Green Serbia 2022

Steel Impex is a member of the Austrian holding, which with a zero waste policy, is a leader in the Serbian market in the recycling of non-dangerous waste.

With the last investment on green energy, Steel Impex is becoming the first recycling center in the Republic of Serbia, which will perform all waste treatment operations exclusively from renewable energy.

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Green Serbia 2022

Rade Končara 1 21113 Petrovaradin, Serbia + 381 64 6497 721 | +381 60 6596 300 www.steelimpex.rs

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Contents 06

LET THE GREEN ONE ENTER COMMENT

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FAST-TRACK TO A GREEN FUTURE? NORBERT BECKMANN-DIERKES, HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF THE KONRAD ADENAUER FOUNDATION IN SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

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ADDRESSING TENSIONS BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION KEY PROFESSOR VLADIMIR JANKOVIĆ, PROFESSOR OF THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

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RESPONSIBILITY IS UP TO US DR ALEKSANDAR JOVOVIĆ, FULL PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE’S FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

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EVERY DROP OF WATER MATTERS JELENA ANDRIĆ GRAFAKOS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ACO EAST EUROPE ADRIATIC

IMPRESSUM EDITOR IN CHIEF: Neda Lukić n.lukic@aim.rs ART DIRECTOR: Branislav Ninković b.ninkovic@aim.rs

Radmila Stanković, Steve MacKenzie, Zorica Todorović Mirković, Sonja Ćirić, Miloš Belčević

CONTRIBUTORS: Rob Dugdale, Maja Vukadinović, Mirjana Jovanović, Miša Brkić, Ljubica Gojgić

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Green Serbia 2022

PHOTOS: Zoran Petrović COPY EDITOR: Mark Pullen TRANSLATION & EDITING: PULLEN EDITORIAL HALIFAX

SALES MANAGERS: Biljana Dević, b.devic@aim.rs Vesna Vukajlović, v.vukajlovic@aim.rs Mihailo Čučković m.cuckovic@aim.rs OFFICE MANAGER: Svetlana Petrović s.petrovic@aim.rs

FINANCE: Dragana Skrobonja finance@aim.rs EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs PUBLISHER: Ivan Novčić i.novcic@aim.rs

DIRECTOR: Ana Novčić a.novcic@aim.rs a.novcic@cordmagazine.com GREEN SERBIA 2022 PRINTING: Rotografika d.o.o.

Segedinski put 72, Subotica CorD is published by: alliance international media

No38 Prote Mateje 52, 11111 Belgrade 17, PAK 126909, Serbia Phone: +(381 11) 2450 508 Fax: +(381 11) 2450 122 E-mail: office@aim.rs office@cordmagazine.com www.cordmagazine.com www.aim.rs ISSN no: 1451-7833 All rights reserved alliance international media 2022

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GOOD NEIGHBOURLY RELATIONS CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS NENAD ILIĆ, MLEKARA ŠABAC TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

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CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE IS SOMETIMES THE ONLY GOOD RESPONSE ČEDO MAKSIMOVIĆ PH.D., PROFESSOR AT IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON

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WE MUST CHANGE OUR HABITS MAJA ŽIVKOVIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER, STEEL IMPEX LTD

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CAN A CIRCULAR ECONOMY EXIST WITHOUT PRIMARY SELECTION? BOJANA PERIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER OF EKOSTAR PAK

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‘RADICAL ACTION’ NEEDED TO HIP CLIMATE GOALS ECOLOGY

Green Serbia 2022

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COMMENT

Let The Green ONE ENTER Countries that were late in embracing green transition and have limited resources should consider the options ahead of them thoroughly and use their capacities wisely and efficiently. It has yet to be decided whether Serbia will employ its human capacities to leapfrog itself into the position of an environmentally responsible country

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here has never been a worse time to procrastinate! - says University of Manchester professor Vladimir Janković, one of our interlocutors for this special edition. In other words, in the case of climate change and environmental policies, speed, determination and prudence are in high demand. Serbia has so far achieved modest results on implementing the Paris Agreement and transposing the EU 2030 Framework of Climate and Energy Policies onto its public policies. Indeed, the Serbian National Assembly has adopted the Climate Change Act, but has yet to specify mitigation targets. They are expected to become part of the Low-Carbon Development Strategy, which has yet to be adopted.

Or, as noted by another of our interlocutors, University of Belgrade Faculty of Mechanical Engineering professor Aleksandar Jovović, important documents, regulations and strategies have been adopted, but all the pain points of decarbonisation remain almost at a standstill.

It is often that case that measures that must to be taken if the country wants to fulfil its emissions targets are not popular ones.

The debate about the transition from fossil fuels to green sources of energy is a tense one, both from the political perspective – where powerful lobbies favour coal and the financial and social perspective; where poor citizen require heavy support to move from energy sources that are cheap but environmentally detrimental to ones that are healthier but more expensive and beyond their family budget.

On top of that, those particularly tough parts of the transition don’t yield instant political support. It is sometimes difficult for both politicians and citizens to comprehend the medium-term benefits of abandoning fossil fuels and the possible costs of failing to do so properly and in a timely manner. Satisfying the long-term Sustainable Development Goals and achieving economic competitiveness and the social co-benefits of climate action seem to be a lollipop on a long stick.

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Green Serbia 2022

It is sometimes difficult for both politicians and citizens to comprehend the medium-term benefits of abandoning fossil fuels and the possible costs of failing to do so properly and in a timely manner To a certain extent, our slow progress reflects shortcomings regarding the rule of law, corruption, clientelism, political patronage and nepotism, the complete lack of expert discussion and democratic choices. For example, our interlocutor Čedo Maksimović, Emeritus Professor of Water and Environmental Systems at Imperial College London, believes that uncontrolled urbanisation in Serbia contributes strongly to the devastating of our modest water resources. Likewise, due to negative selection and ill-informed political decisions, Serbia’s “critical mass” of competent experts able to design modern solutions in the field of water and the management of complex systems is gradually vanishing. Thus, our ability to use innovative technologies and

create professionally competent solutions is being compromised.

In summary, Serbia isn’t exerting enough efforts to “catch up” with countries of a similar economic power. Moreover, it is missing the opportunity to leapfrog others and become a regional and European leader regarding some solutions in the area of environmental solutions.

All of our interlocutors believe that Serbia should embrace the combining of Green and Blue elements, as an effective way of providing a sustainable natural solution to urban and climate challenges. And yet, if we look around in almost every town and city in Serbia, it is hard to find places that are green, more pleasant and less stressful for residents.

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INTERVIEW DR ALEKSANDAR JOVOVIĆ, FULL PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE’S FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Responsibility IS UP TO US With the ratifying of the Paris Agreement and the Energy Community Treaty, as well as the recent signing of the Sofia Declaration [on the Green Agenda], we, as a country, have committed ourselves to implementing the provisions of these documents. Despite numerous regulations and strategies related to these areas having been adopted or improved, all the pain points of decarbonisation remain almost at a standstill

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he conflict in Ukraine has prompted some analysts to suspect that the European countries that decided to gradually shut down their thermal power plants will now revise those policies, for security reasons. That’s why the first question we posed to Dr Aleksandar Jovović, professor at the University of Belgrade’s 8

Green Serbia 2022

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, is how the current energy crisis could impact on green energy transition policies, both globally and here in Serbia.

“Galvanised by the consequences of climate change and the acceleration of this global phenomenon to a point of no return to the world we know, numerous countries,

movements and companies, but of course also individuals, have embarked on the journey to carbon neutrality. The speed at which this unfolds may vary, but it is not “lightly promised”. These changes were preceded by numerous technical/economic analyses, feasibility studies, political debates, but primarily scientific research work in coop-

DECARBONISATION

POVERTY

SHORTCOMINGS

Decarbonisation certainly won’t be lacking in 2050, and it mustn’t be, because the consequences would be huge, and we’re already feeling them significantly ourselves, especially in this region

The Air Quality Programme will not yield results as long as there is raw coal on the market to burn in households, and as long as poverty compels citizens to burn various waste items

We haven’t adopted a low-carbon development strategy, the national plan for energy and climate is overdue, and we don’t even have a comprehensive economic development strategy

eration with economic players. It was only then that the decisions of the EU and other forward-thinking countries followed, which were subsequently made official, in many ways, at the so-called COP 26 UN Conference held in Glasgow 2021, through decisions and initiatives like ending the use of coal, which includes 160 countries, and the Global Methane Initiative, as well as the initiative for new agriculture. Nuclear energy has been presented as a potential avenue, but renewable energy sources and hydrogen are still the future. Decarbonisation efforts have also been joined by China and India. Research also shows the full magnitude of this process, in which the transition to low-carbon technology for cleaner production in the global north is currently unfolding to environmental and social detriment of the global south and, as such, decarbonisation is neither sustainable nor renewable,” explains Dr Jovović, continuing: “on top of all that, wars, like the assault on Ukraine, and energy problems from around a year ago, lead in every case to the achieving of decarbonisation goals being called into question, but they do not stop the process, and the launching a coal-fired TPP is only the temporary utilising of secured state reserves, planned simultaneously with the planning of decarbonisation, and not the recommissioning of previously abandoned powerplants, which should be seriously discerned”.

and drought, to a direct impact on health and the reducing of life expectancy. Energy and industry measures implemented in the EU have led to huge reductions in emissions, but our country’s heating energy sector remains the largest source of air pollution, emitting hundreds of thousands of tons of sulphur or millions of tons of carbon dioxide annually. However, individual fireboxes remain the worst cause of air pollution in local areas. A huge problem is represented by the burning of raw lignite, which leads to the emission of soot, sulphur and – with favourable meteorological conditions – un-

long as there is raw coal to burn in households and as long as poverty compels citizens to burn various waste items, and the Air Quality Programme, which forms an integral part of the Economic Reform Programme for the 2022-2024 period, as well as other strategies and programmes at all levels of government, will remain a dead letter.

Serbia’s polluters also include the energy system and citizens who burn raw brown coal, tyres and various types of waste. In that sense, would it be good to view energy policies in parallel with the adjusting of social policy measures?

Both sources of air pollution and types of polluting components have changed over the last hundred years or so, along with the phenomena that they have caused, i.e., acidification and nitrification, ozone depletion, emissions of enduring organic components, climate change, and the impacts and consequences of a loss of labour productivity, through losses of sources of water and soil

Decarbonisation is an irreversible process, thus today we are witnessing a new industrial revolution, because just as the 19th century was the century of steel, the 20th century was the century of coal and oil and gas, this is the century of new technological solutions that are primarily achievable through the circular economy and smart specialisation believably frequent occurrences of industrial and photochemical smog. In addition to all of that, the combustion of waste materials in unsuitable fireboxes equally leads to fires at landfill sites, emissions of lasting organic pollution components that are highly resistant to the natural environment and extremely harmful to human health (toxic, potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic).

