FEDERAL MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM POZDER ON IMPORTANCE OF ADOPTING DRAFT LAW ON AIR PROTECTION: IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD FOR HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

SARAJEVO, JULY 25 (ONASA) – Federal Minister of Environment and Tourism Nasiha Pozder expressed her satisfaction with the consensus reached and the great support that the Draft Law on Air Protection received at yesterday’s session of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This legal solution, established by the FBiH Government on the proposal of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism, was adopted by the representatives with 77 votes in favor, none against, and one abstention.
Minister Pozder pointed out that this is a law that is under joint jurisdiction with the cantons, and was drafted in consultation with the profession, civil society, and the relevant cantonal ministries.
– The issue of air quality is vitally important and it is high time to start solving it by putting people’s health first. It is clear to us that, in addition to the law, we must also change the way we manage the economy, because I am convinced that the economy must be a leader in decarbonization and the energy transition, with the necessary subsidies and government support, but we ourselves must change our habits, our attitude towards, for example, public transport and cars, the way of heating in our homes, excessive energy consumption, concreting in cities.
The current Act dates from 2003 and was last amended and supplemented in 2010, and since then we have witnessed the deterioration of air quality throughout our country. The air condition in Tuzla, Zenica, Sarajevo, but also in Kakanj, Maglaj or Lukavac requires an immediate reaction and the implementation of the measures that will result from this new law. We managed to take this important step forward and I want to thank you for the contribution and quality suggestions and proposals that came from the professional community, civil society and representatives – said Minister Pozder.
She emphasized that, in the process of establishing this law, care was taken to adequately transpose the legislation of the European Union, with special reference to the countries of the region and our realistic budgetary and other possibilities. Thus, the issue of jurisdiction and the role of cantons and local communities in terms of air quality monitoring is more decisively defined, then the role of inspections at all levels and in various relevant areas such as the environment, urban planning, construction, but also market inspections, since this law also regulates the issue of home fireplaces, which was not the case before.
– The law also defines the method of cantonal cooperation in the creation of air quality protection plans, as well as intervention plans, their content and actions taken in the event of excessive pollution, the methods of financing and the creation of registers of polluters are specified. Although this law cannot be strictly viewed through economic justification, it is still economically justified in the long term, through the mechanisms it offers, for the reason that the goals of the Law are to avoid, prevent or reduce harmful consequences for human health, quality of life and the environment as a whole, and it is high time that this becomes our priority – Minister Pozder concluded.
In order for the Law to enter into force, it must also be adopted in the House of Peoples of the FBiH Parliament, which is expected next week, the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism announced. (end)