The strong air pollution of the past few days has once again brought attention to the inter-sectoral programme of measures designed to decrease the quantity of particulate matter (PM10) in the air. The basic goal of the legislation, which was passed in October, is to decrease fine particle emissions, and achieve a drop in dust concentrations of 15-20%.

At the session of the Hungarian Parliament's Committee on Sustainable Development, representatives of the Ministry of Rural Development stated, that while in the EU member nations the concentration of particulate matter may only go above the health risk threshold on a maximum of 35 days each year, in Hungary this annual ratio often reaches 80 days, the highest level in Europe. The high levels of particulate matter in Hungary are principally due to solid fuel heating on the part of the population, transport, industrial emissions and indirectly by pollution arriving from other countries.

Experts from the Ministry explained the measures we may apply – usually with the help of EU funding – to decrease the particle matter emissions of the most critical sectors. One important tool may be the filter exchange programme, which is aimed at decreasing the level of harmful emissions of those vehicles that cause the most intensive pollution. The support of public transport, the changing of car drivers' driving habits, the preferring and development of rail and combined goods transport methods, the review of parking systems and the introduction of the electronic collection of road tolls, as well as an effective change in people's way of thinking may all be future, cost-efficient methods of decreasing pollution – advised Ministry officials. According to the Ministry's standpoint, each year 400 buses around the country should be taken out of service and exchanged for new models with the use of European Union funds.

The Ministry of Rural Development began preparing the programme designed to decrease the concentrations of particulate matter last year in cooperation with non-governmental organisations. At the committee hearing, András Lukács, President of the Levegő Munkacsoport (Clean Air Action Group) noted that excellent cooperation had been established between the Ministry and the non-profit sector. He added: several measures may even mean added income for the state, such as the introduction of road tolls for lorries and heavy goods vehicles. According to the President of the Clean Air Action Group, combined (road-rail) freight transport should be supported with tax benefits and direct state contributions.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)