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Description
The aim of this project is to perform frequent mobile monitoring and prioritization of measures in relation to individual groups of pollution sources, their financial intensity and emission significance in the Moravian-Silesian Region.
Although Moravian-Silesian Region (MSR) has two areas with Air Quality Improvement Programs it lacks measure priorities in relation to groups of polluters, measure costs and emission reduction signifikance which is a key factor for decision making of elected representatives about air quality improvement money spending.
The project will result into Action plan document (AP) with measures leading to air quality improvement. NILU will contribute here with Best practice transmission, effect measurement and air contamination negative impact decreasing measures demonstration. Inovative is the application and development of integrated approach (measurement, identification, measures). Important part of the project i salso the solution of communication and other barriers between measures, management tools and polluters.
MSR will use AP for air quality management (e.g. specific grants). Residents will experience AP impacts through stabilised or even higher air quality. Project partners will on one side transfer its experience into AP processing and on the other side they will benefit by new inspiration and close cooperation between themselves and MSR either. Key national expert, research and methodical bodies will collaborate on project solution. Professional institutes of three ministries with activity description of air quality solution in relation to environmental protection, communal hygiene and environmental impact of transport (CHI, NIPH, TRC). Two private companies have long-term tradition in air quality monitoring and research and in evaluation of air contamination impact on population, environment and ecosystems in national scale (Ekotoxa, Envitech). NILU is an air protection key unit in Norway.
Summary of project results
Although the Moravian-Silesian Region (MSR) has valid Air Quality Improvement Programmes, it lacked prioritisation of measures in relation to individual groups of sources, their financial costs and emission significance. The aim of the project in its first phase was to target the most problematic groups of sources based on the analysis of historical series of air quality measurement and to analyse the measures already implemented for them. In the second phase, the project followed up by proposing the most effective measures in terms of finance and reduced emissions which were incorporated into an Action Plan (AP) to improve air quality in the MSR.
In the first step, available data from the measurements were analysed for selected pollution source locations. Based on the analysis, targeted monitoring was implemented to provide additional data. The results of the first two activities were analysed and used as the main basis for further project solution. In the next activity, the measures already implemented were analysed in detail. The output of the activity also included the determination of the cost-effectiveness of various measures with recommendations for subsequent application in the Action Plan. The aim of the next activity was a detailed description of the main groups of pollution sources for subsequent determination of measures in the Action Plan. This was followed by actual preparation of an action plan with four newly proposed measures to improve air quality. The project included the implementation of three workshops which presented the work done. On 4 March 2024, the Regional Council accepted the prepared action plan. The last activity was to provide for the project’s publicity. The implementation of activities was important for the development of an action plan, the use of which will lead to the stabilization or improvement of the environment in the Moravian-Silesian Region.
The main output of the project is an Action Plan reacting to existing and expected changes in air quality in the Moravian-Silesian Region and addressing this issue in order to ensure sustainable functioning and development of cities and the entire region and to improve (or at least maintain) the quality of life of its inhabitants. The main criteria for preparation were the amount of reduced emissions and economic efficiency, i.e. the action plan proposed the most effective measures to reduce air pollution in the area. The target groups are the Moravian-Silesian Region, its inhabitants and project partners. The implementation of the project created a prioritization of measures for individual sources of pollution, their financial demands and emission significance. There were also 4 new measures to improve air quality.
The purpose of the project, based on the developed sub-activities, was to create an action plan which can be used for subsequent air quality management, e.g. in the form of specific subsidies. The Action Plan is expected to have a significant impact on stabilising or improving air quality. As part of the project, 4 new measures to improve air quality were created, which can be further used in practice. These measures are: 1) Financial support of projects within the framework of New Green Savings for the provision of funds for the renewal of combustion sources ("boilers, stoves and heat pumps"), 2) Financial support of projects within the framework of New green savings for the provision of financial means for insulation, 3) Subsidy program of the region specifically aimed at replacing old boilers and heaters (lower than the 3rd emission class) with modern natural gas boilers, 4) Enlightenment in the form of educational performances "SMOKEMAN ATTACKS".