Third National Communication (TNC) and Second Biennial Update Report on Greenhouse Gas Emissions (SBUR) of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Third National Communication (TNC) and Second Biennial Update Report on Greenhouse Gas Emissions (SBUR) of Bosnia and Herzegovina

July 12, 2017

The Third National Communication (TNC) and Second Biennial Update Report on Greenhouse Gas Emissions (SBUR) of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted by the BiH Council of Ministers on May 23rd, 2017 and submitted to the UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn.

United Nations Development Program with financial support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, Ministry for Spatial Planning, Civil Engineering and Ecology of Republika Srpska, UNFCCC focal point for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ministry of environment and tourism of the Federation of BiH and Department for Spatial Planning, Property Rights Matters of the Brcko District implemented the project “Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Third National Communications to the UNFCCC” that resulted with preparation of the Third National Communication and Second Biennial Update Report on Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

TNC and SBUR serve as significant strategic documents for sustainable development as well as a link between environment protection and combat with climate change with key socio-economic development issues of the Country. These reports updated and strengthened information on climate changes, greenhouse gas inventories, climate change mitigation, vulnerability to climate change and steps taken to adapt to climate change, as well as information on public awareness, education, training, systematic research, and technology transfer. The development and submission of TNC and SBUR are an obligation that BiH, as UNFCCC signatory, has according to the Decision 17/CP8 and other relevant documents of the Convention.

The Third National Communication and Second Biennial Update Report on Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Bosnia and Herzegovina were prepared with an assistance of 48 local experts and active participation of relevant institutions. Preparation of these reports also increased the capacity of relevant institutions in BiH to prepare subsequent national communications of BiH in future.  National Communication on Climate Change (NC) is submitted every four years while Report on Greenhouse Gas Emissions every two years.   

The report states that in the last five years, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been facing with several significant extreme climate and weather episodes that have caused substantial material and financial deficits, as well as casualties. The two most important events are drought during 2012 and flooding during 2014. Additionally:

  • The most significant source of CO2 emissions is the energy sector, which in the 2002-2013 period contributed with about 53% of total CO2 emissions, followed by agriculture (14%), industrial processes (6%) and waste (5%). The share of emissions from other sectors in the total emissions during this period is about 22%.
  • The increase in annual air temperature ranges from 0.4 to 1.0°C, while the increase in temperature during the growing season (April– September) even reaches 1,2°C. However, increases in air temperature over the last fourteen years are even more pronounced. In the analyzed period, all indices of warm temperature extremes have positive trends, while indices of cold temperature extremes have negative trends.
Document Type
Regions and Countries
Sustainable Development Goals
Topics