LocationsUNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina brought together experts and institutions from across the Western Balkans
November 15, 2024
2nd regional meeting on environmental justice
The 2nd regional meeting on environmental justice was held in Sarajevo, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bringing together over 50 representatives of ministries, the judiciary, inspectorates, civil society organizations and academia from across the Western Balkans, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, it served as a key forum for addressing challenges in environmental justice. , focusing on legislation, law enforcement capacity and access to justice.
Mirza Hujić
"Environmental justice is a significant and multidimensional issue not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also in the wider world, due to increasing pressures on the environment. I hope that the institutions in BiH will take the necessary steps to improve the legal framework, improve the capacity of the judiciary and inspections, and ensure a greater degree of public participation in environmental issues and access to legal protection in enjoying the right to a clean and healthy environment,"
said Mirza Hujić, assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Held as part of UNDP's Eco-justice project, the event provided a platform for examining and improving the rule of law in the area of the environment in the region. The meeting was organized in a timely manner, after the recent publication of the European Commission's report on the progress of countries for the year 2024, which highlights the urgent challenges of environmental justice in the Western Balkans.
Enrico Visentin
Enrico Visentin, program manager for justice and the fight against corruption at the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighted the global scope of environmental crime, pointing out:
"Environmental crime is one of the fastest growing areas of organized crime in the world, and costs around 80-230 billion euros per year. It is the fourth largest sector of organized crime in the world, with a growth rate of 5-7% per year. Data from EUROPOL's 50 jurisdictions reveal that much of this crime remains undetected due to the limited capacity of law enforcement agencies to deal with it effectively."
UNDP facilitated this regional dialogue to promote a cohesive approach and collective progress in environmental management. Discussions at the meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening the rule of law in the environment to face the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
Victor Munteanu
Victor Munteanu, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in BiH, emphasized the far-reaching impacts of a strong environmental rule of law:
"Effective rule of law in the field of environment not only provides ecological, economic and social benefits. Moreover, it increases public trust in institutions, a key component of social cohesion, contributing to greater security and the promotion of peace."
The 2nd Regional Meeting on Environmental Justice emphasized the need for joint regional action to ensure that all communities, especially the most vulnerable, can enjoy a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999)
