On the occasion of the World Climate Change Day, which is marked on May 15 as a reminder of global climate change caused by the human, the Centre for the Environment has warned that urgent action is needed to reduce emissions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and thus significantly reduce the consequences of climate changes. The first step towards that goal that needs to be taken in BiH as soon as possible is the elimination of the polluting energy produced from coal.

Large pollutants, primarily thermal power plants, are most responsible for emissions of harmful gases and, for that reason, it is necessary to start a well-planned process of decarbonization, i.e. to give up the energy production from coal and fossil fuels as soon as possible.

“Currently, more than 50 percent of the countries in Europe have decided to stop using coal energy, which means that they have seriously embarked on the process of decarbonisation, while BiH continues to approach this process without the right strategy and plan,” said Ivana Culic of the Centre for the Environment.

“Not only that, but the country still plans to build new blocks of coal-fired thermal power plants, which will undoubtedly prove to be unprofitable, and at the same time harmful to health and the environment. In this way, the authorities are making another failed investment, whose loan will be paid back by future generations “, she added.

Environmental organisations gathered in the EcoBiH network, addressed all levels of governments in the country with a call for the review of the energy strategy. They asked for a change in the strategy and adding up a decarbonisation scenario, i.e. a green energy scenario to it.

By joining and signing the Paris Agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina agreed to limit its own emissions so that the global temperature would not increase by 1.5 i.e. 2 Celsius.

The Paris Agreement also defines additional documents and strategies that the signatory states must prepare, including BiH. One of them is the NDC – Determined National Contribution of Emissions, which shows the state's focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

This document was recently adopted by the Council of Ministers of BiH, but it lists and plans new coal-fired power plants, which is unacceptable if we really want to reduce emissions.