The fight against climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges today, and the transition to clean energy sources is a crucial step toward a sustainable future. Guided by these principles, numerous organizations around the world are dedicated to environmental protection, among them the Center for Environment from Banja Luka, which for a quarter of a century has been actively promoting an ecologically responsible way of life and advocating for a healthier and more sustainable Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Their work is focused on concrete change – through active cooperation with local communities, experts, and partner organizations, they combat harmful projects by advocating for policies that protect both nature and people.
They are also present in the field of renewable energy sources (RES), where they have long been working on projects that encourage institutions to adopt and implement necessary regulations, allowing citizens to participate in clean energy production using solar panels to generate electricity for their households.
In addition, they advocate for initiatives that would enable the formation of renewable energy communities — models in which citizens can invest jointly and benefit from renewable energy sources. Dragan Ostić, Assistant for Energy and Climate, highlights for the Energy Portal Magazine that the Center monitors laws and policies to ensure the transition is fair and sustainable for all. He points out that there are numerous challenges in BiH, from institutions that obstruct processes to a lack of knowledge about available opportunities.
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“The biggest challenge is the inertia and sluggishness of the system, from vague laws and slow procedures to the continued favoring of outdated energy models based on coal. Currently, it often happens that citizens want to install solar panels but face a mountain of paperwork and poorly coordinated institutions. In addition, misinformation and insufficient knowledge about the possibilities of RES hinder faster progress“, says Ostić.
The complex state apparatus of BiH is reflected in all spheres of society and also slows down the transition to clean energy sources. However, institutions in both entities are increasingly recognizing the importance of the energy transition, though this is still not followed by decisive action. According to our interviewee, in the Republic of Srpska, processes are often centralized but lack transparency, whereas in the Federation of BiH, there are more actors involved, which slows down decision-making.
“Regulations differ between the entities, which further complicates the situation. BiH has great potential — with many sunny days and possibilities for wind energy — but also room for improvement in energy efficiency. All in all, we have the potential, but we lack precise coordination and concrete steps toward real transition“, he says.
Ostić notes that the energy transition is most hindered by outdated energy policies, slow administrative processes, a lack of political will, and the influence of interest groups seeking to preserve the existing model. Additionally, we lack a concrete national energy strategy, which makes it challenging to secure funding from European sources. All this contributes to the fact that, unfortunately, we are still among the countries most dependent on coal.
The message that the Center has been sending for years is that the green transition should not be seen as a cost, but as an investment in the future. For Bosnia and Herzegovina to become a clean energy country, authorities must show determination, create space for citizens and local communities, and make it clear that the coal era is behind us. Our interviewee emphasizes that there is less and less time for delay and that the transition must be fair, sustainable, and focused on the well-being of all citizens.
Prepared by Jasna Dragojević
The story was published in Energy portal Magazine PURE ENERGY
