plants generate significant air pollution. The costs of reducing this kind of pollution without changing the fuel being used are very high and do not eliminate the negative impact on climate change. It’s time for a change.
Some people got the know-how and managed to convince decision-makers to take their responsibilities, which resulted in decreased pollution. Their responsibility as visionaries is to trigger the change. We – taxpayers and consumers, will eventually be the ones to pay for the change, but this change will bring benefit to all of us in the long run.
LET’S CHANGE – air quality
LET’S CHANGE – efficiency of stoves and furnaces
LET’S CHANGE – energy poverty levels
RES Foundation – Partnerships for Resilience