It’s hard to envision Prishtina, Kosovo’s capital, experiencing a winter without being one of the cities with the most polluted air in the world anytime soon. Prishtina is regularly listed by The World Air Quality Index, along with major cities like Delhi, India and Dhaka, Bangladesh, as having some of the worst air in the world. Balkan capitals like Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Skopje, North Macedonia, often join Prishtina in this list.

Over a 30 day stretch in December 2024 and January 2025, the Kosovo Hydrometeorological Institute (KHI) reported that the air quality in Kosovo was moderate 12.1% of the time, good 15.3% of the time, unhealthy 33.8% of the time and acceptable 38.8% of the time. In Prishtina however, poor air quality was recorded 53% of the time, meaning the city’s residents breathed polluted air more than acceptable air.

As temperatures drop during winter, use of heating fuels increases, contributing to higher pollution levels. This adds to the significant pollution caused by the Kosova A and Kosova B power plants, which burn coal year-round to produce about 90% of Kosovo’s electricity.

Over a half-century-old, these power plants rank among the largest polluters in Europe. Combined with the extensive care use and the unorganized urban and interurban public transport system, pollution is pushed to extreme levels. Fuels used for vehicles, heating and power generation contribute to the climate crisis by releasing greenhouse gases and harmful particles that endanger the health of Kosovo’s citizens.

Air pollution has been reported to impact children, in particular their respiratory health. A 2024 UNICEF report found that particles PM2.5 and PM10 — dangerous to children due to their fineness and ability to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream — exceed the safety threshold in most regions of Kosovo. These particles are harmful for the development of children’s respiratory systems.

Air pollution severely affects life expectancy too. A World Bank report on climate and development in Kosovo, published at the end of 2024, revealed a concerning correlation between air pollution and premature deaths. The report states that air pollution causes approximately 760 premature deaths in Kosovo annually. In 2016, air pollution-related deaths resulted in an estimated $160-310 million loss to Kosovo’s GDP.

Closing existing power plants and transitioning to energy generation from non-fossil fuel sources would significantly reduce air pollution, however it is unlikely that the closure of these power plants will come into fruition anytime soon. In the short term, governments can implement other measures to reduce pollution, though these have yet to be established.

One such measure involves minimizing the use of fuels for individual and household heating by expanding district heating networks. Currently, only Prishtina, Gjakova, Mitrovica and the recent initiative in Obiliq have district heating networks. Other cities remain without them.

Another measure discussed is installing and updating filters in power plants. This effort could be expanded by requiring companies operating incinerators, like those used for producing building blocks, to install filters followed by compliance inspections.

In 2022, Kosovo was reported to be the second-largest air polluter in Europe. Following the example of other countries in the region, the transport sector could benefit from the introduction of fiscal incentives for electric cars. These incentives could include reducing customs duties or eliminating certain registration fees.

Alongside these suggestions on the power plants and electric cars, an even simpler solution would be to invest in green spaces. However, both the capital and other urban areas continue to prioritize concrete over green infrastructure. Aside from temporarily prohibiting the sale of coal and installing air quality meters over the years, there has been no significant effort to improve air quality.

Kosovo’s large coal reserves allow coal to be present in the energy market and with its low costs, citizens are attracted to using it for heat. On average, one ton of coal, depending on its quality, releases 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide.

The sale of coal was banned for a while as the city of Prishtina resembled a smoke-filled room after a disastrous year for air quality in 2018. That same year, the Ministry of Economic Development (now the Ministry of Economy) prohibited the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEC) from rewarding its employees with 10 tons of coal each, a bonus KEC had traditionally offered to its staff at the end of the year.

The ban on selling coal did not last long. In 2022, KEC resumed giving coal to its workers, citing the need to provide relief during the energy crisis that winter. In many cases, the donated coal was repurposed and sold on the black market.

In the lead up to the 2025 general elections, K2.0 analyzed the plans of the three largest political entities: the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), which is competing in coalition with the Social Democratic Initiative, the E-30 Intellectual Forum Party and the Conservative List.

