Po redaktohet Skopje (paragraf)

=== Pollution ===
[[File:Urban pollution ,Градско загадување.jpg|thumb|Pollution contributors in the area of Skopje]]

Air pollution is a serious problem in Skopje, especially in winter. Concentrations of certain types of [[Particulates|particulate matter]] (PM2 and PM10) are regularly over twelve times the [[World Health Organization|WHO]] recommended maximum levels. In winter, smoke regularly obscures vision and can lead to problems for drivers. Together with India and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[North Macedonia]] is one of the most polluted places in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/india/articles/delhi-most-polluted-city-in-the-world/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/india/articles/delhi-most-polluted-city-in-the-world/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Delhi the most polluted city in the world |last=Smith |first=Oliver |date=5 November 2019 |website=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Skopje's high levels of pollution are caused by a combination of smoke from houses, emissions from the industry, from buses and other forms of public transport, as well as from cars, and a lack of interest in caring for the environment. Central heating is often not affordable, and so households often burn firewood, as well as used car tyres, various plastic garbage, petroleum and other possible flammable waste, which emits toxic chemicals harmful to the population, especially to children and the elderly.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/skopje-europe-polluted-capital-city-190312092012504.html |title=Inside Skopje, Europe's most polluted capital city |last=Lee and Mickute |first=Joi and Viktorija |date=19 March 2019 |website=Al Jazeera}}</ref>

The city's smog has reduced its air quality and affected the health of many of its citizens, many of which have died from pollution-related illnesses.

An [[Application software|application]] called ''AirCare'' ('MojVozduh') has been launched by local eco activist [[Gorjan Jovanovski]] to help citizens track pollution levels. It uses a [[Traffic light]] system, with purple for heavily polluted air, red for high levels detected, amber for moderate levels detected, and green for when the air is safe to inhale.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.itu.int/how-skopje-north-macedonia-is-using-innovative-tech-to-clean-up-air-pollution/ |title=How Skopje is using innovative tech to clean up air pollution |last=ITU |date=5 June 2019 |website=ITU News |language=en |access-date=2 December 2019 |archive-date=2 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202214232/https://news.itu.int/how-skopje-north-macedonia-is-using-innovative-tech-to-clean-up-air-pollution/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> The application relies on both government and volunteer [[sensor]]s to track hourly air pollution. Unfortunately, government sensors are frequently inoperable and malfunctioning, causing the need for more low-cost, but less accurate, volunteer sensors to be put up by citizens. Faults on government sensors are especially frequent when the pollution is measured is extremely high, according to the AQILHC (Air Quality Index Levels of Health Concern).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://aqicn.org/city/macedonia/centar/ |title=Centar, Skopje, Macedonia Air Pollution: Real time Air Quality Index (AQI) |date=2 December 2019 |website=AQICN}}</ref>

On 29 November 2019, a march, organized by the Skopje Smog Alarm [[Activism|activist community]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/skopjesmogalarm/ |title=Skopje Smog Alarm |website=www.facebook.com |language=en |access-date=2 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://meta.mk/en/skopje-smog-alarm-asks-for-1-of-the-gdp-for-2018-for-the-protection-of-the-environment/?upm_export=html&lang=en |title=Skopje Smog Alarm asks for 1% of the GDP of 2018 for the protection of the environment |date=7 November 2017 |website=META Mk}}</ref> attracted thousands of people who opposed the government's lack of action in dealing with the city's pollution, which has worsened since 2017, contributing to around 1300 deaths annually.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraf.rs/english/2606068-beijing-is-nothing-compared-to-skopje-air-pollution-is-too-high-four-men-die-each-day-photo |title=Beijing is nothing compared to Skopje – Air pollution is too high, four men die each day |last=J. |first=D. |date=7 February 2017 |website=Telegraf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://meta.mk/en/skopje-smog-alarm-asks-for-1-of-the-gdp-for-2018-for-the-protection-of-the-environment/?upm_export=html&lang=en |title=Skopje Smog Alarm asks for 1% of the GDP for 2018 for the protection of the environment &#124; Meta.mk}}</ref>{{wide image|Скопски смог - photo by Giotto Скопје, Р. Македонија , Skopje, R. Macedonia - panoramio.jpg|1291px|alt=|A panoramic view of the smog in the central area of Skopje}}