Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is faced with a significant number of challenges in the social, economic, and environmental sector, which has a negative impact on the overall well-being of our country. Some of the salient problem areas of the BiH environment encompass inefficient water and waste management systems, inadequate protection of biodiversity and the environment, increasing air pollution, energy inefficiency and exposure to chemicals and noise. An important factor contributing to these issues is the lack of an effective environmental strategy and a strong government fund for efficient management.
Upon signing a Memorandum for stabilization and for joining the EU, B&H agreed on adopting the EU acquis into its legal framework concerning the environment, thus it is required to adjust its administrative system. Even though improvements have been made to a certain degree in consolidating local laws and policies regarding the environment with those of the EU, structured and directed action is crucial for establishing an improved local infrastructure.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina Environmental Strategy and Action Plan (BiH ESAP 2030+) project was ignited as a result of recognizing the need for developing a comprehensive strategy that will deal with aforementioned issues. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s authorities, at all four levels of government, requested support from the Swedish Embassy in Sarajevo for the development of a B&H environmental strategy and action plans that will ensure the country’s concordance with EU standards.
BiH ESAP 2030+ project was developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and is supported by a local partner, Consortium ENOVA d.o.o. & Center for Energy, Environment and Resources – CENER 21. The project aim is centered on providing support to key-player institutions from the governmental, non-governmental, and private sectors, in reaching environmental sustainability and improving citizen health and well-being, starting from 2030. Governments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, and Brčko district BiH are developing the ESAP strategic document, which sets out the goals of environmental policies and activities. The document strengthens the framework for environmental policymaking in the country, and it covers seven EU areas of environmental policy – water, waste, biodiversity and nature conservation, air quality, climate change and energy, chemical safety and noise, resource management and environmental management.
The nature of the project is participative, which allows organizations and members of academia, the general public, the private sector, and civil society in BiH to be involved in the process by joining seven thematic working groups for each governance level. 14 local experts are leading and coordinating the groups to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of working groups, including the assurance that scientific and technical requirements and criteria are met with the highest quality.
More than 600 representatives from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina are working toward completing the project by April 2022. The results of this initiative will be a clearly defined strategy and action plans, as well as goals for institutions to increase their capacities. BiH ESAP 2030+ highly developed awareness about environmental protection among the general public, institutions, and the business sector. In the long term, the project is expected to improve the state of the environment in B&H and to contribute to the process of B&H becoming a member of the EU.
Project website: www.esap.ba