Publications
How to Spot Greenwashing: When Sustainability Is Just a Sales Strategy
As sustainability becomes a powerful marketing tool, more brands are making environmental claims that don’t always hold up to scrutiny. This article explores how to spot greenwashing in everyday products and advertising — helping consumers make informed, responsible choices in a market flooded with misleading “green” labels
Read MoreHow to Spot Greenwashing: When Sustainability Is Just a Sales StrategySmarter Transport for the Western Balkans: An Interview with Matej Zakonjšek
Transport is more than infrastructure—it connects people and builds opportunities. In this interview, the Transport Community outlines how it is integrating Western Balkan transport with the EU, modernising rail, reducing border delays, and promoting sustainable mobility. From Green Lanes to the Belgrade–Niš railway, EU-backed projects are transforming the region’s connectivity, while smart mobility and clean urban transport remain key priorities. The vision: a seamlessly connected Western Balkans as part of Europe’s sustainable future.
Read MoreSmarter Transport for the Western Balkans: An Interview with Matej ZakonjšekAir Quality in the Balkan Capitals: Confronting the Urban Sustainability Challenge
Air quality in the Balkan capitals remains a defining challenge for the region’s urban sustainability goals. This article explores how pollution, carbon emissions, and weak governance are constraining progress in Western Balkan cities. Despite lower per capita emissions, cities struggle to decarbonize due to fossil fuel dependence and outdated heating and transport systems. Public health impacts are severe, yet policy responses remain fragmented. The piece concludes by calling for a strategic shift from declarations to action to secure a sustainable urban future.
Read MoreAir Quality in the Balkan Capitals: Confronting the Urban Sustainability ChallengeThe 5th Athens ESG Forum Highlights the Gaps Between Reporting and Real Value
PRESS RELEASE
The 5th Athens ESG Forum examined the widening gaps between ESG reporting and real value creation. Bringing together 70+ experts and 300+ attendees, the event explored whether ESG still delivers on its promises or risks becoming just a reporting exercise. Key discussions included the need for a more inclusive, transparent ESG framework that aligns with real market value and stakeholder needs.
Read MoreThe 5th Athens ESG Forum Highlights the Gaps Between Reporting and Real ValueMapping Equitable Access to the City with CThood: Interview with Vasileios Milias.
How accessible is your neighborhood, really? In this interview, researcher Vasileios Milias shares how CThood is redefining urban equity through open data and visual tools.
Read MoreMapping Equitable Access to the City with CThood: Interview with Vasileios Milias.SmartWaterTwin Project: Circular Economy for Urban Wastewater
Water scarcity and outdated wastewater systems threaten cities and industries across the Western Balkans. The SmartWaterTwin project aims to transform wastewater from a burden into a valuable resource. By applying circular economy principles, the project enables energy, nutrient, and water recovery. It provides tools, training, and a digital HUB to guide municipalities and industries toward sustainable water management. This approach strengthens local capacity while aligning with EU and climate goals.
Read MoreSmartWaterTwin Project: Circular Economy for Urban WastewaterBiodesign in the Balkans: Unlocking the Potential of a Regenerative Bioeconomy
Can biodesign in the Balkans turn waste into value? Explore the region’s resources and its role in building a regenerative, green future.
Read MoreBiodesign in the Balkans: Unlocking the Potential of a Regenerative BioeconomyAbove the Heat: Why Cities Need White Roofs Now
As global temperatures rise, cities need affordable ways to stay cool—white roofs offer one. Reflective coatings can lower indoor temperatures by up to 6 °C and reduce urban heat by 2 °C. Case studies from London to Delhi slums show clear benefits in comfort, energy savings, and emissions. These coatings are low-cost, easy to apply, and often community-led. Despite some trade-offs, white roofs are a powerful tool for cooler, healthier cities.
Read MoreAbove the Heat: Why Cities Need White Roofs NowFuture-Proofing the Region: Insights from Bloomberg Adria Serbia
Bloomberg Adria Serbia: Sustainable Strategies brought together leaders from business, finance, and government to explore practical pathways to climate action. From green finance and energy-efficient AI to ESG-driven urban mobility, the event showed that sustainability is now a strategic, not symbolic, priority.
Author: Semyon Gudkov, Sustainability Analyst and Founder of the NGO Pulse Urban Alliance
Read MoreFuture-Proofing the Region: Insights from Bloomberg Adria SerbiaUrban Heat Adaptation in Action: Cool Cities for All
The article explores how cities are fighting extreme heat with inclusive design, smart innovation, and climate justice to build cooler, healthier urban futures for all
Read MoreUrban Heat Adaptation in Action: Cool Cities for All