Banovići. Courtesy of Municipality of Banovići.
Banovići. Courtesy of Municipality of Banovići.
The Municipality of Banovići is one of four local self-government units participating in the BiH SuTra project. After a year-long preparatory process, Banovići has officially adopted its Operational Plan for Sustainable Transition, joining Breza, Živinice, and Ugljevik, which finalized their plans last year. The BiH SuTra project is dedicated to driving the sustainable transition of Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing on creating and implementing effective measures at the local level. The plan adopted by Banovići aligns with the EU Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and aims to enhance living conditions for citizens in municipalities situated in mining regions.
This adoption demonstrates Banovići's commitment to fostering a more sustainable and resilient future, paving the way for environmental improvements and socioeconomic development in the region. To ensure the plan reflects the community's shared aspirations for a sustainable future, the transition plan draws inspiration from Banovići’s Vision 2050, developed through public consultations held in autumn 2023.
The plan focuses on five key pathways: decarbonization, circular economy, pollution reduction, sustainable agriculture, and nature protection and biodiversity. It defines long-term, medium-term, and short-term objectives and includes estimated costs for implementing a set of measures within these pathways. The Municipality of Banovići has identified eight measures for implementation during 2025-2027.
"The adoption of the Operational Plan for Sustainable Transition is an important step forward for the Municipality of Banovići," said Mehmed Hasanović, Mayor of Banovići. "With this plan, we reaffirm our commitment to creating a healthier environment, strengthening the local economy, and improving the quality of life for all our citizens. The plan provides us with clear guidance on how we can work together to make Banovići a sustainable and future-ready community."
The BiH SuTra project, 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.
„We are happy that Banovići fulfilled their commitment and adopted a sustainable transition plan, outlining their efforts in leading toward a greener, more inclusive future. Through its engagement in the BiH SuTra project, Banovići is an active participant, while the administration is demonstrating efforts to align its strategies with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, and reflecting a clear vision for sustainable development, social equity, and long-term economic resilience,“ said Saša Solujić, BiH SuTra Project Manager.
BiH SuTra aims to foster a more sustainable society and enhance environmental and living conditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina's coal regions, setting a course for long-term, medium-term, and short-term goals through participative and comprehensive planning processes. The project is focusing on four coal regions in BiH: Breza, Banovići, Ugljevik and Živinice.
In the future, this will hopefully be an inspiration and experience to learn from for other coal regions in BiH.
Discover the News and Updates section, delivering the latest updates and insightful content across various topics. Stay informed with most recent news articles, reports, and publications, of the BiH SuTra project.
