The six Western Balkans economies have made progress in aligning with EU legislation on environment and climate, including policy adaptation, improved monitoring and reporting procedures, and greater focus on emission reduction targets. Air quality has improved, there are signs of higher use of renewable energy sources and new investments in wastewater infrastructure.
However, progress has been slow, and some issues remain to be still addressed, according to the JRC analysis. The findings are published in the report Status of Environment and Climate in the Western Balkans, with the objective to help monitor progress and support the EU accession process of the region.
The study analyses air pollutants, greenhouse gas emissions, soil health, water resources, the impact on health (air quality) and the contribution to the antimicrobial resistance (water quality). It also investigates the impact of climate change on precipitation, drought, heat waves and forest fires, based on data over the period 1990 – 2023, to allow for comparison.
Among the challenges, the study finds that air quality remains a significant problem for both the region and neighbouring EU countries, despite a downwards trend of air pollutant yearly concentrations. Greenhouse gas emissions remain stable and no significant change in the overall greenhouse gas emissions 2015-2022 is observed – in 2022, greenhouse gas emissions were 18% lower compared with 1990.
In addition, the report examines soil degradation and key stressors to water management, such as underdeveloped infrastructure, insufficient wastewater treatment and the impact of human activities.
Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions
Air quality has improved in terms of meeting annual limits for particulate matter PM10 (smaller than 10 µm in diameter) and PM2.5 (smaller than 2.5 µm).
In 2023, the PM10 annual average concentrations were below the limit of 40 µg/m3 (set by national authorities) in nearly 70% of the total Western Balkans monitoring stations, but well above the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended value of 15 µg/m3.
However, daily concentrations of these major pollutants, along with sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3), remain too high and are often above the limit values set by national authorities.
In fact, the health consequences of poor air quality are more severe in the Western Balkans region, with higher death rates linked to exposure to PM2.5 when compared to the EU. The mortality rate linked to PM2.5 is up to four times higher in the Western Balkans, with a significantly slower declining trend.
Coal-fired power plants continue to be the primary culprit, contributing the most both to greenhouse gas emissions – showing a stagnating trend – and air pollutants (CO2, SO2, NOx, PM).
However, the rise in biological CO2 emissions – including those from the combustion of primarily solid biomass fuels and liquid biofuels – indicates a progressive transition towards renewable energy sources. In 2022, biological CO2 emissions in the region, excluding Kosovo for which no data are available, grew by 85% comparing to 1990 and 43% compared to 2015.
The use of solid biomass in households represents a trade-off between climate and air quality policies: the increased share of this fuel contributes to reduce fossil CO2 emissions while its emissions of particulate matter and black carbon have negative impacts on air quality and human health.
Climate change impact
Precipitation trends show intensified droughts during the summer months in southern and coastal areas, as well as increased rainfall during winter periods which increases the risks of both droughts and flooding.
These changes are disrupting water quality and natural water flow patterns and are accompanied by a 40-60% increase in the duration of heat waves between 2003 and 2023, particularly along the Adriatic coast and regions of Kosovo, central and northern Serbia.
In recent years, there have been fewer forest fires, and average burnt area is lower than in the EU.
The region’s soils are under pressure
Soil erosion stands out as the most severe form of degradation, with average losses reaching 4.1 tons per hectare annually (still below the region’s threshold of 10 tons per hectare annually), affecting approximately 40% of the region's total land area.
Industry is the largest contributor to potentially contaminated sites, primarily linked to metal production and processing, chemical manufacturing, and fossil fuel-related activities. Mining is another major source, along with landfill sites, fertiliser production, and asbestos or radioactive waste. These pressures further compromise soil's ability to support agriculture, maintain ecosystems and sustain human activities.
However, addressing these challenges is hindered by a significant knowledge gap, as Western Balkans countries rely on outdated soil data, limiting the ability to implement effective monitoring and mitigation strategies compared to EU countries.
Water management
Water management faces multiple challenges: key problems include untreated municipal and industrial wastewater discharge, agricultural pollution runoff and the combined effects of climate change and altered water systems. But efforts to improve water management are underway through measures to align with EU standards and ongoing investments.
The need for regional cooperation and reliable field data
The report's findings call for increased cooperation among Western Balkan economies, as well as with neighbouring EU countries, to address transboundary pollution – both within and outside the region – and environmental challenges.
It also highlights the need to expand and improve environmental monitoring systems, including better data collection and management, as to have reliable data from the field. This is crucial for a better understanding of critical issues related to air quality, climate, water and soil conditions, which helps develop effective policies.
Financial instruments like the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans represent a key opportunity to address the gaps identified in this report.
Related links
Status of Environment and Climate in the Western Balkans
Guidelines for the Implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans