The Western Balkans face some of the most pressing environmental challenges in Europe, including air, soil, and water pollution, chemical discharges, contaminated sites, and loss of biodiversity. Pollution represents a major threat to both environmental quality and public health, with impacts that transcend local boundaries and require coordinated regional action. In this context, UNEP provides targeted support to strengthen national and regional capacities to address pollution-related risks and their consequences on human health and the environment.

The project supports the UNEP Europe Regional Office in addressing these challenges, with a primary focus on air and soil pollution, contaminated sites, and the health impacts of environmental hazards. Its purpose is to reduce environmental and health risks by combining technical studies, policy guidance, stakeholder engagement, and public awareness initiatives, ultimately contributing to more resilient environmental and health systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and the wider Western Balkan region.

The project implements a comprehensive approach to tackle pollution and health challenges in the Western Balkans. It strengthens institutional capacities, fosters regional cooperation, and promotes awareness of the connections between environmental pollution and human health.

The project focuses on the following key activities:

  • Supporting the implementation of measures addressing pollution and health issues, with particular attention to air and soil pollution and their impacts on the environment and human health.
  • Strengthening the capacities of relevant stakeholders to implement effective pollution prevention strategies, especially concerning soil and water contamination and related environmental priorities.
  • Identifying and assessing pilot contaminated sites, including the design of preliminary characterization plans to guide future management and remediation.
  • Increasing public awareness and stakeholder engagement at the regional level regarding the risks of pollution and its effects on health and the environment.
  • Enhancing the technical and policy capacities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia to address air and soil pollution through evidence-based solutions and institutional support.

Through these coordinated actions, the project contributes to healthier environments, improved governance, and more resilient ecosystems across the Western Balkans.