Poverty prevents the further expansion of the district heating network or the gasification of settlements, but the gradual ending of the use of fossil fuels, on the one hand, and the educating of the population, on the other, will inevitably lead to improvement, but the problem won’t come close to being resolved as

One of the objectives of the TeRRIFICA project that you’re participating in is to recognise and collect citizens’ knowledge and conclusions regarding the challenges posed by climate change in six pilot regions in Spain, Germany, France, Serbia, Poland and Belarus. What kinds of parallels and conclusions can be drawn from the results collected to date?

The TeRRIFICA project, which includes the participation of the Centre for the Promotion of Science, is a research project being conducted within the scope of the Horizon 2020 programme Science With and for Society (SWAFS). Under the auspices of this project, six pilot regions invited their citizens to contribute to the research, the results of which will become a key element of plans for adapting to climate change, which should lead to institutional and strategic changes.

The active involvement of citizens is more than evident – not only when it comes to mapping climate challenges in their own cities, but rather also in actively offering and implementing shared solutions (co-creation).

The project developed a tool in the form of a map, which helped provide citizens with an opportunity to participate in both the research and the identifying of innovative solutions.

Belgrade’s residents have been particularly active, which is why the city of Belgrade has the largest number of suggestions and ideas included in the project.

Who can apply pressure on public policymakers for them to be implemented at the national and local levels? In this context, what does the opening of Cluster 4 mean, but also the revolt of citizens on the streets?

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INTERVIEW The mega-projects that formed the engine of social development in the not-so-distant past, such as, for example, the construction of hydroelectric powerplants requiring the flooding and relocating of settlements and archaeological sites, are today no longer possible in the same way. People’s awareness of their own desire to live in a healthy and conserved environment, while preserving their cultural heritage, even at the expense of development, which emerged as a result of living in free-thinking communities, has also led to new technological solutions. EU citizens actually understood before anyone else the need for changes in the field of environmental protection and climate change, but they also understood the need to further develop society technologically. Pressure on politicians from citizens, as well as several court decisions, led to the formation of a cross-border carbon mechanism [Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)] on the EU’s external borders.

With the ratifying of the Paris Agreement and the Energy Community Treaty, as well as the recent signing of the Sofia Declaration [on the Green Agenda], we, as a country, have committed ourselves to implementing the provisions of these documents. And, despite great delays and many omissions, several regulations and strategies related to these areas have been adopted or improved. However, all the pain points of decarbonisation remain almost at a standstill, such as the provisions of the EU Green Deal, the failure to even adopt a low-carbon development strategy, the overdue national plan for energy and climate, the energy strategy, and the lack of a comprehensive economic development strategy. The transposing of European legislation, and behaving as though we’re an EU member state, is something that we accepted ourselves, when realising in one moment of clarity during our development that this represents the best solution for the future of Serbia, despite the flaws and negative aspects of every community, including this one. We have accordingly committed ourselves to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, monitored through the determining of targets for 2030 and the further harmonising of regulations in the field of GHG trading, as well as the drafting of an adaptation strategy and reporting on the way it is to 10

Green Serbia 2022

responsible nations, where the rule of law guarantees survival.

The opening of Cluster 4 is just a small gesture of affection, but also a great warning to those in government in the Republic of Serbia regarding their faults and what we need to do – not if we want membership, but rather if we want to be part of a community of advanced, developed, socially responsible nations, where the rule of law guarantees survival be implemented. The opening of Cluster 4 is just a small gesture of affection, but also a great warning to those in government in the Republic of Serbia regarding their faults and what we need to do – not if we want membership, but rather if we want to be part of a community of advanced, developed, socially

You consider wastewater treatment and waste management as representing the biggest problem. To what extent do government measures that are currently being implemented in this area represent an adequate response to solving this problem?

The programme for waste management over the next 10-year period has been adopted, an action plan is being drafted, the sludge management programme is being finalised, the circular economy strategy is underway, Serbia has a smart specialisation strategy, Belgrade has adopted its waste management plan, as a continuation of the plan from 2010, the city’s action plan for the management of construction and demolition waste has been adopted, and the Science Fund and Innovation Fund are providing attractive amounts of funding to finance projects in these areas. The City of Belgrade’s Regional Waste Management Centre of the City of Belgrade is in the final phase, a new landfill site is operating, a plant for construction waste, and for the first time a waste-powered thermal powerplant will soon start operating there, as though we’re in Vienna or Oslo. Many local governments are opting for varying forms of recycling and treatment, utilising national and international funds, albeit to insufficient extent. And all of this seems to be outstanding. So, where’s the problem; why aren’t we already at least like the worse EU member states? The problem was, and still is, in the failure to implement regulations, because implement is a bad, non-populist measure. And it required more than 10 years to grasp that there must nonetheless be implementation; that this pollution isn’t only ours, that it overflows beyond our borders and that can’t be done, and that we can also even earn and employ from, or on, waste, and that things can be better for everyone.

It is now important for the secured funds to be utilised correctly, in a controlled manner, without theft, which everyone refers to euphemistically as corruption, and for the system and plants constructed to be managed according to the letter of the law.

The full-length, Serbian version of this interview is available to read on our website, www.cordmagazine.com.

JELENA ANDRIĆ GRAFAKOS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ACO EAST EUROPE ADRIATIC

BUSINESS

Every Drop Of WATER MATTERS ACO Group is a world market leader in the development and production of innovative solutions in the field of managing surface waters and water within buildings, and is also a member of the Green Council of Serbia, which encourages the spreading of awareness about the importance of responsibly using natural resources and protecting the environment fact that natural water cycle has changed, because less water can infiltrate the ground and partialy evaporate into the atmosphere.

This is an additional threat for all surface water management systems, as most of them are dimensioned according to different technical and environmental conditions, which we had in the past. Precisely for these reasons, it is essential to approach all phases of construction project in a responsible way, from the design and selection of appropriate solutions, to construction and maintenance works.

Projects are today becoming increasingly demanding, especially in the sense of the disposal and reuse of water, such that we often encounter a need to create “bespoke” solutions for individual projects. In such situations, the importance of product quality, knowledge and cooperation among all project participants is crucial. This is the only way to encourage sustainability in approaching projects and ensure the achieving of a positive impact on environmental protection.

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e invest constantly in the development of innovative solutions oriented towards the environmental conditions of the future, and simultaneously also in the knowhow and education of both our own staff and our associates on the market - notes ACO East Europe Adriatic Managing Director Jelena Andrić Grafakos.

There has been more construction projects than ever before over recent years, which poses great challenges to the construction sector as a whole. How has ACO resolved this issue?

Despite all the challenges, the construction industry is continuing its rise, and it’s important to preserve sustainability and quality in all of this. ACO has achieved strong growth in terms of its results over the past six years, which we’ve reinforced with a new facility equipped with a showroom and the ACO Academy, the expansion of the team, increased stock and changes in the internal processes, as well as expanding our market presence through new segments and new sales channels.

It is essential in all of this to listen constantly to the market, to follow closely the needs of projects and customers, to have understanding for the changes, and to adapt and respond appropriately. That’s the only recipe for success during any times.

Different projects require different solutions, while each solution requires a wide range of different products, and the essence lies in a systematic approach to the sustainable and efficient development of urban areas, right?

Our system chain of products takes care of water in a sustainable way: Collect - Clean - Hold- Release and the reuse of water When it comes to the construction industry and the economy generally, we can’t fail to address the environmental impact and the need to apply modern solutions that target the sustainable management of natural resources, first and foremost in the field of water. We are today witnessing the increasing impact of climate change, in the form of extended periods of heavier rainfall or drought. When we add increased urbanisation and even more surface areas under asphalt and concrete, we reach the

ACO is committed to professional water drainage, cost-effective water treatment and the controlled discharge and reuse of water. Does this represent your contribution to preserving the environment?

One of ACO’s slogans is: “We protect people from water and water from people”. Accordingly, our system chain of products takes care of water in a sustainable way: Collect - Clean - Hold- Release and the reuse of water. Given that everything doesn’t end with products, a strong influence has also been given to the service chain: Train - Design - Support Care. We launched the concept of the ACO Academy in order to work together with our associates in identifying the best solutions to the challenges of managing water sustainably and protecting the environment.

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Green Serbia 2022

BUSINESS NORBERT BECKMANN-DIERKES, HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF THE KONRAD ADENAUER FOUNDATION IN SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

Fast-Track To A

GREEN FUTURE? The Konrad Adenauer Foundation is a German political foundation that has been present with an office in Belgrade since 2001 and implements projects in Serbia and Montenegro, with a focus on promoting democracy, political stability and economic prosperity

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t is crucial for Europe that we improve the connection between our cities, peoples and countries. Only an interconnected Europe can handle the combined pressures of international market competition, climate change and threats to European security. One important way forward to a more connected Europe is to invest in the continent’s railway systems.

Why is the railway system so important for the EU? How do railways contribute to the Green Deal and the Green Agenda?

The EU has set an ambitious goal for itself, to reduce emissions in transportation by 90% by 2050. Transportation accounts for as much as 25% of total greenhouse emissions in the EU, so it’s no wonder that the EU has zeroed in on transportation to further reduce emissions.

Furthermore, the transportation sector has seen the smallest levels of emission reductions compared to other sectors of the economy, such as manufacturing. It should be noted that 74% of all transportation emissions come from road vehicles and, to be more precise, 45% comes from cars and 29.4% from trucks. Having all of this in mind, it is no wonder that the European Parliament declared 2021 the European Year of Rail and that the EU and its member states started investing heavily in renewing and improving the European railway network. Rail transportation in the EU today contributes to 0.5% of all gas emissions, while carrying 7% of all passengers and 11% of goods. Provided they are reconstructed and renewed, railways – as a safe, fast and energy-efficient mode of transport – will provide a fast-track to a Green European Future.

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation has published a study on the state of the railways in the Western Balkans. What motivated you to organise this research and what are the key findings?

The study “Next Stop: Europe! Railways in the Western Balkans” is our contribution to the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

Furthermore, no such comprehensive study previously existed and we felt it was necessary to undertake this task. The study covers all of the Western Balkan states and provides an analysis of the state of their rail networks.

