Air pollution in Bosnia and Herzegovina: a gender equality, social equity and poverty reduction lens

This discussion brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the intersection of air pollution, gender inequality, social equity, and poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). It highlights how socio-economic disadvantages increase exposure to pollutants and energy poverty, while noting that air pollution disproportionately affects vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and Roma populations. The document advocates for policy responses that address structural drivers of inequity, improve energy efficiency in social housing, and utilize disaggregated data to protect the most vulnerable.

• Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) experiences severe air pollution that frequently exceeds World Health Organisation (WHO), European Union (EU), and domestic standards, resulting in one of the highest average mortality rates from air pollution globally. In 2016, exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) caused approximately 3,300 premature deaths and cost between 5.9–10.5% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
• Poverty and social inequity drive air pollution in BiH because low-income households are more likely to use cheap, highly polluting fuels for heating and cooking, and to drive older vehicles that do not meet modern emission standards. Only 63% of the population had access to clean cooking technologies in 2016.
• Energy poverty in BiH disproportionately affects specific vulnerable groups, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, the unemployed, individuals with health issues, and single-headed households, particularly those headed by women.
• Roma populations in BiH face extreme exposure to air pollution due to high rates of solid fuel use (92% compared to 70% in non-Roma households) and the prevalence of informal settlements and poor-quality housing.
• Gender inequality contributes to differentiated exposure to air pollution; women are more likely to be exposed to indoor air pollution due to a gendered division of labour where they perform more reproductive tasks in the household.
• Air pollution impacts children's health and education in BiH. In Sarajevo, the exceedance of safe particulate matter limits has led to prolonged school closures, which in turn negatively affects women's labour opportunities due to gender-biased care responsibilities.
• Effective policy responses require addressing structural drivers of poverty and collecting disaggregated data on air pollution exposure by income, sex, age, and location. Recommended measures include improving energy efficiency in social housing, hospitals, and schools, and enhancing public transport accessibility.

APA

Strambo, C., Segnestam, L., & Jahović, B. (2021). Air pollution in Bosnia and Herzegovina: a gender equality, social equity and poverty reduction lens. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/discussion-brief-air-pollution-and-equalityfinal.pdf

Chicago

Strambo, Claudia, Lisa Segnestam, and Belma Jahović. Air pollution in Bosnia and Herzegovina: a gender equality, social equity and poverty reduction lens. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2021. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/discussion-brief-air-pollution-and-equalityfinal.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Strambo |first1=Claudia |last2=Segnestam |first2=Lisa |last3=Jahović |first3=Belma |title=Air pollution in Bosnia and Herzegovina: a gender equality, social equity and poverty reduction lens |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=May 2021 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/discussion-brief-air-pollution-and-equalityfinal.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{strambo2021air, author = {Strambo, Claudia and Segnestam, Lisa and Jahović, Belma}, title = {{Air pollution in Bosnia and Herzegovina: a gender equality, social equity and poverty reduction lens}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/discussion-brief-air-pollution-and-equalityfinal.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }