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Green Without Numbers: The Challenge of Climate Data in Kosovo
Kosovo’s push for a green transition resembles navigating a road without lights. Air pollution dominates the public debate, but it is only one piece of a wider information vacuum. There are no up-to-date figures on industrial waste cycles and landfill leaks; hydrometric stations fail to capture overall trends in water quality and groundwater; and biodiversity inventories remain incomplete and unsystematic. Without a clear map of these environmental pressures, the country cannot measure progress or ensure accountability.
Air Pollution: Measured, But Not Fully UnderstoodCurrently, Kosovo has 12 stations for monitoring air pollution. Most of them are concentrated in large cities, while rural and industrial areas where pollution is often heavier—remain outside the monitoring map.
According to a 2024 UNICEF report, air quality in Kosovo is among the worst in Europe, with tiny PM2.5 particles reaching up to 367 micrograms per cubic meter of air (367 μg/m³) — more than 25 times higher than the safe daily limit recommended by the WHO for children, indicating severe and persistent exposure. PM10 particles, slightly larger and mostly remaining in the respiratory tract, also frequently exceeded safe thresholds.
This situation shows not only that pollution is high and recurring, but also that the infrastructure to measure it properly is inadequate, leaving gaps that make Kosovo’s pollution landscape unclear.
A World Bank report shows that Kosovo lacks updated data on energy poverty, waste separation at source, and municipal-level recycling rates. Air quality is the most visible aspect of environmental monitoring, but data gaps extend far beyond it.
Climate Commitments Without Climate NumbersKosovo also lacks sufficient information assets to address climate change risks. Climate change scenarios are not available, hydrometeorological data are collected only in a few locations, and there are no local-scale hazard maps except for floods. Without reliable data, citizens cannot assess whether public funds are improving air quality, reducing energy bills, or protecting communities from climate-related risks.
In the European Union, climate data are comprehensively collected and analyzed, including through satellite monitoring with Copernicus, while in Kosovo information is often incomplete and focused only on specific problems, making it difficult to measure progress toward a green future.
The trend of government investments in energy efficiency measures was positive during 2023 and 2024 but marked a decline in 2025. According to official data provided by the Ministry of Economy, more than €460,000 were spent on energy efficiency programs for citizens and over €230,000 for micro, small, and medium enterprises. However, the Ministry confirmed that no data are available on the environmental impact of these subsidies. When asked about the results of these programs, the Ministry of Economy’s Media Office did not provide any response. These gaps are not limited to measurement alone; they reflect deeper structural issues in how data is collected, managed, and shared.
Why Open Data MattersEvidence from organizations and experts actively working in environmental protection show that Kosovo lacks open data on green development and the commitments the country must fulfill under the Green Deal.
Currently, Kosovo lacks a complete and integrated system for collecting, storing, and publishing climate and energy data. Core data are collected and managed by different sectoral institutions, but there is no central platform to ensure effective coordination, harmonization of information, and easy public access.
Together with other Western Balkan countries, Kosovo signed the Sofia Declaration in 2020 for the Green Agenda, which, among other things, foresees net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including carbon dioxide (CO₂). However, Kosovo’s progress in this field is unclear, as the last report on emission accounts was published in 2021 and covers only data for 2014 and 2019.
Balkan Green Foundation, in its report on Kosovo’s institutional commitments to the Green Agenda, acknowledges progress in implementing green development pledges but highlights challenges such as limited capacities and delays in some initiatives. Green financing also continues to be a barrier, according to this report, underscoring the need for public-private partnerships to mobilize investments in renewable energy and sustainability projects that would improve the environment.
According to the World Bank report, achieving the target of full reduction of CO₂ emissions requires a radical transformation of Kosovo’s energy system. Coal-fired power plants must be gradually phased out and fully retired by 2045, replaced by significant increases in wind and solar capacities.
