Dozens of protesters gathered in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo on Monday to put pressure on politicians to take emergency measures against what is fast becoming an air-pollution crisis in the heart of the Balkans. 

For several weeks, scientific data have shown air pollution in Sarajevo, with a population of 608,000 in the greater metropolitan area, to be several times over the EU limit, which currently stands at 50 micrograms of PM10 particulate matter per cubic meter. 

And in December, Sarajevo was ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the world, joining the Serbian capital of Belgrade and several other smaller cities in the Balkans to make it on to the list. 

While most people in the region appear to know the main causes of the extreme air pollution, it seems that there is little enthusiasm to actually tackle the issue head on. 

Many people in the Balkans drive older cars with outdated and high-polluting diesel engines. The buses used by the region's public transportation services are similar, producing significant quantities of tiny air pollutant particles, which then stay suspended in the air for a sustained amount of time.

Thousands of households in the region are heated with coal and wood fires, making the problem worse. Combined with heavy car emissions, a dense, health-harming smog has plagued major Balkans cities for weeks.

But this problem is not new. The same air-pollution problem has been afflicting cities in the south-east of Europe for years, with climate change reducing the levels of air circulation that help disperse the pollution. 

In fact, the Balkans have barely seen winter this year. In recent history, it was not uncommon to have half a meter of snow in region's capitals, with temperatures as low as  minus 20 degrees Celsius. This has not been the case for the past two years.

Snow can only be seen on some of the region's mountain peaks, and temperatures are more often than not above zero. As a result, there is little wind or snow, both of which help purify the air.

Local governments of Balkan countries that have been most affected are announcing some emergency measures, including reducing coal-fueled central heating temperatures for buildings and halting dust-producing construction. 

However, there seems to be little optimism that such policies will produce the results that are so urgently needed. It also appears that locals are unwilling to give up their old diesel cars or switch to natural gas as a less ecologically damaging heating option. 

And the reason is simple – it takes a lot of money to make such changes and, sadly, that's money that many households and Balkan countries can't afford.