Author: Jessica Besch, Program & Engagement Manager at The Climate Reality Project Europe.
Kosovo. A young country that is not on the radar of many and is mostly known for its dark past. A country that is reliant on and powered by coal, sitting on the 5th largest lignite coal reserve in the world, and experiencing poor air quality. It is, however, more than that. It is the country with the youngest demographic in Europe. With citizens who recognize the right to clean and reliable energy. With activists who fight against hydropower that would seriously damage the environment. And a country with dedicated civil society organizations like EcoZ who advocate for a coal phase-out that is putting communities at the center of the transition.
At Climate Reality, we work towards emissions reduction and climate neutrality on principles of public participation, solidarity and justice. Our partnership with EcoZ, led by Climate Reality Leader Egzona Shala, mirrors exactly that. Throughout the years, we managed important milestones in awareness raising and multi-stakeholder dialogues, as well as initial conversations with the coal-dependent and miner community in the municipality of Obiliq.
In 2024, a grant from Beyond Fossil Fuels allowed the continuation of this work. This time, we focused on intermediary decision-makers: media representatives and educators. Jessica Besch, Program and Engagement Manager of the Europe Branch, traveled to Pristina from 26 to 28 September to participate in a workshop for local journalists and visit a school in the municipality of Obiliq, where a mural was launched.
Fighting their way through the traffic of Pristina, journalist students and media representatives gathered at Hotel Sirius to learn more about the principles of a just energy transition and how to effectively communicate and report about it locally. Eleonora Allena, Communication Coordinator for the Western Balkans at Climate Action Network Europe, facilitated an interactive session with discussions about the role of journalists in the energy transition and a writing exercise.
Heading over to the elementary school for the launch of the mural was marked by a skyline of coal power plants and heavy white fumes in the blue sky. The director of the school welcomed Egzona Shala and Jessica Besch enthusiastically and gave a tour of the facilities, recounting his dedication to provide students with a future full of green opportunities. The launch of the mural - depicting a young person, sunflowers, a wind turbine and solar panels - symbolizes a positive future run on renewable energy and co-created by local communities. From now on, students of the school will be reminded of all the opportunities that a just transition can bring and their active and crucial role in the process. From now on, they are reminded to imagine their municipality breathing clean air and generating power that does not harm the environment. Because the future is now and we have the solutions at hand.
We are only at the beginning of the journey. We need to listen to all voices and design the transition together. By continuing the multi-stakeholder dialogue, Kosovo is on the right path to a healthy and just future.
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