MFK Completes Emissions Inventory in Kosovo Municipalities
MFK will soon complete its Environmental Data Collection activity. This activity has supported both the Kosovo Hydro-Meteorological Institute with hardware, software, and trainings; as well as the Kosovo Public Health Institute with applications, campaign and trainings.
The development of an air pollutant emissions inventory enables an analysis of different emissions sources, which can be used as input data for the air quality modelling process by converting the emissions into pollutant concentrations throughout Kosovo. Air quality modelling maps the locations of the most polluted areas in the country and the emissions sources responsible for pollution. Furthermore, the air pollutant emissions inventory is an important component of Air Quality Action Plans, which are developed to reduce emissions and improve air quality.
The following emissions sources in Kosovo are included in the inventory:
- Small combustion: heating (including cooking) in domestic, public and business services
- Transportation: roads and aviation
- Industry: power plants and large industrial installations
- Agriculture
- Landfills (waste)
- Mines and quarries
- Natural sources: forests
The air pollutant emissions inventory includes the following substances: PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), total non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb). The emissions inventory methodology is based on the 2019 EMEP Guidebook.
The highest emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 pollutants in Kosovo come from small combustion sources (mainly from domestic heating), followed by industry, energy and traffic.
Industry and transportation are the largest sources of NOx emissions, while industry and energy dominate SO2 emissions (with a share of 96%). The most significant pollution is concentrated in urban areas and along main thoroughfares.
CHECK OUT THE FULL INFOGRAPHIC ON THE MAIN CONTRIBUTORS OF AIR POLLUTION IN KOSOVO.
The air pollutant emissions inventory in Kosovo has been developed by ATMOTERM Company (in consortium with NIRAS and UBA) as part of the MFK project: “Supply of Project Management, Air Quality Information Management, Behavior Change and Communication Services”, and is based on data from the Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for specific zones in Kosovo, Kosovo Agency of Statistics, Ministry of Infrastructure, and Kosovo Cadastral Agency.
The Air Quality Project is a component of the Environmental Data Collection activity, which is implemented by Millennium Foundation Kosovo (MFK). MFK is an accountable entity responsible for the implementation of the $49 million Threshold agreement, signed by the Republic of Kosovo and the Millennium Challenge Corporation in 2017. MFK’s mission statement calls for accelerating Kosovo’s transition to energy independence and good governance. Kosovo Threshold Program addresses two key constraints to Kosovo’s economic growth: an unreliable supply of electricity; and real and perceived weakness in rule of law, government accountability and transparency. This project specifically aims to improve the public availability and analytical use of environmental data by businesses, the Government, Civil Society, and NGOs, thus promoting data driven decision-making.