Vetëvendosje (VV) has not yet published its election program. As a result, K2.0 analyzed the steps it has taken while governing the country over the past four years to assess what another mandate could entail if they secure one.

Vetëvendosje’s orientation in the last four years

In the list of commitments published on January 25, VV mentioned the rehabilitation of the Kosova A and Kosova B power plants, without providing further details. This commitment followed the opening of a tender on January 24 for rehabilitating and modernizing one block in the Kosova A power plant.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated that, after rehabilitation, block A3 will use 30% less coal and will be equipped with modern technology to reduce pollution by 50%. As this initiative would only affect one block, Kosova A’s other two blocks still remain as major sources of air pollution.

The promise to modernise the coal-fired power plants contradicts the pledges VV made about decarbonization during its mandate. VV has also failed to implement any projects that could be considered as a serious effort to reduce air pollution. Instead, VV has focused its efforts on increasing renewable energy sources. Although these efforts don’t target air pollution directly, they encourage a shift away from fossil fuels. However, implementation still falls short, and these renewable sources require time to produce tangible improvements in air quality.

VV aims for complete decarbonization by 2050, as stated in a draft energy strategy. K2.0 has shown that this objective will be difficult to realize. In September 2022, VV restored KEC’s tradition of distributing coal to their workers, repealing the 2018 decision, and taking Kosovo further away from complete decarbonization.

In regards to transportation, another major source of pollution, VV has made no efforts to promote the use of electric vehicles over the past four years. Electric vehicles reduce reliance on internal combustion vehicles, which emit carbon and other pollutants. There continues to be widespread use of internal combustion vehicles in Kosovo, especially those being phased out in their countries of origin, like South Korea, from where they are imported in large numbers.

Imported electric cars are subject to the same measures as internal combustion vehicles. In the case of new vehicles, they are exempt from excise duty. However, the same is true for internal combustion vehicles. Without any differentiation, there is a lack of incentive for citizens to transition to electric vehicles.

Closing Kosova A power plant

Closing Kosova A power plant, one of the largest air polluters in Kosovo, is a crucial step for reducing air pollution, but it remains a highly ambitious goal. It requires building an alternative, sustainable and reliable source of energy generation, which demands significant investment. The construction of new energy generation capacities has appeared in many programs of Kosovo’s political parties, as a prerequisite for shutting down the power plant.

LDK provides a detailed plan for the energy sector, which includes constructing a new gas-fired power plant with a capacity of 500 MW. This new power plant would replace the energy generated by Kosova A. However, LDK has also promised to repair the Kosova B power plant, as the gas-fired power plant would not fully cover the energy that is presently produced.

The closure of the Kosova A power plant, for LDK, would only occur after a gasification system becomes operational. Similarly, PDK has promised a gas-fired power plant, albeit with a smaller capacity.

The use of gas is common in transitional phases as countries shift towards generating energy from renewable sources, as it is a fossil fuel that pollutes less than sources like coal. The Energy Strategy 2022-2030 projects a timeline of seven years for Kosovo to operationalize a gas-fired power plant, taking into consideration the lack of infrastructure and workforce. Yet, this plan does not address the reduction of air pollution in the short term.

The AAK-led coalition has promised to close the Kosova A power plant but unlike LDK and PDK, plans to replace it with another coal-fired power plant. Party representatives have stated during TV debates that AAK plans to build a new coal-fired power plant with a capacity of 500 MW. This promise runs counter to policies aimed at protecting air quality.

Instead, AAK has promised to address a critical issue by banning the use of coal as a fuel in households and private institutions, arguing that this measure will reduce air pollution and its negative impact on public health. Previous bans have failed due to lack of enforcement and insufficient inspections, and AAK has not detailed concrete steps to implement this promise, risking similar challenges in its execution. Similarly, PDK has pledged to promote and support initiatives for developing central heating systems in urban areas as a measure to reduce household combustion for heating.