Unfortunately, railways across the region are underdeveloped and the region has shifted to road transportation over the last three decades.

Serbia has by far the largest railway network,

encompassing 3,819 km of railways, while all other Western Balkan countries combined have just 2,737 km. However, up to 90% of the tracks in Serbia are single-track, with the average speed for 50% of tracks standing at 60 kph. In short, railways are underdeveloped, underused and understaffed. Thankfully, the governments of the region have initiated an ambitious campaign of investments into the renewal of railway networks. The EU has given its full support to this campaign. There were 12 railway projects among the 39 projects funded within the scope of the Connectivity Agenda during the 2015-2019 period, for which the EU provided 358.9 million euros in grants out of total Connectivity Agenda funding of 880 million euros. The average grant to total project cost ratio is around 46.5% for railway projects and around 28% for connectivity projects in general. We can thus expect the railways of the Western Balkans, and particularly Serbia, will become the backbone of passenger and cargo transportation within a decade. This is particularly important given the fact that Serbia, and Europe as a whole, face a rapid decline in the number of professional truck and bus drivers, with the shortage of professional drivers in the EU reaching 400,000.

This CorD special edition is called “Green Serbia”. Given your previous work, can we expect new publications in the future?

I’m glad that you asked. The Konrad Adenauer offices in the region are working on a new study “Blue Connectivity: Inland and Maritime Waterways in the Balkans”. This is a working title and the research is in its very early stages. We will keep you informed as the study progresses.

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INTERVIEW PROFESSOR VLADIMIR JANKOVIĆ, PROFESSOR OF THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

Addressing Tensions Between Development And Environmental

PROTECTION KEY

The authorities – including the government – need to be resolute in choosing long-term environmental strategies to make Serbia a model country when it comes to environmental protection, which I hope will happen before 2035

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OPPORTUNITY

WARNING

CHANGE

Many of our towns have an innate potential to achieve their green potential quickly and without major investments

A slow transition away from fossil fuels will create expensive delays in meeting the long-term SDGs and diminish economic competitiveness and the social co-benefits of climate action

The whole culture of middle-class ’comfort’ and ’status’ needs to change for there to be measurable emission reductions

O

ur interviewee, Vladimir Janković Ph.D., professor of the history of science at the University of Manchester, once shot a documentary series for the UK’s Discovery TV network with which he proved the influence of meteorological conditions on history’s biggest battles. Climate change is often mentioned today as one of the greatest security risks that will create, among other things, climate refugees.

Is this already happening to us and, in the general constellation, what does it mean for Serbia?

Climate change emerged as a security issue in the 1970s, after scientists argued that the likely consequences of global warming will have a major, long-term impact on world agriculture. Following up on the food crises during the early 1970s, scientists were increasingly wary of the possibility that changing climate could lead to a world characterised by diverging paths of economic development, a world of ‘winners’ and ‘losers’. During the ‘80s and beyond, the ‘securitisation’ of climate change expanded to the domains of natural resources, health and even national security and trade in general. I have published on reasons why we need to recognise that climate change is an economic security issue, in addition to being an environmental threat. More recent studies have shown that some of the recent crises are complex, multi-layered phenomena in which climate acts as a ’risk-multiplier’, but not the sole cause.

For a large number of Serbian citizens, climate change remains an issue of faraway natural disasters that “cannot happen here”, while on the other hand we read that Serbia is actually one of the countries hardest hit by climate change. Which of these is true and where can we observe them?

When analysing the alleged lack of public interest in climate change in Serbia – or the presumed lack of its ‘visibility’ – we need to remember the vast spatial/temporal scale

at which climatic changes take place. Policymakers are additionally aware of economic scales, i.e., how long it takes to wean the economy off fossil fuels. Bracketing for a moment short-term, high-impact weather events like floods, storms or droughts, the general public cannot, in fact, directly experience climate change, nor can it assess the meaning of the interannual variability of its impacts on ecosystems, resources and society. And because Serbia will experience more ‘weather on steroids’ for a conceivably

round? What can be done within Serbia’s national borders that would be meaningfully visible and sustainable?

Under intergovernmental agreements, countries have committed to emission targets. As Serbia is expected to implement the Paris Agreement and act in accordance with EU 2030 Framework of Climate and Energy Policies, the National Assembly has adopted the Climate Change Act, which does not yet specify mitigation targets.

This task will be undertaken as part of the

Serbia will experience more ‘weather on steroids’ for a conceivably long time.

As such, communicating climate risks to the public, businesses and authorities remains a central priority in democratic policymaking long time, communicating climate risks to the public, businesses and authorities remains a central priority in democratic policymaking.

One question that always imposes itself is what a single country can do alone in an area that actually requires a global turna-

Low Carbon Development Strategy. In order to understand why there are incentives for individual countries to work towards meeting emission targets, one needs to understand that the medium-term benefits of the use of fossil fuels will in reality – and as a result of ongoing changes in the energy market and 15

INTERVIEW despite the best will, don’t have great possibilities to contribute to reducing the overall “carbon footprint”?

True. There are limits to what individuals can do. In theory, one can recommend avoiding driving cars, encourage riding bikes, using the train to visit the Adriatic, removing beef from one’s diet, becoming more energy efficient, planting a tree and so on. But we need to remember that these activities need to be convenient and streamlined, and to have a financial aspect. Indeed, paying more to be green is not an option for most.

