City of Živinice hosts second Steering Board Meeting of BiH SuTra

The meeting brought together representatives from the partner local governments — Municipality of Banovići, Municipality of Breza, Municipality of Ugljevik, and the City of Živinice — as well as key partners from the Embassy of Sweden in Sarajevo, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).

"Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a signatory to the Energy Community Treaty, the Paris Agreement, and the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, has taken important steps toward aligning with the European Green Deal and the EU’s binding climate and energy goals. This is particularly evident through the prepared Integrated Energy and Climate Plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina until 2030. A just and sustainable transition is not only a necessity for achieving these goals but also a strategic opportunity for socio-economic development,” said Dr. Admir Softić, Assistant Minister for Energy at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH at the meeting. “The BiH SuTra programme reflects our joint commitment to turning this vision into reality by involving all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially through concrete actions in coal-rich regions. The active participation of local authorities is not only welcome—it is essential for ensuring a long-term just transition in these regions. Together, we are proving that fundamental change is possible when there is shared responsibility and a clear direction for action.”

The BiH SuTra programme is structured around three core components:

1. Support for local planning of sustainable transition processes, in line with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. A key tool developed through this component is the Operational Plan for Sustainable Transition, tailored to the specific needs and priorities of each participating local government. This includes five key pathways: decarbonization, circular economy, pollution reduction, sustainable agriculture, and nature protection and biodiversity.

2. Support for implementation of selected local transition priorities, aimed at concrete actions and pilot initiatives.

3. Knowledge exchange, capacity building, and awareness raising, engaging municipalities, public institutions, the private sector, civil society, and academia to enhance understanding and ownership of the transition agenda.

Sweden has supported Bosnia and Herzegovina for many years, and its dedication to the country’s sustainable development is clearly reflected in the support for the BiH SuTra programme.

“Sweden is strategically committed to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina in advancing a just transition, environmental protection and sustainable local development. Through Sida, we are proud to be a long-standing partner of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to support the BiH SuTra programme, which directly responds to the country’s need to move away from coal while protecting communities and jobs,” said Eva Smedberg, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “We are particularly encouraged by the active engagement of local governments and communities. Their involvement is essential—not only for shaping inclusive and practical transition plans, but also for ensuring that change is locally owned and lasting. The momentum we are seeing today gives us confidence that Bosnia and Herzegovina is on a promising path toward a fair and sustainable future.”

The BiH SuTra programme is implemented by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), bringing together international expertise and local ownership to support a just and sustainable transition in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"The BiH SuTra programme is moving forward with concrete activities that help coal-dependent municipalities and cities develop and implement realistic transition plans. Through on-the-ground technical support and active engagement with local actors, we are identifying sustainable alternatives and building local capacity for long-term change. This progress is made possible by Sida’s financial support and the strategic cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The strong involvement of local communities shows that the transition is not only necessary, but already taking shape." – Bernardas Padegimas, Team Lead at SEI.

During the meeting, participants reflected on initial findings and lessons learned from the first phases of programme implementation:

• Decarbonization requires significant investment but offers strong potential for local solutions and innovation.
• The concept of circular economy is still largely associated with waste management, and broader understanding and application are needed.
• Agriculture remains a key opportunity area for advancing sustainable transition goals.
• Pollution reduction entails high costs and requires deeper inter-institutional dialogue and cooperation.
• Preserving biodiversity can be effectively supported through spatial planning, education, and sustainable tourism development.
• Private sector involvement, inter-municipal collaboration, and stronger public awareness are essential to success.
• A lack of reliable data and the influence of global megatrends present ongoing challenges to informed local planning and decision-making.

The meeting in Živinice once again confirmed that the transition to a sustainable and inclusive future depends on the leadership and commitment of local actors. Together, we are building a more just and sustainable future—led by local solutions.