Municipal leaders from across the Western Balkans have come together to launch the Green Mayors Alliance, a new regional platform designed to accelerate the green transition through local leadership and cooperation. The initiative was formalized with the signing of a joint declaration at the Green Mayors Forum (21–23 September), organized by OSF–WB in Durrës, Albania.
The Alliance aims to help cities cut emissions, expand renewable energy, and ensure that climate action is fair and inclusive, in line with the European Green Deal. Mayors highlighted that the transition must be driven by communities, with schools, neighborhoods, and local institutions serving as entry points for change.
The three-day forum in Durrës gathered more than 100 participants, including mayors, municipal staff, educators, youth representatives, civil society organizations, and energy experts. Discussions focused on adapting EU climate policies to local realities, building citizen-led energy initiatives, and scaling up successful projects like Sunny Schools, which has already equipped dozens of schools across the region with rooftop solar panels.
Through the Joint Declaration, mayors committed to bold climate action, including local climate plans, emissions reduction, and people-centered infrastructure. They also pledged to work on securing access to EU and international green financing, while ensuring vulnerable groups and coal-dependent regions are not left behind.
The Green Mayors Alliance is envisioned as a locally rooted yet regionally coordinated platform, open to all municipalities in the Western Balkans ready to join efforts for a just and sustainable energy future.
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