Each party envisions new renewable energy capacities that would represent a significant transformation for Kosovo, contributing to the protection of citizens’ health and the preservation of the environment. The success of these promises depends on effective implementation of the proposed policies and the development of sustainable energy sources to replace current capacities.

General language is commonly used in these programs, barely addressing the topic of protecting citizens’ health and the preservation of the environment. For example, LDK proposes to raise national standards for water, air, soil quality and biodiversity preservation, aligning them with European Union standards.

However, this commitment offers no concrete measures or clear steps for achieving these goals. The mention of reviewing existing standards and harmonizing them with international practices reflects a common bureaucratic approach that leaves room for interpretation and avoids providing specific details on implementation.

Similarly, AAK mentions controlling dust emissions through new monitoring technologies, using fuels that comply with EU criteria and implementing strict standards for air-polluting economic activities. These commitments also remain abstract, lacking concrete details for execution.

From electric cars to urban parks

Transport remains one of the biggest sources of air pollution. To reduce pollution in this sector, aligned with global trends, electric vehicle use is encouraged. Both PDK and LDK have placed the promotion of electric vehicles at the center of their environmental and energy programs.

PDK promises to eliminate customs duties on electric vehicles to make them more affordable. The plan includes a mandate for every gas station to install electric vehicle charging stations within four years, significantly expanding the charging infrastructure.

Additionally, PDK proposes to create dedicated parking spaces for electric vehicles in cities and subsidize installation of private charging stations, making these vehicles more practical for everyday use. To take this initiative further, PDK promises to replace state officials’ cars with electric vehicles, a measure that could encourage the adoption of electric vehicles without relying solely on private initiatives. Private initiatives have been consistently ahead of institutional steps regarding electric vehicles.

Meanwhile, LDK promises to eliminate all customs and tax obligations for registering electric vehicles, aiming to significantly boost their import. Alongside fiscal incentives, LDK pledges to implement a national plan for electric vehicles, which includes mandatory investments to install electric chargers at all existing fuel stations, improving accessibility for users.

While Prishtina and other major cities face an uncontrolled rush of construction, governments have failed to take concrete steps to increase green spaces or parks that could improve air quality. Although the central government typically assigns this responsibility to the local level, election programs this time include commitments to address this issue.

AAK promises to increase green spaces in urban areas, but, like many other pledges without a concrete plan, it lacks clarity. It remains unclear whether AAK intends to achieve this through a national program similar to Albania’s “Urban Renaissance” — Rilindja Urbane — which revitalized city squares nationwide or by allocating additional funds to municipalities to expand these spaces.

PDK plans to assist municipalities in developing new urban and peri-urban parks and improving existing green spaces. Through these projects, PDK also promises to contribute to preserving local biodiversity and improving air quality.

What can we learn from these election programs?

The election programs fail to propose measures that would reduce air pollution in the immediate future. While parties promise to replace the Kosova A power plant with new gas-fired power plants — a process expected to take up to seven years — and encourage the purchase of electric vehicles, none appear to view air pollution as an urgent problem. In fact, the promise to build a gas-fired power plant, one of the most significant commitments in these programs, focuses on addressing energy security rather than directly tackling air pollution.

However, the success of these promises depends on effectively implementing them and providing the financial and technical resources needed to realize these projects. Some initiatives, like creating urban parks, require only dedication and proper management, while others, like closing the Kosova A power plant, demand significant strategic planning and financial investment.

Implementing the measures mentioned above would not only reduce air pollution but also bring additional benefits, such as improved energy security, lower heating costs and reduced transportation expenses.

However, if these promises remain unfulfilled, air pollution will continue to be one of the main challenges in the coming winters and Prishtina will continue to have some of the most polluted air in the world.

Feature image: Dina Hajrullahu / K2.0.

Political parties' pledges to reduce air pollution

K2.0 analyzes election programs.

Uran Haxha

Political parties' pledges to reduce air pollution

K2.0 analyzes election programs.

Uran Haxha