Climate action

Climate change isn’t a distant threat – it is happening now. The Western Balkan region harbours pristine landscapes and natural wealth. Yet it is also one of the regions in Europe most affected by climate change, and this trend is expected to continue.

The EU has been supporting programmes on climate change in the Western Balkans for many years. But much more is needed – and this is where the Green Agenda for the region comes in.

In line with the ambitions of European Green Deal, the Green Agenda paves the way for a transformation towards climate-neutral and resilient, green and circular economies. The time to act is now!

What are the challenges?

The impacts of climate change manifest in a multitude of ways – from rising sea levels, chronic droughts and floods, to heatwaves and forest fires. As one of the most severely hit regions in Europe, the Western Balkans is facing pressing climate challenges.

By the end of the century, summer temperatures are estimated to rise 5°C above pre-industrial times. This means more frequent and severe floods, droughts and other extreme weather.
Pollution levels are one of the highest in Europe. This has a direct impact on people’s health and quality of life. In cities such as Pristina in Kosovo and Skopje in North Macedonia, air pollution is often three times higher than in the most polluted cities in Europe.
This is mainly due to emissions from industrial installations such as coal power plants, domestic heating from wood and coal fired boilers, and older vehicles. The region’s economies rely heavily on fossil fuels and on resource-intensive, industrial factories.

While the EU has one of the most ambitious energy and climate policies in the world, climate change knows no borders. Achieving a carbon-neutral Europe by 2050 also requires tackling the urgent environmental needs in the Western Balkans.

How is the EU responding?

As neighbours and aspiring EU members, addressing climate challenges in the Western Balkans is a priority for the EU. The EU is behind numerous initiatives in the region that aim to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

This includes, for example, funding for large-scale sustainable energy and transport projects channelled through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) – an EU-led donor investment platform that pools funds from various sources, including the EU budget.

The rehabilitation of Tirana – Durrës railway line in Albania, a modernised tram fleet in Sarajevo,upgraded district heating systems in Pristina, the Bogdanic wind park in North Macedonia, the Trans-Balkan Electricity Corridor criss-crossing the region…are just some of the many projects that have made a positive difference to people’s lives, businesses and the environment across the region.

The prospect of EU membership also provides an incentive for Western Balkan partners to bring legislation and practices into line with EU norms. The EU is very active in supporting the regulatory and policy reforms needed in the region.

Electricity from renewable energy sources for over 200,000 households between 2015-2020

+ 300,000 tonnes of CO2 avoided per year between 2015-2020

Ongoing support

But climate change is moving faster than efforts to adapt or mitigate. To match the urgency of the crisis, the EU launched the European Green Deal in 2019 – a vast package of measures ranging from reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to investing in cutting-edge research and innovation, to preserving Europe’s natural environment. The EU plans to cut emissions by at least 55% by 2030, and become the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050 – meaning that we will produce no more greenhouse gases than our ecosystems can naturally absorb.

These ambitions extend to the Western Balkans. Climate action is at the heart of the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans (EIP) and the accompanying Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.The Western Balkan regional leaders adopted the Green Agenda in 2020, and committed to mirroring the EU targets of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, as well as striving to reduce fossil fuel subsidies.

The EIP is to provide a major stimulus to the region with €9 billion in grants and guarantees that are set to leverage €20 billion in loans. This will be the vehicle for turning climate ambitions into climate action – with extensive investment planned for sustainable transport, clean energy, and upping the momentum towards the green and digital transition. Support will centre around:

Clean energy – Helping the region phase away from coal towards a carbon-neutral economy and increasing the share of renewables such as hydro, solar and wind power in the energy mix. Decarbonising energy systems is critical to achieve the EU’s long-term aim of carbon neutrality by 2050. This will bring many benefits, not least in providing alternative energy sources to traditional coal, lowering emissions and reducing air pollution.
Energy efficiency – Extending the EU’s ‘green renovation wave’ to the Western Balkans, with funding for private and public building renovation schemes. As the building sector accounts for over 40% of total energy consumption in the Western Balkans, making buildings more energy efficient is key.
Sustainable mobility – Revitalising the rail network, rolling out greener public transport solutions and sustainable urban mobility plans such as cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, along with the creation of low-emission zones and infrastructure for low emission vehicles.
Aligning standards – Facilitating swift alignment of the Western Balkans with the new EU Climate Law, and exploring options for including the region in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. This includes support for reducing CO₂emissions through quotas and carbon pricing mechanisms and assisting partners in the development of long-term climate adaptation and resilience strategies.