Program for reducing the level of pollutions of the air of Sofia City
Summary
The project aims at analyzing the level of emissions from different sources
critical for the sustainable development of the city of Sofia, as well as at
proposing measures, structured in a program, for improving the quality of air.
The project is financed by the Municipality of Sofia and own contribution by
Sofia Energy Agency - SOFENA.
The annual quantities of harmful emissions and the levels of air pollution in
Sofia Region were computed and modeled. An assessment was conducted of the emissions
of harmful substances, thrown in the atmospheric air. This included evaluation
of both the pollution levels and the distribution of emissions by pollution
sources for 13 different types of polluters.
As a result a program for reducing the level of polluters of the air of Sofia
was proposed for approval to the Sofia Municipal Council.
Context
The following international and national engagements and normative documents
require implementation of such a program for the cities and regions in Bulgaria:
o Air pollution as a world-wide problem;
o Catastrophic impact of harmful emissions on the citizens' health and global
climatic changes;
o Ratification of Kyoto Protocol on 15th of August, 2002 by Bulgarian government,
which requires a decrease of the level of green-gas emissions with 8% as compared
to the 1988 level;
o Engagements, accepted in connection with the joining of Bulgaria to EC, that
follow from the EC directives concerning the ecology, energy production and
sustainable development;
o National environmental strategy obliging the regions and cities (where the
emission levels are critical) to develop and implement own programs for reducing
the level of pollution.
Objectives
The main objective was a program for controlling AQ and managing AQ to be created
for the city of Sofia. Some additional aims are: determination of the impact
of generated emissions on the neighboring regions, as well as their influence
on the citizens' health in those regions and assessment of the tendencies of
change of emissions in critical places in Sofia.
Process
The annual quantities of harmful emissions and the levels of air pollution
in Sofia Municipality were computed and modeled.
An assessment was conducted of the emissions of harmful substances, thrown in
the atmospheric air. This included evaluation of both the pollution levels and
the distribution of emissions by pollution sources for 13 different types of
polluters. A modeling of the pollution from point and area sources is conducted,
which provides a visual presentation of the distribution of harmful emissions
on the territory of Sofia Municipality.
On the base of the analysis a program was prepared divided into two parts: controlling
AQ and managing AQ. (Fig. 1)
| Code | Program name | Expected results | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
| SC | Arrangement of the process of air quality control | Organization and technical covering of the activities
for data collection and processing |
x
|
|||||||
| MC | Developing of a detailed sector program for air quality |
-red. of energy expenses 20% -red. of greenhouse gases 20% -red. of harmful emissions 30% |
x
|
x
|
||||||
| LC | Control and analysis of the air quality |
-detailed air quality assessment; -data analysis;-information for investment; -monitoring and analysis of the results |
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
|
| SM1 | Incentives for normative support of the air quality program | Ensuring a good legislation framework for program implementation |
x
|
|||||||
| SM2 | Establishment of a municipal fund for sustainable development of Sofia | Providing finances for feasibility studies and air quality projects |
x
|
|||||||
| MM | Project for reduction of the harmful influence from the transport sector | 30%reduction of the emissions in the city center by 2008 compared to 2000.(first stage) |
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
||||
| LM | Municipal program for energy efficiency and renewable energy sources |
Reducing end energy use: -municipal buildings 25-30%; -street lighting 20%; -transport 15%; -municipal enterprises 25% Emissions reduction: 1 000 000 t for 2008/2012 y |
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Legend:
SC Short-term program for control; SM Short-term program for management
MC Medium-term program for control; MM Medium-term program for
management
LC Long-term program for control; LM Long-term program for management
Results
The following main conclusions concerning the pollution sources and options
for their controlling, as well as possible measures for improving the atmospheric
air conditions can be made from the table data:
o the automobile city transport is a major source of pollution - 57% of the
total emissions of NOx , 93% of CO emissions, 70% of CO2 emissions, and 83%
of the emissions of N2O, which imposes a special attention on the problem of
Sofia traffic;
o the production activity of Kremikovtci causes 94% of the dust emissions, 75%
of CO2 emissions, and 83% of the emissions of NOx;
o comparison with previous data shows a significant decrease of the emissions
from the burning installations of "Toplofikacia-Sofia" (especially
of NOx) after the reconstruction of CHP "Sofia-Iztok" (replacement
of part of the burners with low-emission ones);
o the depositing of domestic waste causes the higher levels of pollution with
methane in the atmospheric air;
o the data regarding the dust pollution are not quite indicative for they include
neither the street dust nor the emissions of PM10 (not measured at all) from
the concrete-production plants.
A modeling of the pollution from point and area sources is conducted, which
provides a visual presentation of the distribution of harmful emissions on the
territory of Sofia Municipality.
|
|
|
|
|
Lessons learned and repeatability
Having in mind all the international and national engagements and normative
documents that require implementation of such a program for the cities and regions
in Bulgaria, the approach could be used for development of AQ programmes for
other Bulgarian cities.