Authorities and citizens must do a lot more to solve the air pollution issue in Bosnia, Swedish Ambassador Anders Hagelberg said on Tuesday in N1's Novi dan programme.

“This is my third winter here and I have noticed that discussion on pollution intensified. That's a good first step, people expect from politicians to do something,” said the ambassador, pointing out a necessity to create a strategy to solve the pollution issue.

The Embassy of Sweden launched an initiative last year to raise awareness about high air pollution in Bosnia, particularly in its capital city, and symbolically called it Let's Talk About Air.

The embassy installed an air quality measurement system at the start of the year, which sparked interest in this topic and it continues to grow.

“It is our wish to discuss possible solutions but first we need (to raise) awareness about this problem. The air pollution kills many citizens, it shortens the lifespan of citizens and something has to be done. We have short-term and long-term solutions. In the long run, coal-fired power plants are not alternative (solution). Something must be done because people are dying,” said Hagelberg.

A recently released report drafted by five different environmentalist groups in Europe warned that the Ugljevik power plant in the north-east of Bosnia produces more sulphur dioxide than all German coal-fired power plants together.

In addition, authors of the report have warned that the area surrounding the power plant, dubbed as Chernobyl of Europe, is a direct cause of premature deaths in that part of the country.

Medical experts confirmed their concerns and said it was about time for the authorities to react.