MINSK, 19 February (BelTA) – Belarus has cut the amount of air pollutant emissions by 4.5% since 2015, Belarusian Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister Andrei Khudyk said at the outcome meeting of the ministry in Minsk on 19 February, BelTA has learned.
“Every year the level of pollutant emissions into the atmosphere is decreasing. Since 2015, the decrease has been 4.5%. As for our water bodies, 74.6% have a good or higher ecological status,” said Andrei Khudyk.
The area of specially protected natural territories has reached 9% of the country's total area by 2020. Over the past three years, with the help of international technical assistance, Belarus has turned more than 15,000 hectares into swamps. “By joint efforts, much has been done to clean up lands and settlements. Our cities have become cleaner and greener. Over the past two years, the area of green areas in cities and district centers has increased by 5,600 hectares,” the minister said.
“Belarus goes 49th in the Environmental Performance Index among 180 countries. Belarus is ahead of all the other EAEU countries, and holds leading positions among the countries of the region in air quality, solid waste management system, biodiversity and habitat assessment,” Andrei Khudyk said.
