Environmental issues in North Macedonia include air and water pollution, deforestation, threats to endemic species and climate change. There is substantial degree of pollution in the air, water and land of North Macedonia. According to 2019 estimates, the country is considered to have one of the highest degrees of pollution in Europe.[1]
The country's tradition of measuring air quality started in 1965, after which urban environments could be monitored for the level of pollution present. Air pollution negatively affects the health of citizens, primarily their respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Some of the main causes for the increased air pollution in the country include the use of firewood and carbon during the winter period and heavy traffic dominated by the use of old cars. Government and citizen initiatives to tackle the problem of air pollution have appeared with various degrees of success.
There is significant water pollution in the country's water resources, primarily the biggest rivers Vardar, Bregalnica and Crna River and the Ohrid Lake. This is mostly due to unrestrained wastewater disposal from industry, mining, households and agriculture.