The Western Balkans are at a pivotal moment in their sustainable development journey, increasingly exposed to the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Rising temperatures, frequent floods and droughts, loss of natural habitats, urban air pollution, and pressure on water resources affect not only the environment, but also public health, social well-being, and economic resilience.
At the same time, the region is undergoing important social, political, and economic transitions, with many countries aligning their priorities with European and global sustainability frameworks. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the strong links between environmental health, human health, and economic stability, reinforcing the need for a healthy environment as a foundation for sustainable growth and social equity. In this context, integrating environmental priorities into national development agendas has become increasingly important. Western Balkan countries are strengthening strategies, engaging in international cooperation, and exploring innovative and nature-based solutions.
This project supports the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Europe Regional Office in strengthening the integration of environmental priorities into sustainable development processes across Western Balkan countries. In line with UNEP’s mandate and the UN Cooperation Framework, the project contributes to an inclusive, evidence-based, and coordinated approach to addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—ensuring that environmental perspectives are firmly embedded in national development planning and implementation.
The project encompasses a set of activities aimed at strengthening understanding and alignment of environmental and climate priorities across Western Balkan countries. This includes systematic data collection and analysis to identify national and regional priorities, feeding into the preparation of a synthesis survey report that outlines key environmental information, databases, and data sources relevant for UNEP’s country programming. The project also supports the development of case study reports for each country, showcasing practical examples of how climate change, biodiversity, and pollution considerations are integrated into policy processes and analytical frameworks. To ensure inclusiveness, validation, and knowledge exchange, six stakeholder consultation meetings are organized to discuss findings and priority areas, followed by a regional hybrid meeting to present final results and the agreed set of environmental and climate priorities. Through these activities, the project contributes to evidence-based planning, informed decision-making, and enhanced regional cooperation.
The project is funded by UNEP, with an overall value of 45,000.00 USD, and is implemented over the period from September to November 2023.