Bosnia and Herzegovina

Some of the environmental issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina include air pollution from metallurgical plants, limited sites for disposing urban waste, and water shortages. Bosnia-Herzegovina has one of the lowest rates of carbon dioxide emissions. Most of these emissions come from electricity production, as some of it is generated from fossil fuels. The government has joined international forums, and took part in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change signed in Rio de Janeiro and ratified the Vienna Convention. In 2007, the Bosnian government accepted the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

The Convention on Biological Diversity

TheConvention on Biological Diversitywas inspired by the world community's growing commitment to sustainable development. It represents a dramatic step forward in the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

The following discusses Bosnia and Herzegovina's plans for biodiversity nationwide:

B&H is preparing a protection program for 15-20% of the territory and is aligning its natural heritage protection standards with those of the IUCN. Programs are also being prepared for the sustainable use of forests, endemic species, refuge centers, high-mountain areas and mountain lakes. The creation of a national gene bank for domesticated plants and animals is planned as well as a systematic inventory of invasive species. Finally, there is preparation of a program for the stabilization and gradual diminishing of acid and green house gasses. It is worth mentioning that war activities in Bosnia started in the period of creation of the Convention on biodiversity and the World Summit. In the post war period, following the consolidation of capacities, processes to promote the significance of biodiversity in sustainable development started.

Source: Convention on Biodiversity