Filip Višnjić Cultural Centre. Courtesy of Municipality of Ugljevik.
Filip Višnjić Cultural Centre. Courtesy of Municipality of Ugljevik.
The Municipality of Ugljevik has become the third local self-government unit to adopt an Operational Plan for Sustainable Transition under the BiH SuTra programme, following the Municipality of Breza and the City of Živinice, which finalized their plans earlier this year. This milestone comes after a year-long preparatory phase that included expert discussions and multiple rounds of public consultations. The adopted plan is aligned with the EU Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, aiming to promote a more sustainable society while improving environmental and living conditions in Ugljevik.
During the planning process, the municipality's geographical position and unique characteristics were carefully considered to ensure that the transition contributes to a more sustainable society while enhancing both the environment and the quality of life for its citizens. To ensure the plan reflects the community's shared aspirations for a sustainable future, the transition plan draws inspiration from Ugljevik’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 Ugljevik has identified six measures for implementation during 2025-2027. The BiH SuTra programme will support one of the measures, which focuses on the development of a conceptual design with a feasibility study for sewage drainage and wastewater treatment for the municipality.
“The Municipality of Ugljevik has adopted the Operational Plan for Sustainable Transition, a document that shapes the vision for the community's future development. The Plan aims to establish sustainable living conditions for current and future generations, while addressing global shifts in energy production and environmental protection. Implementing this Plan is expected to enhance the quality of life for residents and transform Ugljevik into a more vibrant, secure, and liveable community,” said Dragan Gajić, the Mayor of the Municipality of Ugljevik.
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 assist in implementing selected measure, following the adoption of operational three-year plans, in compliance with legal regulations.
"We are pleased to announce that the Municipality of Ugljevik, located in Republika Srpska, has become the third community in Bosnia and Herzegovina to adopt its transition plan in collaboration with BiH SuTra. This milestone underscores that even smaller communities in BiH are committed to addressing the climate crisis and are determined to make reality of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. The adoption of the transition plan marks a step towards a better future for Ugljevik, fostering the development of new job opportunities in key sectors such as sustainable agriculture and tourism," said Saša Solujić, BiH SuTra Programme Manager.
The BiH SuTra programme aims to facilitate Bosnia and Herzegovina's sustainable transition by developing and implementing effective measures and regulations at the local level. Through inclusive and comprehensive planning processes, the programme sets long-term, medium-term, and short-term objectives. Its efforts are concentrated on four coal regions in BiH; Municipality of Banovići, Municipality of Breza, Municipality Ugljevik and City of Živinice.
Looking ahead, this will hopefully be an inspiration and experience to learn from for other coal regions in BiH.
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