May 14, 2026 | Read more When the Republika Srpska authorities signed contracts with the China Eximbank to finance the Dabar hydropower plant at the end of 2021, it seemed like the first and largest part of the Upper Horizons complex was a done deal. Today, more than four years later, obstacles are piling up for this controversial project, providing a much-needed opportunity to rethink the whole idea.
May 12, 2026 | Read more At a time when gender equality is under mounting pressure globally, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is preparing to adopt its new Gender Equality and Human Capital Strategy (2026–2030). The stakes could not be higher. Progress on gender equality and inclusion is not only stalling across the EBRD’s regions, it is actually reversing. Given the EBRD’s democracy mandate and its advanced experience in promoting gender equality, it is crucial for the Bank to adopt a robust strategy.
April 29, 2026 | Read more Over the past few years, the public transport fleet in Bishkek – Kyrgyzstan’s capital city – has changed visibly. In a city where privately operated minibuses, known as marshrutkas, dominated for years, new gas-powered buses and electric buses are now in service.
April 27, 2026 | Read more 47 civil society organisations have today called on Western Balkan governments to resist pressure from the United States and cancel plans to build new gas pipelines and power plants.
April 23, 2026 | Read more The key to long-term sustainability of the energy transition is a decentralised electricity generation system where everyone can be an active participant and share the benefits. For this to happen, the distribution grids that connect end consumers to the system need to be bidirectional, stable, modern and smart.
April 15, 2026 | Read more Community energy has emerged as a quiet undercurrent in Estonia, but has yet to firmly establish itself in the broader energy debate. Still, a number of pioneering communities across the country have already taken control of their energy production and consumption. Aiming to replace fossil fuels with cleaner and more affordable alternatives, they have adopted practical solutions that combine local needs, renewable energy and cooperative collaboration.
March 19, 2026 | Read more The inclusion of electricity in the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has raised questions about CBAM’s impacts on EU-Western Balkans market integration. But in a new joint civil society position paper, we argue that market integration can only work with a level playing field on environment and climate, and CBAM can contribute to this.
March 17, 2026 | Read more With fossil fuel phase-outs underway across Europe, many municipalities must urgently find ways to replace their coal- or gas-based district heating systems. Several resources are available from the EU to help municipalities plan and execute their energy transitions. One town in Slovakia has used these tools to modernise its own district heating system.
March 5, 2026 | Read more As Estonia prepares for the EU’s next long-term budget and financial instruments, it is equally important to assess how these new support measures are designed and reviewed. In collaboration with national authorities, we at the Estonian Green Movement are actively seeking solutions to ensure that support effectively reaches vulnerable households. To assist in this process, the Centre of Applied Social Sciences at the University of Tartu has developed a data-driven model that gives these households a fairer chance of accessing support.
March 2, 2026 | Read more Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Upper Drina hydropower scheme would turn 30 kilometres of this iconic river into stagnant reservoirs and cut a key Danube Salmon habitat into pieces. Its largest dam would be the 118-megawatt Buk Bijela, first proposed in the 1970s but repeatedly scuppered due to its impact on Montenegro’s Tara Canyon. Now a new environmental assessment is out for public consultation, but it’s being more than economical with the truth.
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