Sokobanja in Serbia to ban new small hydropower plants, wind parks
Activists criticize the investors for diverting almost the entire river flow at two stations in Sokobanja. Several local authorities in Serbia formally banned hydropower projects or are preparing to do so. The police have been summoning petitioners in Prokuplje. Licensing has been suspended in the territory of a town in Serbia dependent on tourism for […]
Montenegro adopts bylaw to introduce emission credits system
The new scheme, required under EU rules, is designed to limit operations of industrial and energy facilities that contribute to climate change. Montenegro has regulated the system of auctions and the trade in emission credits. Following the adoption of the Law on Protection from the Negative Impacts of Climate Change, the government in Podgorica has […]
Kosovo* suspending works on small hydropower plants
KelKos is apparently under investigation over its projects in Štrpce and Matkos Group is threatening with international arbitration. The new decision makers in Kosovo* are adapting the policy on small hydropower to citizens’ needs, claiming they would focus on the environment. The government in Prishtina isn’t aware of the state that water streams are in […]
Sarajevo to track builders’ impact on air quality; kindergartens get purifiers
Preschoolers in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital will breathe more easily after the procurement in which UNDP assisted local authorities. The cantonal government also prepared a methodology and dispersion model for air pollution sources and the effect of structures planned for construction. A severe deterioration in air quality in the past months prompted public outcry and […]
Sustainable development must not hinge on economic growth alone
Author: Danko Kalkan, Green Finance and Environmental Management Unit Coordinator in ProCredit Bank’s subsidiary in Serbia In most capitalist economies, it is a generally accepted rule that environmental improvements must wait until economic growth has reached a certain level. This misguided mantra has led to delays in the implementation of sustainable development principles, resulting in […]
UN Environment picking Champions of the Earth for annual award
The organizers aim to recognize the contribution of leaders from government, civil society and the private sector. For their positive impact on the environment, so far 93 laureates got the award. Nominations for the Champions of the Earth last until March 20. The United Nations Environmental Programme – UN Environment or UNEP has established the […]
Activists in Montenegro say small hydropower plants’ study is illegal
The document lacks economic analysis and it doesn’t provide biodiversity data for the particular location, according to the NGOs. Montenegro has no interest in installing the two small hydropower units in Mojkovac, they argued. There is no evidence of any potential benefits in the planning document currently in public consultation for the Štitarička river, environmentalists […]
Serbia has unworkable national emissions reduction plan: advocacy group
There are several inconsistencies with NERP, according to legal environmental organization RERI. Its representatives pointed to the document’s format and added it enables no enforcement framework nor the possibility of sanctions if the provisions aren’t met. They underscored Serbia omitted important points and that it is attempting to delay obligations taken on an international level […]