On 28 January 2025, in Prishtina, Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, hosted a pivotal workshop to discuss Kosovo’s progress and challenges in advancing its climate agenda. The event brought together key stakeholders to address pressing issues ahead of COP30, focusing on climate adaptation, water security, and resilience.

The OSF Western Balkans Just Green Transition team leader emphasized that the green transformation is a unique and complex task that cannot be handled by government alone. It requires the engagement of the whole society, including civil society organizations, academia, businesses, local government, and other social stakeholders. OSF Western Balkans is implementing initiatives that support the region’s concerted efforts to build a new green economy through a fair and coordinated Green Industrial Policy, accelerate electricity decarbonization by integrating the region into the EU Emission Trading System, and empower local governments and communities to take ownership of the energy transition through homegrown energy democratization practices such as the Sunny Schools initiative.

The workshop featured insightful discussions on Kosovo’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), outlining the country’s commitments to global climate goals, and an in-depth presentation on water management challenges and opportunities in Kosovo. These inputs set the stage for dynamic group sessions where participants collaborated to draft recommendations for Kosovo’s Climate Adaptation Strategy.

Key themes explored included identifying climate risks such as water scarcity and flood vulnerabilities, setting strategic priorities for adaptation, and proposing actionable solutions such as enhancing flood early warning systems and developing water reservoirs for irrigation and drinking purposes. The workshop emphasized the importance of multilateral collaboration in addressing climate finance and adaptation needs, aligning local policies with global strategies, and fostering resilience through community-driven solutions.

The event concluded with a shared vision for advancing Kosovo’s climate agenda, underscoring not only the critical role of cooperation between civil society organizations and government institutions but also the potential for regional collaboration on climate adaptation and mitigation projects. By fostering partnerships across the Western Balkans, stakeholders can amplify the impact of climate solutions, address shared challenges, and build a sustainable future together.