Fiona Bakija from Balkan Green Foundation says this limited public data situation is due to “the lack of human capacities in responsible institutions, bureaucratic procedures, and lack of inter-institutional coordination.” She adds: “There is no national registry or climateand energy database made available to the public or cross-sectoral institutions, which undermines data reliability and makes it difficult to create an accurate environmental picture.”
Climate change expert Fjollë Caka emphasizes that Kosovo’s environmental situation remains difficult, especially due to air pollution, ineffective waste management, and lack of funds for the green transition. According to her: “Limited access to open data makes it difficult to measure progress, ensure transparency, and develop effective policies,” adding that only updated data can enable a real green transition. Kosovo institutions acknowledge difficulties regarding public climate data. According to the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, the lack of open data in this critical field is due to “limited technical and infrastructural capacities, institutional fragmentation, lack of coordination, as well as limited financial and specialized human resources.”
In a response from this ministry’s Media Office, several measures are mentioned that should be undertaken to improve climate data transparency:
“Increase investment in technological infrastructure and measuring stations; Create an integrated climate data management system; Develop human capacities and strengthen regional cooperation; Engage within international transparency commitments.”
Behar Zogiani, a public relations expert, considers that ‘hiding’ data makes citizens passive and less likely to react to socially important issues.
“There is no sustainable society without accurate, impartial, and correct presentation. Energy, as the most important issue for a society, thanks to Kosovo’s abundant natural resources, must be treated professionally—openly and transparently with citizens. Withproper information, public reactions would be encouraged, forcing the Government and related institutions to allocate sufficient resources to realize the green agenda,” says Zogiani.
A Step Forward: Kosovo Green Insights
In response to these systemic gaps, several organizations are working to improve access to environmental data. Balkan Green Foundation, Open Data Kosovo, and Lëvizja Fol, through the Kosovo Green Action project, are building the Kosovo Green Insights platform—a new window toward open and updated data.
Rather than a standalone solution, this initiative aims to address long-standing challenges in transparency, coordination, and accessibility of environmental information.
Through this initiative, citizens, institutions, and various actors will have a powerful tool to understand and influence Kosovo’s sustainable development.
By improving access to reliable and up-to-date data, it can support more informed decision-making and strengthen public accountability.
Author: Agron Canolli
Air Pollution: Measured, But Not Fully UnderstoodCurrently, Kosovo has 12 stations for monitoring air pollution. Most of them are concentrated in large cities, while rural and industrial areas where pollution is often heavier—remain outside the monitoring map.
According to a 2024 UNICEF report, air quality in Kosovo is among the worst in Europe, with tiny PM2.5 particles reaching up to 367 micrograms per cubic meter of air (367 μg/m³) — more than 25 times higher than the safe daily limit recommended by the WHO for children, indicating severe and persistent exposure. PM10 particles, slightly larger and mostly remaining in the respiratory tract, also frequently exceeded safe thresholds.
This situation shows not only that pollution is high and recurring, but also that the infrastructure to measure it properly is inadequate, leaving gaps that make Kosovo’s pollution landscape unclear.
A World Bank report shows that Kosovo lacks updated data on energy poverty, waste separation at source, and municipal-level recycling rates. Air quality is the most visible aspect of environmental monitoring, but data gaps extend far beyond it.
Climate Commitments Without Climate NumbersKosovo also lacks sufficient information assets to address climate change risks. Climate change scenarios are not available, hydrometeorological data are collected only in a few locations, and there are no local-scale hazard maps except for floods. Without reliable data, citizens cannot assess whether public funds are improving air quality, reducing energy bills, or protecting communities from climate-related risks.
In the European Union, climate data are comprehensively collected and analyzed, including through satellite monitoring with Copernicus, while in Kosovo information is often incomplete and focused only on specific problems, making it difficult to measure progress toward a green future.
The trend of government investments in energy efficiency measures was positive during 2023 and 2024 but marked a decline in 2025. According to official data provided by the Ministry of Economy, more than €460,000 were spent on energy efficiency programs for citizens and over €230,000 for micro, small, and medium enterprises. However, the Ministry confirmed that no data are available on the environmental impact of these subsidies. When asked about the results of these programs, the Ministry of Economy’s Media Office did not provide any response. These gaps are not limited to measurement alone; they reflect deeper structural issues in how data is collected, managed, and shared.
Why Open Data MattersEvidence from organizations and experts actively working in environmental protection show that Kosovo lacks open data on green development and the commitments the country must fulfill under the Green Deal.
Currently, Kosovo lacks a complete and integrated system for collecting, storing, and publishing climate and energy data. Core data are collected and managed by different sectoral institutions, but there is no central platform to ensure effective coordination, harmonization of information, and easy public access.
Together with other Western Balkan countries, Kosovo signed the Sofia Declaration in 2020 for the Green Agenda, which, among other things, foresees net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including carbon dioxide (CO₂). However, Kosovo’s progress in this field is unclear, as the last report on emission accounts was published in 2021 and covers only data for 2014 and 2019.
Balkan Green Foundation, in its report on Kosovo’s institutional commitments to the Green Agenda, acknowledges progress in implementing green development pledges but highlights challenges such as limited capacities and delays in some initiatives. Green financing also continues to be a barrier, according to this report, underscoring the need for public-private partnerships to mobilize investments in renewable energy and sustainability projects that would improve the environment.
According to the World Bank report, achieving the target of full reduction of CO₂ emissions requires a radical transformation of Kosovo’s energy system. Coal-fired power plants must be gradually phased out and fully retired by 2045, replaced by significant increases in wind and solar capacities.
Fiona Bakija from Balkan Green Foundation says this limited public data situation is due to “the lack of human capacities in responsible institutions, bureaucratic procedures, and lack of inter-institutional coordination.” She adds: “There is no national registry or climateand energy database made available to the public or cross-sectoral institutions, which undermines data reliability and makes it difficult to create an accurate environmental picture.”
Climate change expert Fjollë Caka emphasizes that Kosovo’s environmental situation remains difficult, especially due to air pollution, ineffective waste management, and lack of funds for the green transition. According to her: “Limited access to open data makes it difficult to measure progress, ensure transparency, and develop effective policies,” adding that only updated data can enable a real green transition. Kosovo institutions acknowledge difficulties regarding public climate data. According to the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, the lack of open data in this critical field is due to “limited technical and infrastructural capacities, institutional fragmentation, lack of coordination, as well as limited financial and specialized human resources.”
In a response from this ministry’s Media Office, several measures are mentioned that should be undertaken to improve climate data transparency:
“Increase investment in technological infrastructure and measuring stations; Create an integrated climate data management system; Develop human capacities and strengthen regional cooperation; Engage within international transparency commitments.”
Behar Zogiani, a public relations expert, considers that ‘hiding’ data makes citizens passive and less likely to react to socially important issues.
“There is no sustainable society without accurate, impartial, and correct presentation. Energy, as the most important issue for a society, thanks to Kosovo’s abundant natural resources, must be treated professionally—openly and transparently with citizens. Withproper information, public reactions would be encouraged, forcing the Government and related institutions to allocate sufficient resources to realize the green agenda,” says Zogiani.
A Step Forward: Kosovo Green Insights
In response to these systemic gaps, several organizations are working to improve access to environmental data. Balkan Green Foundation, Open Data Kosovo, and Lëvizja Fol, through the Kosovo Green Action project, are building the Kosovo Green Insights platform—a new window toward open and updated data.
Rather than a standalone solution, this initiative aims to address long-standing challenges in transparency, coordination, and accessibility of environmental information.
Through this initiative, citizens, institutions, and various actors will have a powerful tool to understand and influence Kosovo’s sustainable development.
By improving access to reliable and up-to-date data, it can support more informed decision-making and strengthen public accountability.
Author: Agron Canolli