Project: Roma communities: Reducing pollution for poor communities in Sofia
Project aim: By decreasing air pollution, the project will contribute toward reduced health disparities, increased fairness, and equality in living conditions for poor communities in Sofia, and healthier lives for children and future generations.
Sofia ranks among the 15 most polluted cities in the world according to IQAIR World Air Quality Index in 2022[1] with heating by burning (wood, coal, garbage), road traffic and industries being a major contributor to the pollutants. In order to dramatically reduce air pollution levels, the City of Sofia needs to convert 70,000 private households from furnace heating to gas boilers or heat pumps as quickly as possible. Majority of these households are attributed to the poor Roma communities in the city. While air pollution and in general climate change and its negative effects are a priority for EU Member states, including Bulgaria, little if no specific measures have been taken as regards air pollution in Roma informal settlements for the past years.
Fakulteta neighborhood is the largest Roma-only informal settlement in Sofia. Extreme poverty, high density, and illegal house dwellings are among the key characteristics of the settlement, along with a lack of access to public services like water, sewage, and electricity supply. Further, the destitution in the neighborhood compels most of the households to use various raw and toxic materials for heating. The living conditions, therefore, adds to the already disproportionately high air pollution exposure of this community.
This project will understand the gaps and therefore, develop feasible and acceptable solutions for cleaner residential heating in Fakulteta neighborhood. The aim will be to change perceptions of Roma communities towards air pollution through raising awareness on the issue.
Term: 01.01.2023 – 31.12.2023
Place: Sofia, Fakulteta neighborhood
Funding: Trust for social achievement Foundation
[1] World Air Quality Index (AQI) Ranking | IQAir
