The Sustainable Transition of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH SuTra) programme, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and implemented by SEI, played an active role at the Sarajevo Energy and Climate Week (SECW) 2024, a regional conference focused on addressing the critical challenges of energy and climate in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).  

At SECW 2024, BiH SuTra used its platform to engage thought leaders, activists and stakeholders in meaningful discussions about how BiH can navigate the path toward a just and inclusive transition. 

Powerful conversations over coffee and Swedish treats 

One of the highlights of SECW was a side event hosted by BiH SuTra titled “BiH Sustainable Transition: World Café & Swedish Fika.” The event offered participants the opportunity to discuss the pressing challenges of BiH’s sustainable transition over coffee and traditional Swedish treats, commonly known as “Swedish fika”.  

The session provided a platform to showcase BiH SuTra’s achievements over the past year while facilitating powerful discussions around the future of sustainable development in BiH. 

Some of the key takeaways from the session included: 

• The future lies beyond mining. 

• The current system is unsustainable and requires change. 

• Knowledge gaps often fuel fears about the transition. 

• Smaller communities hold significant opportunities for sustainable transition. 

• A balanced approach is essential to ensure a successful transition. 

• Investments in entrepreneurial spirit and innovation are critical. 

• Protecting BiH’s natural beauty is crucial, and individuals must reflect on their role in supporting positive change. 

In a unique twist, Bosnian artist Midhat Kapetanović created a live visual representation of the session’s key points. This visual summary helped capture the collective insights and presented them in an accessible way to the audience. 

Stakeholder engagement is key to a just transition 

A central theme of SECW 2024 was the importance of stakeholder engagement in achieving a just transition. A panel organized by the World Bank focused on creating a fair transition process, particularly for local communities and pilot projects. Saša Solujić, BiH SuTra programme manager, participated as a panelist, offering valuable insights on the significance of stakeholder engagement in the transition process. 

Solujić highlighted that the concept of a just transition has historical roots dating back to the 1970s when environmental regulations began gaining traction. She emphasized several critical factors needed to ensure a just and inclusive transition: 

• Stakeholder engagement is essential: Dialogue and consensus-building must involve the communities most affected. The process should never be imposed, rather shaped by those impacted. 

• Continuous planning: Long-term plans are vital, but flexibility is key. Planning must evolve, especially at the local level, where engagement should be active and continuous. 

• Local concerns matter: Communities in BiH are deeply concerned about issues such as land repurposing, air quality and water pollution. A just transition must take a holistic approach to these challenges. 

• Strong leadership is crucial: Effective leadership is needed to ensure that diverse voices are heard and that cultural and social norms are respected throughout the transition. 

• Social aspects of a just transition: The shift from traditional industries must consider the inclusion of women and vulnerable groups to ensure that the transition is equitable for all. 

Sustainable mobility as a key driver of the transition

Sustainable mobility is a critical component of the broader transition to decarbonization. Bernardas Padegimas, team lead of the environmental policy and strategy team at SEI Headquarters, participated in the SECW panel on “Strategic approach to the development of e-mobility in the private and public sectors with a focus on transport decarbonization”.

During the discussion, Padegimas emphasized Sweden’s leadership in electric vehicle (EV) adoption and its support for BiH’s efforts to advance e-mobility. Sweden is on track to fully electrify its public transport by 2030, with cities like Stockholm already implementing electric bus fleets.

Padegimas highlighted the potential for BiH to follow a similar path through knowledge exchange with Sweden and neighbouring Slovenia. Sweden remains committed to supporting BiH’s decarbonization efforts through investments in EV infrastructure, public transport electrification and the integration of smart grid technologies. These efforts are crucial to ensuring that BiH can meet its sustainable mobility targets and reduce its carbon footprint.

Sarajevo Energy and Climate Week 2024 provided a valuable platform for the BiH SuTra programme to engage with key stakeholders and partners in shaping a just and inclusive energy transition in BiH. The event underscored the importance of local engagement, continuous planning and social inclusion as key drivers of the sustainable transition process. As BiH SuTra continues to build on these foundational elements, it remains committed to ensuring that the transition is just, inclusive and beneficial to all citizens.