Implementation of the air quality management system in the local governments of the Opole Voivodeship

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Each year 44 000 people in Poland die prematurely because of it. In Opole Voivodeship, air quality has been lower that the limited value for many years, making it the main environmental problem in the region. The main type of pollutants are PM10, PM2.5 and benzo(a)pyrene from private household heating. The target is to reduce the regions emissions in this area by 1 350 Mg per year compared to the end of 2017 by 2025, a significant challenge for local governments, which must organise a strategy for replacing thousands of household boilers. The implementation of previous Air Quality Plans (AQPs) highlighted local governments lack of a relevant competences and management systems. This was the reason for the ineffectiveness of the AQP implemented in 2013. Legislative and administrative measures introduced in Poland so far have beeninsufficient and must be strengthened at the national, regional and local levels. Current AQP cover increasing capacity and improving the quality of public administration for implementing such plans. Introducing a management system will increase the effectiveness of measures to improve air quality, reduce administrative burdens and ensure optimisation of results in relation to the expenditure incurred. To increase the efficiency of AQP implementation, it is necessary to integrate into one management system various activities for improving air quality and funding from various levels and various central and regional funding programmes in order to achieve synergies. In addition, implementation of an AQP management system will also help implement EU climate and energy policy and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the LIFE_AQP_Opolskie_2019.PL project is to shorten the AQP delivery time, increase the capacity and improve the quality of public administration of the Opole Voivodeship at all levels in relation to remedial actions set out in the plan. It will achieve this aim by:

Organising and implementing a unified management system that supports the AQP implementation. All levels of local government of Opole Voivodeship will put these regulations into practice; and

Increasing public awareness in the field of air quality, by enhancing the involvement of local governments, society, NGOs and local entities in taking remedial activities supporting the actions in the field of AQP.

Specifically, the project aims to:

Prepare and manage a platform for cooperation among partners, including the sharing of information on air quality and good practice (at least 42 local governments from the Opole Voivodeship will participate until the end of September, 2022);

Increase the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of service for residents by implementing the AQP management system (activities to increase the competence of communal AQP coordinators and equip workplaces with the necessary information resources (IT system, database) are ensured in least 42 communes of the Opole Voivodeship until the end of January, 2022);

Expand available information on air quality by integrating into the existing air quality monitoring system real time data from many places (ensure until the end ofSeptember, 2021);

Integrate, develop and share the environmental information system in Opole Voivodeship which includes an improved list of emissions, processes and IT applications supporting the implementation of tasks included in the AQP (reporting obligations that enable electronic collection, processing, storage and provision of information on air quality in the region are ensure until the end of 2021);

Increase the involvement of the public, non-governmental organisations and local entities in the implementation of remedial tasks resulting from the AQP through the implementation of information and education activities (ensure until the end of February, 2022); and

Improve monitoring of the implementation status of AQP and control of its compliance with obligations, (ensured until the end of February 2022).

 

The project aims to prepare society for the adoption of WHO standards.

The project will also contribute to the implementation of EU policies by increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, reducing primary energy consumption, increasing the share of renewable energy and reducing generated waste from furnaces. It will also address poverty and increase public administration efficiency, reducing administrative burdens and improving access to environmental protection information. It will furthermore contribute to increased employment in modern sectors of the economy, while promoting citizen science and cooperation between science, business and administration.

RESULTS

Expected results:

80% of inhabited buildings in the Opole Voivodeship included in the AQP regional database;

40 certified coordinators of AQP operating in the region;

Two hardware and database servers working for AQP management;

40 active users of the IT system for managing and reporting AQP results;

400 training sessions carried out for the inhabitants covered by AQP;

At least 60% of communes implementing AQPs, including those running a subsidy scheme for more ecological heat sources replacement;

At least 30% of inhabitants declaring their intention to change their source of heat to a more ecological one or have already done so;

10 000 individual heat sources replaced for a more ecological one;

400 tonnes per year reduction of PM10 dust emissions from the municipal and housing sector; and

60 000 tonnes per year reduction in CO2 annual emissions from the municipal and housing sector.