A step toward a greener future: City of Živinice has adopted an Operation Plan for Sustainable Transition

The adoption of this plan will strengthen the city's long-term development and growth efforts, by identifying specific measures to support the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

To ensure the plan reflects the community's collective aspirations for a sustainable future, the transition plan is also inspired by Živinice’s Vision 2050, a vision shaped through public consultations in autumn 2023.

The transition plan covers five key pathways: decarbonization, circular economy, pollution reduction, sustainable agriculture, and nature protection and biodiversity. It provides estimated costs for implementing the proposed measures across these pathways, outlining long-term, medium-term, and short-term objectives. The City of Živinice has identified two high-priority activities within these pathways where BiH SuTra will continue supporting the City in the upcoming period: creation of a digital register for managing the public lighting system and development of a sustainable transportation study for the City of Živinice. It is important to say that the transition plan integrate gender equality, social equality, and poverty considerations as essential aspects of a just transition.

"The adoption of the Operation Plan for Sustainable Transition for the period 2025 - 2027 for Živinice represents an important milestone that will bring significant changes and improve the quality of life in our local community. The plan is a step towards long-term development and progress, allowing us to embrace new, sustainable business practices that will positively impact our economy, society, and environment. I believe that together we can build a more sustainable and prosperous future for Živinice," said Began Muhić, Mayor of the City of Živinice.

The BiH SuTra programme, implemented by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) in partnership with the BiH Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations (MoFTER BiH) and supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) will now assist in implementing selected measures, following the adoption of operational three-year plans, in compliance with legal regulations. 

“Localisation of the transition priorities and activities is extremely important, and cities that have developed capacities and that are committed to sustainability, like the City of Živinice is, are very important. They can act as regional competence centres and they can inspire others to strategically work towards the fulfilment of the ambitious sustainability objectives, ultimately improving the living conditions of citizens, something that is especially important in coal regions.” - Saša Solujić, BiH SuTra Programme Manager.

The primary goal of the BiH SuTra programme is to support Bosnia and Herzegovina's sustainable transition by developing and implementing effective measures and regulations at the local level. The plan establishes long-term, medium-term, and short-term goals through inclusive and comprehensive planning processes. The BiH SuTra programme is focused on four coal regions in BiH, including the City of Živinice, as well as the municipalities of Banovići and Ugljevik, which will be adopting their transition plans later this year, and Municipality of Breza – which already adopted the plan.

This initiative aims to serve as a model and source of inspiration for other local governments in the BiH in the future.