Can Kraków lance the smog dragon?
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
27.11.2015 15:18
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Kraków air pollution has locals up in arms
Public protests are mounting in Kraków over the city's notorious smog problem, and the mayor is now looking to find new ways of dealing with the situation.
A demonstration on the Main Market Square in Kraków led by NGO the Kraków Smog Alarm, 14 November. Photo: Miłosz Kozioł.
In recent years, the city has focused above all on funding the exchange of coal-burning domestic stoves for alternative forms of heating, as in winter, old-fashioned stoves are the main culprit in polluting the air.
However, the poisonous cocktail of car fumes, industrial discharges and domestically produced smoke needs more radical action, claim NGOs such as the Kraków Smog Alarm.
A 2013 report by the European Environment Agency found that Kraków had the third most polluted air of 383 cities across Europe.
Following a spike in smog this month, and a subsequent public demonstration (pictured above) Mayor Jacek Majchrowski proposed additional measures, including providing free public transport when smog levels enter the danger zone.
In this report, Radio Poland correspondent Nick Hodge speaks with advisor to the mayor Witold Śmiałek, as well as Jakub Jędrak from the Kraków Smog Alarm.