The social impact of air pollution in the Western Balkans, Nikolaos Tzifakis & Anastasios Valvis, ÖGfE Policy Brief, 15’2022
Environmental degradation is an alarming problem in the Western Balkans. Air pollution was the fourth greatest risk factor for human health globally in 2019. The European Union (EU) aspires to promote the transition to Renewable Energy Sources in the Western Balkans. However, this is not an easy task. Not only does it entail substantial socio-economic cost. It also requires overcoming the region’s structural deficiencies of governance and particularly the presence of unsustainable investments in the energy sector (predominantly by China), supported by the governments of Western Balkan countries. In this respect, this Policy Brief articulates recommendations in two directions. At the national level, Western Balkan countries should realise the benefits of energy transition for the local societies in terms of both health improvement and economic performance. At the EU level, policy-makers should increase their attention to the region’s deficient environmental policies, in addition to providing generous financial assistance to support transition. Amidst the war in Ukraine and its instantaneous implication in the Western Balkans’ energy security and economic recovery, the EU should be even more determined to prevent Western Balkan states from backsliding to old and
unsustainable ‘energy production’ habits.
Policy Recommendations
The Western Balkans should:
- Ensure that as long as polluting sites remain operational, they will comply with EU environmental standards, decreasing their emissions.
- Adopt and operationalise with wide national consensus realistic and comprehensive decarbonisation strategies.
- Implement vigorously the regional energy connectivity agenda and pursue the establishment of transborder renewable resources energy networks.
- Launch campaigns to inform people about the need to reduce household energy consumption.
The European Union should:
- Push for genuine (rather than procedural) compliance with the EU acquis communautaire and use credibly accession conditionality.
