YEA Blog
Young European Ambassadors share their dynamic initiatives, events, and ideas shaping the EU integration journey of the Western Balkans.
First Climathon Sarajevo: A Green Revolution Begins in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Author: Ena Porca, a Young European Ambassador from BiH
We are bringing a buzz of joyful news from Sarajevo! On May 17th, Bosnia and Herzegovina officially got its first Climathon, and our Ena, who was the creative bee behind it all will share all of the exclusive details on this amazing green opportunity that marks the beginning of an innovative path towards sustainability for all BiH citizens.
Climathon is a global eco-competition and a movement designed to foster innovation and sustainable solutions for urban challenges, organised and defined by the local communities. This landmark event, hosted at the UN House in Sarajevo, brought together citizens, students, entrepreneurs, and activists, all united by a shared passion for innovation in environmental protection and climate change.
After choosing from a pool of over 40 applications, two preparatory events, talks, and sessions with mentors, 11 exceptional teams were selected to present their green ideas. The challenges focused on two critical issues:
- Air quality and
- Waste management
Each team showcased innovative solutions, demonstrating the immense potential of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s young minds in addressing environmental concerns, from all parts of the country, tackling real issues of their local communities, and meeting their needs in unique ways.
Spotlight on Winning Ideas
Four teams were awarded financial support to further develop their green initiatives:
- Rent a Style: The winning idea involved facilitating the rental of dresses through their platform, focusing on making anyone’s special day or occasion more accessible and fun, while promoting sustainable fashion.
- HDPE Building Blocks: A team suggested repurposing High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) materials into building blocks for various applications, demonstrating a practical approach to recycling and reuse.
- Digitalising thrifting (Ormarić): Our third idea involved the first platform in BiH for thrifting, which offers a quick, easy, and secure way of shopping online while promoting thrift culture and making sure you are getting high-quality products and the online shopping experience we all love.
- Public Orchards: The final aidea warded aimed at creating public orchards, blending traditional practices with modern technology to enhance urban green spaces. The youngest team to present showcased a strong skillset and understanding of the idea, with already developed plans for the future.
These innovative solutions not only address immediate environmental issues but also pave the way for sustainable urban development in the entirety of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our hardworking teams will continue to buildtheir solutions and expand their network and skills with the wonderful help of our partners and friends, who were real game-changers for our event: Intesa Sanpaolo Bank, US Embassy, WeBalkans, Embassy of France, as well as a great number of small businesses who contributed to the unique charm and vibe of the event, making it a unique beehive for all of the eco-enthusiasts, and motivating all of us to see the great potential in this sphere and to strive for larger developments and innovations.
A Community Effort
The success of Climathon Sarajevo would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions of our expert jury and speakers. The jury, composed of specialists in urban mobility, circular economy, ESG, and sustainable development, provided critical insights and guidance to the participating teams. Additionally, our inspiring speakers, including another amazing YEA, Layla Jusko, who told her own story of the pursuit of purpose in activism, and exploration of herself as a young person that brought her to be one of the most inspiring fighters for climate change communication, the collaboration between environmental protection nad public health, and the pursuit to further developments in research, with an emphasis on the pivotal role young people play in climate action through concrete, actionable steps. Maja Halilović, a ground-breaker in biodesign in BiH and the entire Europe, shed light on biodesign as a vision for the future and emphasised the relevance in finding new ways to fix problems and generate viable solutions in all major industries, which was a valuable insight for all individuals and businesses seeking to generate greener technologies and challenge the traditional ways of doing business. We made sure that Climathon is always going to be a mix of power-learning and inspiring, and hopefully, we managed to do just that by creating a mix of standardized TEDx style of storytelling, and the thrill of a hackathon that definitely helped boost the excitement among our competitors, and managed to share some valuable lessonsthis is con along the way.
Looking Ahead
The first Climathon Sarajevo marked the beginning of a new chapter in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s journey towards innovative practices in securing a better quality of life in our cities. However, this event is just the first step. Climathon aims to continue as a mediator between citizens, young innovators, and the government, ensuring that innovative solutions are heard and implemented for a greener future and that we continue to tell positive stories around us and promote people who are already working and contributing for a much greener BiH and the region.
I will use this opportunity and once more extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated, supported, and contributed to the success of Climathon Sarajevo. We are incredibly proud of all the teams and look forward to witnessing the positive impact of their ideas. Stay connected with the Climathon community on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and join us in our mission to create greener, more sustainable cities and create a buzz of positive practices and stories.
We cannot wait for the next chapter of Climathon Sarajevo, and we invite you to join the Climathon community around the globe. Unprecedented times call for new heroes, and what if we tell you that might be exactly YOU!
