AGP Executive Report

Waste Cleanup Pressure in Gospić: A Zagreb protest on Saturday (5 Sept) will demand faster remediation of illegally dumped waste at the former PPK Velebit site in Gospić, where authorities cite about 4,500 tonnes of loose hazardous material plus 650 tonnes in bags, with concerns including PFAS contamination in downstream groundwater. Weather Shift for Croatia: Croatia is heading into a major change next week, with temperatures dropping by more than 10°C and heavy rain expected—especially in parts of the interior and northern Adriatic, including forecasts of up to 70 mm near Rijeka. Heat and Water Stress Signals: The week’s coverage also points to ongoing climate strain across the region, from extreme summer conditions to impacts on ecosystems and livelihoods. Tourism Footprint Watch: Dubrovnik’s Lokrum boat timetable update and record passenger numbers at Dubrovnik Airport (over 566,000 in August) underline how fast pressure is building on popular coastal destinations. Marine Monitoring Debate: A new push for persistent marine monitoring argues that “paper parks” and fragmented oversight can miss damage early—an issue relevant for Adriatic conservation planning. Generational Renewal for Rural Croatia: FAO calls for systemic support so young people can choose farming and rural life—land, finance, knowledge, housing, connectivity, and services all tied to long-term sustainability.

Marine Monitoring Push: A new report warns that “paper parks” and fragmented checks fail marine protected areas, arguing for persistent, daily observation to catch damage early. Waste Crisis & Accountability: Croatia’s Gospić waste problem is set to hit the national spotlight with a Zagreb protest on Sept 5, after findings of hazardous waste and PFAS contamination concerns tied to the former PPK Velebit site. Weather Shock: Croatia braces for a major midweek shift—temperatures dropping by 10°C in places with heavy rain expected, including up to 70 mm near Rijeka. Tourism Pressure Signals: Dubrovnik’s airport keeps breaking records (566,259 passengers in August), while Lokrum’s updated boat timetable highlights how quickly visitor flows shape local logistics. Transport & Tech: Uber and Wayve launch supervised autonomous rides in London, with Zagreb already cited as a prior European step—raising new questions about how mobility tech will fit into environmental and city planning.

Autonomous Transport in Focus: Uber and British AI firm Wayve have launched London’s first robotaxi service, with fewer than 20 electric Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles initially available to riders via UberX, Uber Comfort and Uber Electric, while a licensed operator stays onboard to monitor and take over if needed; Uber says fully driverless operations will come later once approvals land. Croatia Climate Reality Check: Croatia is facing another stark reminder of warming trends as a heat dome expands across Europe, with forecasts of 40°C+ in parts of the Mediterranean and the Balkans, while DHMZ analysis shows summer 2026 was extremely warm across most of Croatia and notably dry in the east and parts of central areas. Waste Cleanup Push in Gospić: Croatia’s government is accelerating remediation of a major illegal waste site in Gospić, including covering the site to prevent water infiltration, removing surface waste, and preparing to tackle 32,000–33,000 tonnes of buried ash. Green Mobility at Sea: MacGregor has secured a major RoRo equipment order for TT-Line’s two new battery-hybrid LNG ferries for Baltic routes, aimed at cutting emissions and improving energy efficiency. EU Mine Action Cooperation: The EU will continue cooperation with Azerbaijan on humanitarian demining, linking clearance with recovery, reconstruction and safer return for communities.

Waste Cleanup in Gospić: Croatia is accelerating remediation of a major illegal dump site near Gospić, with plans to cover the area to stop water infiltration, remove surface waste (about 4,500 tonnes), and tackle buried ash estimated at 32,000–33,000 tonnes. EV Push for Citizens: The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund says a public call for co-financing electric vehicles is coming this autumn, with €20 million earmarked for EVs and plug-in hybrids excluded. Heat and Crops Under Pressure: European heatwaves are cutting yields, with Croatia hit too—fruit and grape production down around 30% and most olive groves lacking irrigation. Sea Temperatures Stay Record-Warm: September sea records have been broken along the Croatian coast, with Split and Komiža reaching around 28°C, and even higher readings reported near Mljet. Dubrovnik’s Greener Visitor Management: Dubrovnik’s “Green Ring” project is planting 57 new trees near the old city, while the Dubrovnik Pass has reached the final of a European sustainable cultural tourism award.

Climate Warning: A new UN report says global heating is now “unavoidable” and will reach at least 1.8°C, with “no good outcomes” above 1.5°C—raising risks for extreme weather, glacier loss, food production and sea-level rise. Coastal Heat in Croatia: September sea-temperature records were broken along the Adriatic, with DHMZ readings in Split and Komiža topping previous September highs. Biodiversity & Nature in Dubrovnik: Dubrovnik’s “Green Ring” is planting 57 new trees near the old city walls, while the Dubrovnik Pass has reached the final of a European sustainable cultural tourism award. Local Nature Protection: Croatia’s Tree of the Year 2026 voting opened, with finalists including trees from Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Energy Transition: Croatia opened a €38m household renewable scheme with battery storage support for the first time, backing heat pumps, solar and storage. Wildfire Preparedness: Europe’s wildfire season continues to strain Canadair water-bomber fleets as demand outpaces supply.

Dubrovnik Green Makeover: Dubrovnik is pushing a greener gateway to its historic centre as work begins on planting 57 new trees along Uz Posat, including 11 Canary Island date palms, plus plans for 24 Washingtonia robusta palms and 22 Pittosporum tobira, while keeping valuable existing vegetation. Tourism Tech Recognition: The Dubrovnik Pass has reached the final of the European Cultural Tourism Network Awards 2026, shortlisted for sustainable cultural tourism digitalisation that links heritage, public transport and smarter visitor management. Croatian Nature Spotlight: Croatia’s Tree of the Year 2026 voting is open, with two finalists from Dubrovnik-Neretva County: the “Olive Tree of Wishes” from Opuzen and a centuries-old holm oak from Račišće on Korčula—an effort aimed at boosting biodiversity awareness amid climate change. Energy for Homes: Croatia opened a €38 million renewable energy subsidy scheme for households, now including battery storage alongside heat pumps and solar, with higher support for energy-poverty risk households. Heat, Drought, Farming Pressure: European farmers are calling for a more resilient CAP after weather extremes cut crops and pastures, with drought and thermal stress hitting yields and livestock feed across multiple countries. Wildfire Response Demand: Canadair water bombers remain in high demand as wildfires intensify, but production capacity can’t keep up fast enough. Climate Law Move: Croatia plans life imprisonment for 15 criminal offences from Jan 1, 2027, including offences tied to irreversible or long-term environmental pollution. Tourism Shift in Croatia: New reporting shows Croatia’s tourism model is changing, with shorter stays and more last-minute bookings—while some areas like Split are seeing unexpected quiet periods in peak August.

Household Clean Energy Push: Croatia opened a €38m renewable energy subsidy scheme, now including battery storage alongside heat pumps and rooftop solar; households can get up to 50% (or 70% if energy-poor), with caps of about €6,250 for heat pumps, €6,000 for PV and €5,600 for batteries, and applications starting 2 Sept via FZOEU’s online system. EU Climate Enforcement: Croatia plans life imprisonment for 15 criminal offences from 1 Jan 2027, including the most serious cases of irreversible or long-term environmental pollution, with ecocide fines potentially rising to €50m. Tourism Pressure, Mobility Response: Split is moving ahead with an €80m urban mobility project, including about 1,300 new parking spaces, aiming to ease congestion and improve movement for residents and visitors. Regional Energy Politics: A new analysis says CBAM’s 2026 rollout has already reshaped Western Balkan electricity trade, cutting exports to the EU and imports from the EU sharply, while governments push to renegotiate terms. Heat & Travel Shift: Booking data suggests more Croats are traveling in the post-season to dodge heat and crowds, with many citing savings and less overcrowding as key reasons. Nature & Heritage: A 200-year-old Tepka pear tree near Varaždinske Toplice still bears fruit every other year, with locals using its pears for traditional foods like dried pear tea.

Heatwave Watch (Dubrovnik): Croatia’s Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) has issued an orange heat warning for the Dubrovnik region, with highs above 32°C and warm nights over 27°C, urging extra care for seniors and children as conditions stay largely settled into early September. Marine Biosecurity (Adriatic): Croatian scientists, with partners, are building an early-warning system under the ALIENA project to track non-native species in the Adriatic—flagging newcomers that may spread via ships’ ballast water or hulls and could disrupt food webs and fisheries. Wildfire Workplace Reality (Europe): A new report highlights how this summer’s wildfire evacuations across Europe can directly hit employees—displacing people for weeks and forcing companies to plan for climate-linked crises beyond donations and statements. EU Climate Social Support (Greece): The European Commission endorsed Greece’s €4.8 billion Social Climate Plan to cushion the clean transition, including help for vulnerable households with renovations, heat pumps and solar water heating. Flood Early Warnings (Nepal–China): Ahead of a deadly Himalayan flood, Nepal and China discussed glacier and flood monitoring, but Nepali officials say they still lack timely data sharing needed for earlier warnings.

