BIRN Fact-Check: Skopje Mayor’s Green Agenda a Work in Progress

The mayor promised a mass tree-planting effort, new construction legislation, more inspections, a rethink on public transportation, the gasification of households and a host of other measures.

According to the available data and the opinions of experts, some progress has been made towards cleaning up Skopje and its air.

Figures show that over the last few years air pollution has indeed fallen slightly, a significant number of new trees have been planted and many new bicycle lanes have been built.

But in some areas, the pledges are still on paper only or stuck in red tape somewhere between local and state authorities.

A new construction regulation that envisages more greenery per residential building is yet to be implemented, and the the gasification of the city has not yet reached the final, tertiary stage in order for gas to be available to households. While plans are in place for a new, eco-friendly Rapid Bus Transit system, construction has yet to start.

Skopje covered in fog and smog only few days after the start of the winter heating season in October 28, 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/GEORGI LICOVSKI

Air pollution falls but it's debatable why

Though a far cry from the promised 50 per cent reduction, the latest available data from measuring stations around the city show a small but consistent decrease in air pollution over the past four years.

In 2017, the average annual concentration of PM10 particles was 70.03 µg/m3. In 2018, that figure fell to 57.39 µg/m3 and to 51.53 µg/m3 in 2019. Last year, it reached a new low of 47.7 µg/m3.

City authorities say the drop is a result of their efforts. But experts are less sure.

"Right now we cannot conclusively say that these measurements are...