This is why, unless there is a price signal in

There are limits to what individuals can do. In theory, one can recommend avoiding driving cars, encourage riding bikes, using the train to visit the Adriatic, removing beef from one’s diet, becoming more energy efficient, planting a tree and so on making these activities attractive to the majority, climate-friendliness will remain voluntary and its effects minimal. The whole culture of middle-class ’comfort’ and ’status’ needs to change for there to be measurable emission reductions.

regulatory mechanisms – create expensive delays in meeting the long-term Sustainable Development Goals and diminish economic competitiveness and the social co-benefits of climate action. There has never been a worse time to procrastinate!

We see that many cities are struggling to regulate their green areas and are turning to natural possibilities for ventilating cities. In that context, how do you view the construction projects underway in Serbian cities?

Urban greening is a global trend. Coalitions of world cities have been set up to share best practices and Belgrade became a 16

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member of the European Bank’s Green Cities Network in 2018, adopting the Green City Action Plan. These are excellent developments. However, the key problem facing all cities is in their capacity to address tensions between development and environmental protection. In order to reduce this tension, best practices in land use and construction should be promoted to showcase the benefits of urban greening to both citizens and other stakeholders. Luckily, most Serbian towns have the advantage of being relatively small in size and with easy access to amenities.

What, on the other side, can individuals do? You recently wrote that individuals,

Where does that leave us as a country and citizens who’ve recognised environmental pollution as one of the greatest threats to the health and well-being of citizens?

A change in consumer culture is key, yet it is not easy to accomplish. ‘Nudging’ uses attractive examples of green practices that are hoped to entice people to adopt them. Introducing stricter regulations and fees may not find voters’ support. Selling greener appliances at competitive prices may still be a matter for the future. However, regardless of specifics, the authorities – including the government – need to be resolute in choosing long-term environmental strategies to make Serbia a model country in environmental protection – which I hope will happen before 2035.

NENAD ILIĆ, MLEKARA ŠABAC TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

BUSINESS

Good Neighbourly Relations Contribute To

SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS Šabac-based dairy Mlekara Šabac delivers part of its organic waste to the local biogas powerplant, and in return receives steam

M

lekara Šabac is one of the leaders of Serbia’s domestic dairy industry and has a tradition dating back almost a century.

This dairy is well known on local, domestic and international markets for the quality of its products, which are made exclusively from milk sourced from Serbian farms, in accordance with traditional recipes that have enticed countless loyal consumers. The reason for its successful business operations lies primarily in unceasing development, innovation and the improvement of business processes, primarily production processes.

Of course, sustainability and long-term development always represent the initial focus of all investments in innovation, but also care for the environment and the community in which Mlekara Šabac exists and creates beloved products like Sirko, Ala kajmak and Šabačka. Also confirming this are the certificates of the system ISO 14001: 2015, ISO 50001: 2018 and ISO 45001: 2018, which relate to environmental protection, efficient energy management and the protection of worker health and safety.

“SET Green Technology recently built a biogas powerplant next to our dairy, and good communication and neighbourly relations have resulted in the creation of a new

sustainable development and environmental protection solution,” explains Mlekara Šabac Technical Director Nenad Ilić. He adds that these two companies have been connected through a system of underground pipelines, in order for the dairy to be able to deliver its organic waste – whey permeate and whey, which are created in the cheese production process – to this powerplant, and in return the powerplant should deliver to the dairy steam, which is its by-product. “As a large producer that exports 60 per cent of its products to three continents, Mlekara Šabac has a great need for heat energy, and the commissioning of this project will generate direct savings in the production process, while at the same time the entire cycle will have a positive environmental impact,” concludes the Mlekara Šabac technical director.

This is a good example of the sustainable linking of different industries, because alongside the establishing of cooperation with Mlekara Šabac, SET Green Technology has also developed a network of subcontractors to supply raw materials from the entire Mačva District, and within the scope of its four biogas plants it will – in addition to whey and whey permeate – also process crop harvesting leftovers like wheat and soybean straw, as well as maize straw.

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INTERVIEW ČEDO MAKSIMOVIĆ Ph.D., PROFESSOR AT IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON

Civil Disobedience Is Sometimes

THE ONLY GOOD RESPONSE

An economy based on the high-quality management of the environment doesn’t only represent the economy of the future, but is also a precondition for the survival of human civilisation. Serbia is missing out on one opportunity after another to at least “keep pace” with countries that have similar economic power, and in certain areas it could be not only a regional leader, but easily also a European and world leader

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n the interview he gave for our publication six years ago, Imperial College London professor Čedo Maksimović warned that the whole world is confronted by a need to seriously reconsider long-term strategies for the management of water and that the old rules are no longer valid, as they are easily failing to deliver the services for which they are planned. That’s why we used our first question on this occasion to ask him to determine whether we’ve been successful in identifying new long-term strategies and new rules during this period.

“New strategies are being identified and some of them are beginning to be implemented in practice relatively quickly. Faster in developed countries, slower in less developed countries, while many are failing to deal with new strategies and technologies at all. At the same time, the situation with shortages of good quality water is worsening almost the world over,” says our interlocutor, before clarifying: “the amount of water “in circulation” is the same, but the amount of water of a satisfactory quality is decreasing rapidly, primarily due to ever increasing water pollution. One fundamental new development is the revelation that it is becoming increasingly difficult to solve water problems in isolation.

