Green Booster

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia have committed to the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. As Contracting Parties to the Energy Community Treaty these countries support the goal of a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. The building sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro offers major potential for cost-effective energy savings. Financial and technical barriers slow down energy-efficient renovation and renewable energy uptake. Serbia requires public utility companies (PUCs) with high energy use to introduce energy management systems. The implementation has not yet begun. The project supports local delivery of climate and energy goals, by supporting municipalities and PUCs to implement these goals. It builds on Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans and aligns with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Integrated Energy and Climate Plan, Montenegro’s decarbonisation commitment, Serbia’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy, and the European Union’s REPowerEU and Fit for 55 agenda.

The project strengthens local climate action in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia through practical cooperation between civil society organisations, local self-governments and PUCs. In Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, joint teams develop policy and financial mechanisms that support large-scale investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy in buildings. In Živinice, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the project applies these mechanisms in a pilot scheme and co-finances energy-efficiency measures for around 30 homes. In Serbia, the project introduces energy management systems in three PUCs in the water, district heating and waste sectors. It appoints energy managers, develops studies on energy-saving and renewable energy measures, and prepares implementation roadmaps. Training, workshops and technical support enable local actors to design and implement climate measures. A public awareness campaign, including the Green Champions Awards, highlights local leadership, energy efficiency, renewable energy, gender equality and energy poverty, and strengthens public support for decarbonisation.

This project is funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) as part of International Partnerships Austria and the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN).