Editorial – A Journey of Knowledge, Collaboration, and Green Ambition
As the GreenFORCE project comes to its end, we look back with pride on a journey that has brought together over the years more than 200 stakeholders, including academics, civil society organizations, public institutions, and private sector representatives, to empower a greener, fairer, and more knowledge-driven Western Balkans.
What began as a bold vision, to foster excellence in research and innovation for a just green transition, has transformed into a vibrant community of practice. Through joint research, institutional learning, and active exchange, we’ve not only built capacities, but also strengthened trust, developed lasting partnerships, and shaped new ways of thinking about territorial development and environmental responsibility.
Over the course of the project, five regional case studies were conducted to explore key green transition challenges such as decarbonization, climate adaptation, sustainable mobility, and energy efficiency, analyzing impacts and trade-offs through possible future scenarios. We believe these insights will remain valuable tools for guiding long-term transition efforts in the region.
One of the project’s most significant achievements was the identification of concrete opportunities for macro-regional cooperation, supporting the advancement of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans (GAWB) and the Growth and Investment Plan for the region. These include cross-border knowledge exchange, multi-stakeholder cooperation, and the promotion of context-sensitive, inclusive governance models.
In a region where political shifts often disrupt long-term policy commitments, GreenFORCE emphasized the vital role of regional networks such as RCC, NALAS, and TG-WeB in sustaining momentum and advancing collaborative efforts for a greener and more resilient future.
The stories featured in this final newsletter reflect our shared progress: from capacity-building efforts and pilot actions, to cross-border knowledge management and impactful events. But more than that, they reflect the power of collaboration, and the belief that a just green transition is not only necessary, but entirely within reach.
To all who walked this path with us: thank you, for your expertise, your commitment, and your readiness to imagine and work toward a better future.
Though GreenFORCE as a project ends here, the force it helped unlock, of regional cooperation, shared responsibility, and bold innovation, will carry on.
Let’s keep that momentum alive.
