• 2020-11-18

Center Dialogue: Are We Managing Climate Change?

The Center for Democracy Foundation organised a debate via Center Dialogue on the topic Are We Managing Climate Change?

The debate was held on Wednesday, 18 November 2020 from 12:00 to 14:00, in the Envoy Congress Centre, Gospodar Jevremova 47, as part of the Connecting the Dots project.

Keynote Speakers: Aleksandar Macura - RES Foundation, Prof. Aleksandar Jovović, PhD, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade, Maša Perović, WWF Adria Serbia, Prof. Vladimir Đurđević, PhD, Faculty of Physics in Belgrade, Aleksandar Kovačević, power/energy expert and Prof. Vladimir Janković, PhD, Manchester University. Moderator: Ljubica Gojgić, journalist.

In Serbia, the year 2020 was marked by increasingly noticeable air pollution and the louder expression of dissatisfaction of the people with the overall state of the environment. Simultaneously, on its formal journey toward the EU, Serbia has been assessed as displaying "limited progress" in the section relative to preparing for climate change. This same year, the EU will promote and start carrying out the first of activities of the European Green Agreement, presented in December 2019, the objective of which is for Europe to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.

For this reason, we wanted to talk about the following: does Serbia have its own resources to prepare for climate change? What are the current results obtained by the government and institutions so far, and what is the power and role of civil society organisations, the economy and the citizens themselves to participate in the application of standards aimed at stimulating a green economy and improving the health and quality of life of the people? How do we conserve nature and its resources? Are we properly informed about the level of industrial pollution, water and air quality, and waste management? Are the administrative capacities of public central and local authorities sufficient for a green transition and has our National Energy and Climate Plan been developed in line with the obligations of the Energy Community, as set out in the European Commission's latest progress report on Serbia?

Our intention was to hear different opinions and suggestions in order to encourage and strengthen initiatives and programmes that can mobilise us toward progress in this area.

Center for Democracy Foundation