Marine Biosecurity: Croatian scientists (Ruđer Bošković Institute with partners in Croatia and Italy) are rolling out the ALIENA project to track non-native species in the Adriatic and flag which newcomers could become invasive—often arriving via ships’ ballast water or hulls—using an early-warning approach that also targets risks to fisheries. Heat & Health: Croatia’s Meteorological and Hydrological Service has issued an orange heat warning for the Dubrovnik region, with highs above 32°C and warm nights, urging extra care for vulnerable groups. Protected Nature vs Tourism: Cape Kamenjak in Istria is still seeing heavy pressure from visitors despite fewer vehicles than last year, so authorities are closing some areas to traffic to protect the protected landscape. Plastic-Free Action: Diver Kristijan Curavić is preparing a Guinness-style underwater cleanup at Krapanj Island, aiming to remove plastic and debris from the seabed and push for verifiably plastic-free tourism zones. Climate Policy (EU): The European Commission endorsed Greece’s €4.8bn Social Climate Plan to support households and transport users in the clean transition, including funding for heat pumps, solar water heating, and energy-efficient social housing.

Marine Biosecurity: Croatian scientists at the Ruđer Bošković Institute, with Croatian and Italian partners, are building the ALIENA early-warning system to track non-native species in the Adriatic and flag fast spread that could disrupt ecosystems and fisheries. Heat Risk: Croatia’s Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) has issued an orange heat warning for the Dubrovnik region, with Monday highs above 32°C and warm nights, urging extra care for seniors and children. Tourism Pressure on Nature: Cape Kamenjak in Istria is seeing fewer cars than last year (about 20% down), but authorities say pressure remains high and are closing some areas to traffic to protect the most visited parts. Plastic-Free Action: Diver Kristijan Curavić is taking the White Flag initiative underwater for a Guinness-style seabed cleanup around Krapanj Island, aiming to push tourism toward verifiably plastic-free marine zones. Cave Heritage: Speleologists explored Biokovo’s Kašogijeva jama and found traces of an old ice house, adding to Croatia’s hidden underground history.

Wildlife & Heritage: Speleologists explored Biokovo’s Kašogijeva jama near Sveti Jure and found traces of an old ice house craft—showing how local communities stored ice underground for decades. Urban Mobility: Split is rolling out an €80m mobility plan with Park & Ride Lovrinac and Park & Walk Turska kula, adding 1,317 parking spaces plus bus/taxi areas, EV charging, and e-bike support to cut car traffic into the centre. Energy & Tourism: A new Thermal Hotel Wrello opened in Stubičke Toplice after a €17.6m EU-backed investment, linking year-round wellness and rehabilitation with covered pools and energy-efficiency upgrades like photovoltaics and heat pumps. Climate Risk: Europe’s heat and drought pressures on crops and fodder keep mounting, with EU warnings highlighting the need for more resilient agriculture as extreme weather intensifies.

Water Safety Check: Croatia’s authorities say drinking water is safe across Lika and on Rab and Pag after concerns tied to an illegal waste site in Gospić, with monitoring and emergency sampling finding no contamination in public supplies and no signs leachate reached deeper groundwater. Health & Energy-Efficient Tourism: A new €17.6 million thermal health hotel, Thermal Hotel Wrello, opened in Stubičke Toplice, adding year-round wellness and medical rehabilitation capacity plus energy-efficiency upgrades like photovoltaic panels and heat pumps. Urban Mobility in Split: Split unveiled an €80 million plan to cut car pressure with Park & Ride Lovrinac and Park & Walk Turska kula, adding 1,317 parking spaces and linking access to buses, cycling routes, and e-mobility options. EU Finance for Transition: The EIB approved €9.2 billion in new financing, including €4.3 billion for companies in Croatia and support for energy autonomy projects like renewables, grids, and district heating. Illegal Waste Cleanup: Two bids were received for cleanup of a major illegal waste site in Gospić, following ongoing pollution concerns. Biodiversity & Climate Pressure: A new report warns heatwaves are putting crops across Europe at risk, highlighting growing climate stress on food systems.

