Biodiversity_Next Conference reveals next steps in biodiversity protection information systems

The city of Leiden in the  Netherlands was the capital of biodiversity when it hosted a four-day conference titled Biodiversity_Next in the second half of October. For the first time at this scale, the event brought major international organisations, research scientists, and policy makers together to jointly identify socio-technical bottlenecks and horizon-scan opportunities around data-intensive […]

Power plants in BiH, Montenegro, Serbia at risk of early closure – Energy Community report

All Contracting Parties which have coal in their energy mix are not in compliance with the emission ceilings established under their National Emission Reduction Plans (NERPs) for at least one of the three pollutants (nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and dust) from the Large Combustion Plants Directive, finds the Energy Community Secretariat’s Annual Implementation Report. The […]

Chinese-Montenegrin consortium wins bid for eco-reconstruction of TPP Pljevlja

Chinese-Montenegrin consortium DEC International-Bemax-BB Solar-Permonte has been picked as the best bidder for an environmental reconstruction of thermal power plant TPP Pljevlja, a project that will enable the Pljevlja power generation and coal mining complex to operate for the next 20 to 30 years, according to a statement from state power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore […]

Leonardo DiCaprio, Manu Chao support struggle against construction of HPPs in Balkans

Though ignored by politicians, the long-standing struggle against the construction of hydropower plants (HPPs) in the region is gaining more and more support from Europe and the world. Two world-known artists, as well as environmentalists, musician Manu Chao and actor Leonardo DiCaprio have supported initiatives to halt the construction of HPPs on Mt. Stara Planina […]

Western Balkans countries to get joint guideline on ecosystem services assessment and valuation

Institutions dealing with the establishment and management of protected areas in the Western Balkans will apply the same approach and guideline on ecosystem services assessment and valuation (ESAV) in establishing and managing protected areas as well as in the development and planning activities of the related institutions. The guideline will be prepared by an expert […]