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On April 14, 2026, the first meeting of the Air and Health working group took place. Air quality is a significant environmental factor affecting public health, and it is therefore in the interest of responsible authorities to adopt measures to improve it and protect public health. The working group is an initiative of the LIFE IP – Air Quality Improvement (Populair) project, aiming to identify areas that go beyond the competencies of the environmental sector and to seek solutions to improve air quality in the interest of protecting the health of Slovakia’s population and meeting international commitments.

The LIFE IP project – Improving Air Quality (Populair) participated in the international networking meeting of the LIFE programme aimed at improving air quality in Europe in early March. The event, entitled Achieving Clean Air for European Citizens through the Ambient Air Quality Directive, was organised by the European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and the Environment (CINEA) to bring together LIFE project partners, experts and representatives of the European Commission.

On February 19, 2026, the Trenčín District Office issued and published the Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) for the Trenčín Region zone. The document is intended to help reduce pollutant emissions and improve air quality, especially in areas threatened by poor air quality. The PZKO measures focus, for example, on local household heating, transport or public information, and are targeted at risk municipalities in the region.

In recent days, the 6th monitoring visit of the LIFE IP project – Improving Air Quality took place, with the participation of a representative from the ELMEN organization, responsible for monitoring and presenting projects supported by the European Union under the LIFE program. The monitoring visit took place in a very constructive and positive atmosphere. The project is progressing successfully and the activities are being implemented according to the approved schedule.

In early December, a mobile monitoring station was installed in Ratnovce, western Slovakia, to measure PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 dust particles in the village for a defined period. This is an important milestone for the village, which has been increasingly active in the issue of air quality in recent years.

An introductory meeting on the update of the Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) for the Trnava Region zone was held at the Trnava Self-Governing Region Office on December 4, 2025. The event was organized by the Trnava District Office in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic and the Trnava Self-Governing Region (TTSG) as part of the activities of the LIFE IP project – Air Quality Improvement (Populair). The currently valid program was issued by the Trnava District Office in 2013, therefore its update is one of the key tasks of the upcoming period.

In connection with the assessment of the impacts of strategic documents on the environment (SEA), a public discussion of the draft Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) and the Report on the Evaluation of the Strategic Document for the Trenčín Region Zone was held on November 20, 2025.

In recent days, from November 24 to 26, the international conference Air Protection 2025 was traditionally held in the High Tatras. The event, intended for so-called "air enthusiasts", confirmed the urgency of the problem of air quality in Slovakia and its impact on public health.

The Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) is a strategic planning tool developed for a zone and agglomeration in which the concentration of a pollutant exceeds the limit or target value for the protection of human health and vegetation. In the Trenčín Region, the main source of air pollution is local heating with solid fuels, which results in high concentrations of BaP, PM2,5 and PM10. The subject of the program is measures to achieve good air quality in risk areas.

September 7 marks International Day of Clean Air. On this day, UN member states draw attention to measures for improving air quality. The common goal is to enhance living conditions for residents and minimize the negative effects of air pollution on health and the environment. This year’s slogan, “Racing for Air”, emphasizes the need to accelerate solutions and take joint action to ensure clean air for everyone.