The solution lies in the gradual acceptance of integrated solutions (nexus) e.g., water in interactions with food, energy and pollution reduction. This is what we call Blue Green Solutions – BGS.” We are living in times when it seems that all the answers are to be found in the applying of high-tech solutions, in the use 18

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SURVIVAL

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

WARNING

Around the world and in our country, awareness is rising regarding the preserving and improving of the quality of the natural environment as an important prerequisite not only for quality of life, but also for the basic survival of human civilisation

Given that Serbia has almost no wastewater treatment plants, it could immediately implement the latest technology. Instead of that, the government opted for an outdated and overpriced solution

When we look at what’s already being built and what’s planned for our carriers of economic development in tourist resorts, one shouldn’t be surprised if there are outbreaks of significant epidemics in those locations

of artificial intelligence and in digitalisation.

To what extent can these solutions help when we’re confronted by such a basic problem as water shortages?

That’s just part of the story. Automation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence are best put to use in large and complex systems (for example, in supplying water to Paris or Los Angeles), and there the advances of operations with high technologies are great.

However, (as you say) the problem of water shortages, particularly in smaller systems, and in small and isolated areas, can also be solved through simple methods, simply by applying instruments of the rule of law (when it exists). For instant, if the dam and reservoir of the Gruža Lake was created (with large funds invested and agricultural land sacrificed) in order to provide additional water resources for Kragujevac and that part of Šumadija, but then uncontrolled urbanisation is permitted “all around” (holiday houses, residential facilities, taverns, farms etc.) without the appropriate, stringent application of basic rules of “sanitation”, it is clear that the quality and “availability” of water will gradually decrease, leading to a shortage of high-quality potable water.

There’s no help from artificial intelligence and digitalisation here. Simple logic (kind of the “rule of thumb”), and the strict application of the basic legal requirements of sanitation, reduces this type of shortage.

jected to conceptual solutions “imposed” by incompetent but “powerful” government officials who “operate” using a different logic (maximising their personal gains); (b) under the threat of simple existence or permanent job loss, both experts and companies agree to “elaborate” and sign up to the imposed concepts, i.e., “surrogates” of sound logic; (c) younger experts are lacking opportunities to gain quality expertise to cope with the

Your opinion is that the key solutions to future healthy cities are based on prudent combinations of blue and green structures, i.e., urban waters and areas of greenery. Do you see examples of such a principle being applied in Belgrade or other cities in Serbia?

Blue-green solutions (BGR) and their combining with the “reset” of the social and legal framework and the system of true values in a civilised society is the goal that we should be striving to achieve in Serbia. In Belgrade and some other cities, we’re seeing the emergence of ideas for their application on a micro scale.

However, mass implementation is unlikely to happen without the aforementioned “system reset”. This could be contributed to, to some extent, by the programmes of two ongoing EU projects: “euPOLIS” (https://eupolis-project. eu/) and “HEART” (https://www.heart-project. eu/), under the scope of which “demo examples” are being conducted at two locations in Belgrade. Hopefully, they can be extrapolated to larger scale, encompassing the whole city and other cities.

When it comes to this kind of knowhow and these opportunities, what does Serbia use today; and what could it apply if it amended its policies?

Serbia still has a “critical mass” of highly competent experts capable of planning and designing contemporary solutions of water infrastructure and in the management of complex systems. However, this significant human resource capacity is gradually being lost through several “mechanisms”: (a) quality experts and companies are sub-

challenges of modern technologies, i.e., to be part of the creative process of mastering innovative technologies, rather than gradually “fitting into the system of obedience” by recycling obsolete solutions, to the “detriment” of the profession; (d) executive positions in urban planning institutions and public utility companies are given to obedient and professionally incompetent people, thus closing the cycle of the “collapse” of the system of professional values. Water systems are no exception.

Serbia still has a “critical mass” of high-quality experts capable of planning and designing advanced water infrastructure solutions and working on the management of complex systems, but that is gradually shrinking, both in this and other areas of professional competence. In order to reverse this negative trend, it is essential to “reset” the system and to restore, in the right place, basic principles of the rule of law, the professional and ethical values of the profession and their consistent implementation

Ecological issues recently became one of the important social topics in Serbia that leads people to take to the streets.

At both the global level and the level of our country, there is rising awareness of the fact that preserving and improving the quality of the natural environment is an important prerequisite not only for the quality of life in urban, rural and natural environments, but also (without exaggeration) for the very survival of human civilisation. When those in power turn a deaf ear to both the initiatives of competent experts and the “cry of the people” to create a “healthy” long-term strategy based on the latest scientific and professional achievements, then “civil disobedience”, unfortunately, is the only way to call on “key decision makers”, and their unconditional followers, to start solving the backlog of environmental problems in a logical way.

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INTERVIEW When it comes to making strategic government decisions at the national and local levels in the UK, how much are the will of citizens and the views of experts respected?

The government there is also ambivalent. The will of citizens and the initiatives of experts and professional “bodies” are respected and implemented in many cases, mainly at the local level, through a system of public consultations for approving planning permission. However, there are also examples of the opposite, such as the Thames Tideway Tunnel - Super Sewer project. Despite opposition among the public and almost the entire academic community (in the field of water), which claimed that this is an outdated concept (a 19th-century solution to a 21st-century problem), the central government of the UK and the then council of the City of London took this project and “pushed it through the decision-making system”.

