Ohrid activists launch petition for environmental protection

Activists from Ohrid have launched a petition calling for improved environmental protections in North Macedonia. The initiative seeks to secure clean air, safe water, better waste management, and nature conservation, urging both local and state institutions to prioritize these issues through systematic policies.

Petition initiator Dragana Karasova emphasized the need for serious commitment and the implementation of measures to mitigate increasing environmental damage. Environmental activist Ivana Peneva noted that the country currently treats issues like summer wildfires, winter air pollution, and flooding as isolated incidents rather than interconnected problems requiring continuous policy application.

The movement highlights severe health risks, citing data that suggests increased exposure to smoke is linked to significant annual mortality. Furthermore, the petition references a UNICEF report stating that 99.9% of children in North Macedonia are exposed to harmful air pollution.