13th Regional Summer School on Sustainable Development and Low Emission Planning held in Fojnica

The Regional Summer School on Sustainable Development and Low Emission Planning was finalized today in Fojnica. Held for the 13^th year in a row, from August 20 to 25 in Hotel Aquareumal, it hosted 24 students and young professionals from nine South-East European and EU countries.

The aim of this summer training programme is to build a strong force of future experts who will lead the way in the energy sector, bringing innovative solutions to existing problems and opening new possibilities for sustainable development in South-East Europe.

The main focus of the summer school is on exchange of best practices and solutions, as well as on innovative ideas in the energy sector. The school is organized by the Regional Education and Information Centre (REIC) in collaboration with the German GIZ Open Regional Fund for South-East Europe – Energy Efficiency, GIZ bilateral project “Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources in Bosnia and Herzegovina” and the GIZ “Promotion of Energy Efficiency in BiH” project.

According to Dubravka Bošnjak, GIZ ORF-EE Project Manager “This summer school puts special focus on developing an effective approach to sustainable energy, especially referring to development of adequate strategies and laws in Western Balkans countries, particularly in the context of the Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation. It covers environmental and social aspects of energy planning with particular emphasis on the importance of creation of new jobs, improved energy security and protection of the environment.”

Topics such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, international cooperation mechanisms on climate change mitigation, promotion of energy from renewable sources, and energy cooperatives as the driving force for local development, are only some of the topics that were covered by the program.

Njomza R. Maraj, student at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Pristina, stated on the occasion: “This Regional Summer School in Fojnica is an exceptional educational opportunity for young people in the region and beyond, because its focus is on human development, rather than just the Western Balkans.” Adi Operta, also a participant in the program, emphasised the expertise of lecturers, the multidisciplinary approach of the school, the opportunity to meet new people and have a constructive professional exchange with other participants and lecturers, as important aspects of the summer school.

After completing the regional summer school and obtaining the diploma, participants are expected to be able to understand key global concepts of low-emission development and the tools that need to be developed at the local level in support of this process.