Publication: Air Quality Deep Dive - Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland and Romania: Sustainable Cities Implementation Framework
Date
2022-02
ISSN
Published
2022-02
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
The World Bank is developing a
Sustainable Cities Implementation Framework for Europe and
Central Asia to inform World Bank and other development
partners’ ongoing support to national and sub-national
authorities in pursuit of Sustainable Cities. As part of
this work, preliminary assessments were conducted in four
countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland and Romania), which
identified the need for deep dive analytics on three topics
(Air Quality, Spatial Form and Solid Waste Management). This
report explores air quality challenges in urban areas,
focusing on existing data, identifying contributing factors
to poor air quality, and providing recommendations
(implementation support areas) to improve air quality in
Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland and Romania. Air pollution has a
major impact on the sustainability of an urban area. It is a
significant cause of premature death and morbidity,
representing the single, largest environmental health risk
in Europe. People in the larger cities tend to be exposed to
higher levels of nitrogen dioxide due to emissions from road
traffic. In central and eastern Europe, air quality is poor
in many areas, especially in urban settings, and the burning
of solid fuels for domestic heating and in industry results
in public exposure to the highest concentrations of
particulate matter and polycyclic hydrocarbons.
Citation
“World Bank. 2022. Air Quality Deep Dive - Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland and Romania : Sustainable Cities Implementation Framework. © Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/37361 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”