Urban Mobility Upgrade in Split: Split is rolling out an €80m transport plan with 1,317 new Park & Ride/Park & Walk spaces (Lovrinac and Turska kula), plus bus and taxi areas, EV charging, car-sharing, and new cycling links to the historic centre—aimed at cutting car traffic into the core. Clean Water Check in Lika, Rab and Pag: Croatia’s health authorities say drinking water is safe after concerns tied to an illegal waste site near Gospić; monitoring and emergency sampling found no contamination reaching public supplies, with deeper groundwater checks continuing. Thermal Wellness Boost in Zagorje: A new €17.6m Thermal Hotel Wrello opened in Stubičke Toplice, adding a year-round covered pool and wellness facilities to the medical rehabilitation hospital, alongside energy-efficiency measures like photovoltaics and heat pumps. Tourism Pressure & Climate Context: A week of coverage highlights how heat and drought are stressing European crops and fodder, while tourism keeps shifting toward new hotspots—raising the stakes for sustainable planning.

Urban Mobility Upgrade in Split: Split is rolling out an €80m transport plan with 1,317 new Park & Ride/Park & Walk spaces (Lovrinac and Turska kula), plus bus/taxi bays, EV charging, car-sharing, and e-bike infrastructure—aimed at cutting car traffic into the centre. Clean Water Assurance in Lika, Rab and Pag: Croatia’s water safety checks found no contamination in public drinking supplies after concerns tied to an illegal waste site near Gospić; monitoring will continue and private wells are still being tested. Energy Transition Finance via EIB: The European Investment Bank approved €9.2bn, including €4.3bn for companies in Croatia and support for grids, renewables and district heating—plus a rail link between Croatia and Hungary. Tourism Pressure and Timing Shifts: Croatia’s 2026 season is holding up, but visitors are booking later and staying shorter, with changing source markets (Germany and Austria weaker; Central Europe and Italy stronger). Thermal Tourism Investment: A new €17.6m four-star thermal hotel opened in Stubičke Toplice, adding year-round wellness and medical rehabilitation facilities with energy-efficiency measures.

Water Safety Check: Croatia’s expert committee says drinking water is safe in Lika and on Rab and Pag after concerns tied to an illegal waste site in Gospić, with monitoring and emergency samples finding no contamination in public supplies and only shallow seepage near the site. Illegal Waste Cleanup: Two bids have been received for the first phases of remediation at the Gospić illegal waste area, covering removal of about 4,500 tonnes of mixed waste with hazardous properties and around 650 tonnes in big bags, with work expected once procedures finish. Heat & Drought Pressure on Food: A new EU JRC bulletin warns persistent heat and low rainfall are stressing summer crops and fodder across western and central Europe, with hot, dry conditions reducing maize yield expectations in Benelux, Slovenia and Croatia. Wildfire Reality on Private Land: Croatia’s fires often start or spread on overgrown, neglected private plots, where Croatian Forests can’t easily intervene, as Europe faces record-scale burning and more frequent extreme heatwaves. Clean Transport Push: Dubrovnik is adding 12 new fully electric buses (plus more planned) with major EU funding, continuing the city’s shift away from fossil-fuel public transport.

Water Safety Check: Croatia’s authorities say drinking water is safe across Lika and the islands of Rab and Pag after worries tied to an illegal waste site near Gospić, with state monitoring and emergency samples finding no contamination in public supplies and only shallow seepage so far. Illegal Waste Cleanup: Two bids have been submitted for the first phases of cleaning up the Gospić illegal waste site, targeting about 4,500 tonnes of mixed hazardous waste and hundreds of “big bags,” with work expected once procedures finish. Heat & Drought on Crops: A new EU JRC bulletin warns persistent heat and low rainfall are stressing summer crops and fodder across western and central Europe; in Benelux, Slovenia and Croatia, hot and dry conditions cut yield expectations for maize. Wildfire Risk on Private Land: Croatian fires are often sparked on overgrown, neglected private plots that are hard for Hrvatske šume to reach, as Europe faces another season of extreme heat and record-scale burning. Clean Transport Upgrade: Dubrovnik is adding 12 new fully electric buses (with EU funding) as part of a wider electrification push for city routes. Tourism Shift: Croatia’s 2026 season is holding up, but visitors are booking later and staying shorter, with changing source markets.