Governments should establish nation-wide energy efficiency programmes
Achieving results in energy efficiency is not a question of available financing instruments, but a matter of creditworthiness of households and their disposable income for energy efficiency improvements, Violeta Kogalniceanu, Head of the Infrastructure and Energy Efficiency Unit at the Energy Community Secretariat, says in an interview with Balkan Green Energy News. According to her, […]
Communicating and advocating sustainable development in the Balkans
Balkan Green Energy News and its founder and editor Branislava Jovičić have recently had several landmark achievements, not least of which is the fact that the portal is the only SEE project in the running for the Best Climate Solutions 2018 Award. This called for an interview, in which Branislava invites readers or simply people […]
EBRD seeks to put investments that bring environmental benefits at heart of its financing, advisory activities
In her first interview since taking the helm of the EBRD’s regional operations in the Western Balkans, Zsuzsanna Hargitai discusses the international finance institution’s green financing and planned projects in the region. She tells Balkan Green Energy News that the EBRD takes seriously non-governmental organizations’ (NGO) recent reports about hydropower plant financing by its financial […]
All of EPS’ coal-fired power plants will have to meet EU environmental protection standards
Serbian public power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) will have to comply with all EU environmental standards concerning its coal-fired power plants, EPS’ supervisory board chairman, Branko Kovačević, PhD, tells Balkan Green Energy News. The long-serving university professor believes that EPS’ electricity production will be based on coal and hydropower, as well as renewable energy sources, […]
Returns on green investments are down, but so are costs
On the sidelines of the Green for Growth Fund’s (GGF) recently held Sustainable Future Forum and the grand finale of the clim@ pitching competition for startups, Christopher Knowles, who at the time served as chairman of the GGF, spoke to Balkan Green Energy News about the impact of innovative solutions, return on green investments, and […]
Negotiating position for chapter 27 to be completed within a year
We plan to prepare the final negotiating position for chapter 27 within a year and open the chapter by the end of 2019. We do not want to gloss over the reality, as we are seeking to negotiate realistic deadlines to do all that needs to be done, Ivan Karić, state secretary at the Ministry […]
Nature is treated as if it were an unlimited resource
Despite biodiversity’s essential value for economic sectors such as forestry, agriculture, tourism, and fisheries, and its relevance for social and cultural well-being, nature is treated as if it were an unlimited resource in the region of South-East Europe, while environmental protection is often seen as an expense. Why this is happening, but also what the […]
Bringing support on energy issues closer to municipalities
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), in close consultation with the Serbian Government and civil society partners, have recently launched the new Swiss Cooperation Strategy for Serbia for the period 2018-2021. In the energy sector, a shift towards stronger engagement with municipalities continues. In an […]