About this learning event

Climate change is reshaping environmental and economic systems globally, disrupting ecosystems, supply chains, and social stability. In the Western Balkans, a region highly exposed to air pollution, climate‑related disasters, and energy insecurity, these impacts are intensified. As no single actor or country can tackle these challenges alone, partnerships and coalitions have emerged as essential mechanisms for effective climate action. 

Climate coalitions bring together actors with shared objectives and allow them to accelerate progress beyond what formal negotiation settings often enable. These models are highly relevant for the Western Balkans, where diverse institutional strengths, ongoing EU integration processes, and regional interdependencies make cooperation a practical necessity.

There are strong examples of climate coalitions existing in the Western Balkans. The Climate Bridges Network is a major cross‑border alliance uniting over 60 organizations across eight countries in Southeast Europe. Its mission focuses on decarbonization, pollution reduction, and biodiversity protection, and it actively supports the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. Building on this foundation, the Climate Bridges Network in Action initiative strengthens transnational climate governance by coordinating campaigns on climate‑neutral mobility and just transition, developing local Green Agendas in selected municipalities, and producing a manifesto for transnational climate governance across the Western Balkans. The region is also supported by the WB6 Climate Adaptation Roadmap, developed by the Regional Cooperation Council, which provides a coordinated, science‑based approach to climate adaptation across all six Western Balkan economies.

Across all these examples several principles of effective climate partnerships consistently emerge. Successful initiatives begin with clear needs rooted in sectoral or governance gaps, such as energy transition challenges, climate governance inconsistencies, or infrastructure vulnerabilities. Strong partnerships often start small and build on trusted relationships or existing platforms, an approach particularly valuable in the Western Balkans where collaboration often depends on shared history and cross‑border networks. Clear governance structures and well‑defined roles help build trust and prevent fragmentation, while scalable design ensures that partnerships can expand beyond pilot phases into region‑wide or EU‑aligned frameworks. Finally, transparent monitoring, reporting, and information‑integrity systems ensure credibility and maintain momentum, especially in a region where misinformation can undermine climate policy.

Workshop activities will support the participants in applying these principles by mapping relevant stakeholders, designing governance structures, simulating coalition expansion across borders, and practicing multi‑stakeholder alliance building. By the end of the workshop, participants will understand how to build, strengthen, and scale coalitions that drive climate action, enhance cross‑border collaboration, reduce transition costs, and accelerate progress toward a climate‑resilient and sustainable Western Balkans.

Target audience

This workshop is designed for public officials working in ministries of environment and climate change, ministries of finance, and other public institutions involved in implementing the Green Agenda.

Partners

This event is delivered as part of the Greening Human Capital of Public Institutions of the Western Balkans project implemented by the CEF and supported by the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy and the Climate Change Fund of Slovenia.