(E)mission Possible: Green Deal & Western Balkans

About the event

Western Balkans need to adjust their economies into more sustainable ones, together with preserving natural resources. Without the Western Balkans, Europe can’t reach zero emission goals. Reaching these goals and EU Green Deal policies, in general, is one of the crucial components of accession to the EU. As future European Union countries, Western Balkans need to adjust their economies into more sustainable ones, together with preserving natural resources. Without Western Balkans, Europe can’t reach zero emission goals. Reaching these goals and EU Green Deal policies, in general, is one of the crucial components of accession to the EU.

According to Bankwatch Network, besides the low energy efficiency, the region’s energy mix is heavily dominated by coal. Fossil fuels account for around 70 percent of the Western Balkans’ electricity production. The exception is Albania, which relies almost exclusively on hydropower, which largely explains the country’s relatively low emission intensity. What’s more, the type of coal that is used in the region is lignite, which is an especially polluting type with a low caloric value, meaning that burning more lignite is needed to produce the same amount of energy as from other types of coal. However, lignite is a cheap source of energy that makes the countries less dependent on energy imports as it is abundantly available in the region. The result is that the sixteen operating coal power plants in the region are more polluting than other coal plants in Europe, which in 2016 alone resulted in 3,900 premature deaths.

Program

09:30 – 10:00 Arrival and registration

10:00 – 10:15 Welcoming remarks

Speakers:

Goran Neralić, Head of Projects, European Liberal Forum Adi Škaljić, Executive director, Boris Divković Foundation

10:15 – 11:45 First panel discussion – The making of the publication “(E)mission Possible: Green Deal & Western Balkans”

Speakers:

Davor Pehchevski, author of the “North Macedonia” chapter, Balkan Energy Coordinator at CEE Bankwatch Network

Stevan Vujasinović, author of the “Serbia” chapter, Policy Analyst and Communicator

Vedad Suljić, author of the “Bosnia and Herzegovina chapter”, Managing Director of CETEOR Eloi Borgne, Junior Policy and Research Officer, European Liberal Forum

Moderator: Haris E. Bilalović, editor, BH Radio Television

11:45 – 12:15 Coffee break

12:15 – 13:45 Second panel discussion – Between Commitment and Capacity: The Green Deal in the Western Balkans

Speakers:

Azra Berbić, Environmental Activist, Foundation Atelier for Community Transformation ACT Pippa Gallop, Southeast Europe Energy Policy Officer at CEE Bankwatch Network

Strahinja Macić, Legal Advisor for Environmental Protection Policies, Polekol

Sanela Klarić, Associate Professor at International BURCH University, Green Building Council Advisor

Moderator: Jakov Avram, Longtime Business Journalist, Editor, and Presenter

13:45 – 14:00 Conclusions and recommendations

14:00 – 15:30 Joint lunch & cocktail reception at Spazio Gourmet Sarajevo