Petroșani, a town in Romania’s Jiu Valley, located in one of the country’s six just transition regions, suffers from high energy poverty. Despite a lack of national data, recent research by Bankwatch – conducted in close collaboration with local stakeholders – shows that Petroșani could become a prime example of a place-based solution – one…

What does the future hold for the just transition in the Western Balkans? How can the next EU budget support the process? And what are the opportunities and challenges for coal regions?  In the latest episode of our ‘decarbonisation roadmap’ podcast series, we answer these questions with the help of our guest, Nevena Smilevska, Bankwatch’s…

Over the past seven years, the extraction of peat in Latvia has increased significantly. The two main uses of peat worldwide are in the production of soil substrates and energy, with Latvia’s exports accounting for around 95% of all the peat extracted within its borders. But despite the significant climate impacts of peat extraction, Latvia…

In this anniversary episode, we celebrate 30 years of Bankwatch – a network founded in 1995 to push for public investments that truly benefit people and the environment in central and eastern Europe.   Fidanka Bacheva-McGrath, Mark Martin and Petr Hlobil look back at the early days and what inspired them to become Bankwatchers, the challenges…

Miskolc, a city in northeastern Hungary, has already made huge strides towards decarbonisation. Now, with the help of the Friends of the Earth Hungary, the city is developing various community energy projects to build on this momentum. In the latest episode of our ‘decarbonisation roadmap’ podcast series, we speak with our just transition campaigner, Alexa…

Tsarkva, a neighbourhood in the just transition city of Pernik, Bulgaria, has a unique opportunity to realise the full potential of renewable energy for heating and cooling. In the latest episode of our ‘decarbonisation roadmap’ podcast series, we speak with our just transition campaigner, Ventzeslava Kojouharova, about the most viable solutions and how Pernik can…

Ida-Virumaa, Estonia’s just transition region, is in a unique position to embrace community energy and become a pioneer in the field. But is the region realising its potential? Listen to our latest podcast episode of ‘decarbonisation roadmap’ series as we discuss the challenges of community energy development and how they can be overcome with Kertu…

How can municipalities in just transition regions ramp up their decarbonisation efforts? With the help of Dan Dobre – our just transition campaigner and the author of a report comparing municipal decarbonisation strategies in nine central and eastern European just transition regions we discuss the challenges and opportunities for these communities. Listen to our first…

Three years after Russia’s invasion, we examine Ukraine’s reconstruction roadmap through its Single Project Pipeline, exploring how $486 billion in recovery funds will shape the nation’s future.

In December 2024, the Bern Convention set a new target for expanding the Emerald Network. The purpose of the network is to preserve endangered species and habitats throughout Europe by designating and managing protected areas called Emerald sites.   However, widening the network in some areas has proved challenging. For example, important river stretches, especially in…