Council of Kaposvár County Municipality
Kaposvár is a developing, liveable city on human scale. The city has a population of about 64.000.
Recently, a new waste management system has been developed in the city. In the framework of lately improved public transport, 40 buses operating on CNG were bought and a new bike program was introduced last year. In additional, the municipality government has many plans in the field of environmental protection to change the mind-set of its citizens in order to create a healthier city environment.
The urban development strategy of “2020 Kaposvár” lays great emphasis on energy efficiency with the help of renewable energies.
For more details visit: kaposvar.hu
Actions taken as part of the HungAIRy LIFE integrated project
Measuring air quality poses a problem for the local government, because the city currently has no accredited measuring station, and therefore no basic data is available. The project gives the opportunity to set up a measuring station and to raise public awareness.
1. Developing the database of the Geographical Information System and the high-resolution air quality modelling systemto support the revision of air quality plans
With the installation of the modelling system, the impact of the measures defined in the air quality plans, will be able to estimateand pivotal areas where measures are needed, will be able to identify. The system will be able to determine the impact of the measures defined in the air quality plans, by sector and by component.
2. Measuring the baseline and monitoring the changes
The monitoring system provides information on the effectiveness of the measures to improve air quality in the settlements taking part in the project. With monitoring, the changes of the concentration of pollutants can be tracked during the entire project and in the follow-up period.
Nevertheless, there is no measuring station in the following settlements: Békéscsaba, Kaposvár and Karcag. To evaluate the air quality condition in these settlements, measurements will be conducted (4x2 weeks) by a mobile measuring station in accordance with the requirements for air quality measurements. As part of the project, new automatic measuring stations will be installed in two settlements (Békéscsaba and Kaposvár).
3. Establishing an eco-management office
The experts of the eco-management network, participated as environment integrators, will stimulate the provision of information, the flow of information, the raising of public awareness and the coordination of local actions in the given settlements. Their tasks are to offer consultancy for the local government in the preparatory/preparation phrase of decision (making), to work closely with the council in order to submit a successful application for domestic and EU funding to improve air quality. In addition, they provide energy efficiency guideline for the public and support the residential energy efficiency loan program (complementary activity).
4. Raising public awareness and exchanging information
The municipalities involved in the project, will prepare their raise awareness plans using a central repository of knowledge suitable adopted for their own settlements, which may include events, travelling exhibitions, films, showrooms, web applications and other mobile applications.
In addition, the municipalities involved in the project, may launch awareness-raising campaigns aiming primarily the dissemination of bottom-up measures, and using various means of communication to improve the air quality of the settlements.The campaigns will intend to introduce/reflect the problems in terms of air quality and to provide guidelines and information to the public.
5. Regional pilot actions
We will identify measures to mitigate PM10 pollution through detailed monitoring of air quality and with the determination of the key locations affecting on air quality.
6. Networking, exchanging information and central measures
Continuous communication between project partners, eco-managers and other involving key stakeholders will ensure the exchange of knowledge and experience between the settlements to achieve the objectives of the air quality plans.