Vučko Conference: Climate Change & Sustainable Development in SEE

This year’s conference was dedicated to the topic of climate change in the region, focusing on a progressive view on the possibilities for sustainable development in the Western Balkans. By encouraging a discussion based on climate change, the main goal of the conference was to provide an opportunity to young and progressive members of the society to discuss issues of climate policies, environmental degradation and pollution, but also to offer solutions for further sustainable development goals.

More than 60 young people from the region had the opportunity to exchange in several panels and interactive workshops on the experiences in dealing with these challenges locally, regionally and globally through discussions with eminent experts and decision-makers. A special reflection was given to regional trends in climate change, and how to achieve a sustainable and equitable energy transition.

There was an overall agreement that countries of the Western Balkans usually do not feature too prominently on the map of climate change and sustainable development debates. Yet, the countries both have a high potential to contribute to climate change mitigation and face severe challenges with regard to climate policies, environmental degradation and pollution.     

During the conference, a visit to a small and private hydropower plant was conducted, where the issue of the existing laws, challenges and obstacles faced by investors and legal regulations has been addressed. During the visit of the non-governmental organization Eko-Forum Zenica, an organization dedicated to reducing industrial pollution, participants discussed the existing metal industries in Zenica given that the town regularly ranks as one of the most polluted in the region.

In conversation with the representatives, the experiences and good practices of this organization that is focused on raising awareness among the citizens about the consequences caused by pollution were shared, mentioning that at the same time, the organization is waging a battle with the local metal industries and the country to eliminate this problem.

The conference featured also a visit of a local solar power plant, during which the experiences of using renewable energy sources were shared, as well as the numerous challenges that investors are facing even if they want to pursue more ecological and environmental-friendly projects.