Water joins series of Balkan pollution concerns

Significance

In the latest in a string of pro-environment demonstrations, protesters marched through Belgrade on January 10 against high levels of atmospheric pollution. Environmental issues are channelling widespread dissatisfaction with governments. In the context of the COVID-19 health emergency, air pollution has been shown to play a part in increasing mortality rates.

Impacts

• State subsidies of energy projects may come under scrutiny.
• Synergies between ecological protest movements will grow across the region.
• Western Balkan states may look to the West for alternatives to both polluting technologies and clientelist political and economic models.