Ramping up climate action in BiH communities

The workshop focused on understanding climate action plans in Bosnian cities and municipalities. Developing financially feasible climate investment strategies that attract both private and public investments can help cities stay on track to achieve climate neutrality.

How is climate change affecting cities and communities in BiH?

The first day of the event focused on local climate change impacts. Fedra Vanhuyse, Head of the "Societies, Climate and Policy Support" Division at SEI, shared Sweden's experiences with climate change and its economic consequences, while municipalities discussed their own challenges. Participants examined how climate change affects their regions, the adaptation and mitigation measures they’re implementing, and the difficulties they encounter. The discussions stressed the increasing frequency of weather events, such as droughts and heavy rainfalls leading to floods. Climate change is significantly impacting agriculture (with reduced yields), the built environment (landslides causing property damages and financial losses), tourism (investments in winter tourism yielding poor returns due to less snowfall). Challenges include limited funding, inadequate planning, and low public awareness.

From methods to actionable insights

The second day of the workshop in Tuzla began with an introduction to methodologies for climate action and investment planning. Participants explored key concepts, definitions, and approaches, including the Viable Cities Finance Dashboard, a tool designed to help cities understand their missions, available actions, associated costs, and potential funding sources.

Fedra Vanhuyse presented the Dashboard, explaining its role in bridging the gap between the economic and financial aspects of climate action. The tool helps us answer crucial questions: Will we achieve our climate neutrality targets by 2030? How much will it cost? Who will bear the costs? What are the additional benefits? Can we adjust and improve our scenarios? One key challenge highlighted was that cities often struggle to determine where to begin. The Dashboard provides clarity by outlining their mission, possible actions, cost implications, and potential funding partners, ultimately guiding them toward climate neutrality.

A key takeaway from the workshop was that climate investment plans must be both actionable and financially viable. By developing strategies that attract public and private financing, it is easier to reach a smooth and efficient transition towards climate neutrality.

Vanhuyse elaborated: “Cities and municipalities must navigate funding mechanisms, including grants, public-private partnerships, and regulatory incentives. Ensuring financial feasibility involves assessing the return on investment, balancing upfront costs with long-term savings, and aligning projects with economic and policy frameworks. Innovative solutions, such as carbon pricing, green bonds, and climate funds, can help mobilize resources for large-scale projects.”

Derviš Hadžimuhamedović from the City of Sarajevo shared his perspective on the workshop: “The City of Sarajevo aims to be a leader in sustainable transition in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is why this workshop was extremely important for further developing our knowledge on climate actions and investments. As part of the EU’s Net Zero Cities mission, alongside with East Sarajevo and Sarajevo Canton, we are inspired by Sweden's ambitious plans for achieving carbon neutrality and motivated to seriously approach the development of our own investment and action plan. Additionally, we shared our experiences, successes, and challenges with colleagues from Bosnia and Herzegovina, hoping to provide valuable insights for their communities. The City of Sarajevo is determined in the fight against climate change, and this workshop has helped us prepare for that challenge.”

Challenges in data collection and planning

Accessing reliable and comprehensive data remains a major obstacle, whether due to the absence of standardized data collection protocols or the lack of transparency from relevant institutions. Without high-quality data, measuring progress becomes difficult.

Participants engaged in group discussions about existing tools and platforms for data collection, examining the challenges they face in utilizing them effectively. Alexandra Lecká, Research Associate at SEI HQ, led a session on the crucial role of data in climate action planning, emphasizing the need for structured data collection to support informed decision-making. The discussions highlighted a key challenge: the difficulty in gathering quality data, compounded by unclear protocols and institutional opacity. A key takeaway was that without reliable data, we cannot accurately track or measure progress.

Lecká elaborated: “Due to lack of centralized and standardized data collection, municipalities have very different starting points and data capacities. This is something we need to consider when thinking about modifying the Dashboard to make it usable and valuable for these actors. I am particularly excited about some detailed 'in-house' databases, which I am confident would bring in a unique element. However, the next step remains to gather uniform baseline emissions data, which is a necessary starting point in assessing current emissions, forecasting emissions and modelling impacts of climate action measures.”

At the end of the second day, participants explored the Viable Cities Finance Dashboard, which proved to be an invaluable tool for planning climate investments and supporting cities in their transition toward climate neutrality.

Adem Mostarlić, a participant from one of BiH SuTra’s target communities, Municipality of Banovići, shared his perspective: “The topic is extremely interesting and important as it focuses on adapting to climate change and the challenges that lie ahead. Through discussions and lectures from top experts from Sweden, we have gained insight into models and practices that have proven to be successful. We are particularly inspired by Sweden’s approach to planning climate actions at the local level, which we aim to implement in our own communities to be better prepared for future challenges."

The workshop concluded with a systems thinking exercise, where municipalities worked on causal loop diagrams, linking variables through their positive or negative correlations. This exercise energised participants and reinforced the idea that climate action operates within a complex and interconnected system, with no rigid boundaries.

With the workshop in Tuzla, SEI, in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden in BiH, boosted Bosnian communities’ knowledge in climate action and investment planning. Participants will continue refining their methodologies and analysing available data to create more effective climate action plans. Moving forward, the SEI team will develop a tailored tool for these communities, equipping them with practical insights and resources to advance towards sustainable, climate-resilient societies.