You are in a position to compare the two education systems of Serbia and the UK. What are the differences and similarities between their approach to solutions that can be applied in the economy in real time?

The British (higher education) system is a combination of “traditional values” and the swift, modern acceptance of innovation (new courses etc.) and clearer strategies for meeting the needs of society. They are certainly in a better financial situation: equipment, laboratories etc. Here I’m referring to “state” faculties with proven education values – as opposed to those that deliver values of dubious quality and fake diplomas”. One can still say that they are based on a profound theoretical basis for education. Upon graduation, good students easily fit into the world’s leading academic and scientific institutions.

A major disadvantage, however, is that, in our country, we don’t develop “complementary skills”, such as how to “package” and properly present the results of expert work.

It is sometimes said that countries like ours can make a “quantum leap” in development by adopting some new technologies, and bypassing some old ones that they had neither the time nor the resources to implement earlier. Is that possible for Serbia when it comes to your area of expertise?

Instead of the word ‘CAN’, I would use the word “COULD”, provided the “social envi20

Green Serbia 2022

Blue-green solutions (BGS) combined with the “reset” of the distorted social framework to a system of true values, and restoring the role that belongs to the community of professionals in a civilised society, is the goal that we should be striving to achieve in Serbia ronment” was at the required level to place the interests of the country ahead of the personal interests (usually financial) of the decision-makers). I’ve spent the last several years trying to achieve such a “quantum leap” in the field of urban waters, primarily in the design, construction, and management of the operations of WWTP (wastewater treatment plants). Given that Serbia has almost no WWTPs, it could immediately apply the latest technology: plants that are cleaner, far more “ecologically advanced”, cheaper to construct, operate and maintain, requiring much less space and energy, and which don’t stink. Instead of that, “the cards have already been dealt”, the government opted for the outdated “stinky”, overpriced (“dinosaur”) technology (19th-century solutions to serve

the needs of the 21st-century). A great chance to “be a champion” is being gambled away. For more details on this, please check out the presentation: https://youtu.be/ab819Y4npn8 on YouTube.

You consider that everything which is today considered waste will be considered a valuable resource in the future.

Certainly. Such a future (circular ecology) has already begun in many developed and developing countries. Something that represents waste in one industry is a raw material for another, and so on “in a circle”.

Serbia, as we can see today, is full of landfill sites, illegal dumps and polluted rivers. That’s just one of the indicators of a “distorted value system” and a disorderly legal and social system, with complete disregard for the health and well-being of the public. The standout examples here are systems that should be “exemplary”/carriers of economic development, such as tourism. You need only to take a slightly closer look at (and smell) our most famous mountain resorts (Kopaonik, Zlatibor and Divčibare). In less than the last 10 years a, they’ve experienced uncontrolled/ chaotic “urbanisation” with the construction of accommodation facilities lacking even the minimum level of long-term strategy, without proper inspection oversight and without supporting infrastructure.

MAJA ŽIVKOVIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER, STEEL IMPEX LTD.

BUSINESS

We Must Change OUR HABITS Steel Impex returns all the waste that it collects as a raw material, following treatment, thus encouraging a circular economy. According to representatives of this company, the waste management sector’s most complex problem is the lack of primary selection in households and the inadequate management of municipal waste transport, alternative forms of transport, the rational use of electricity and water, the inclusion of household in primary selection and increasing the number of citizens who understand why recycling is mandatory.

Serbia generates up to 1.7 tons of waste per capita annually. And officially only 2-3% of that is recycled.

W

e recognised the importance of investing in renewable energy sources. The investment and installing of 550kW represents a continuation of our commitment to protecting the environment, while at the same time demonstrating innovation in the Republic of Serbia’s recycling sector - notes Steel Impex General Manager Maja Živković.

How does one establish a good recycling system?

Establishing a good recycling system begins with the raising of awareness about the importance of recycling, with participants including households, producers, companies, recycling operators, and final care operators.

In more recent times, the waste management systems of more serious companies have even transitioned to the next stage, i.e., the adopting of a so-called “zero waste” strategy, which should ensure the reuse of all waste. It is essential for every individual to strive on their own, and we hope that, in the near future, regional landfills will be the ones that prevent unnecessary dumping at landfill sites, that they will redirect waste to operators that carry out treatment works and return waste to the market in the form of a raw material.

How realistic and achievable is the Republic of Serbia’s goal of reducing gas emissions by 33.3% by 2030?

Steel Impex strives, together with its suppliers and business partners, to contribute as much as possible to achieving the goals of the Republic of Serbia. However, in order

Businesses operating in Serbia express interest in the process of transitioning to renewable energy sources, both for their own needs and, at the same time, for selling electricity and connecting to the energy grid for us all to help in that, it is essential to educate all citizens, from the oldest to the youngest. It is necessary to change habits, which includes promoting the use of public

Given the fact that Europe is facing one of the worst energy crises ever, will we see an increase in interest in renewables?

The global energy crisis has impacted both the European and Serbian markets. Energy prices reached a record level last autumn, and the fluctuations also impacted on renewable energy sources. Objectively speaking, no culprit can be singled out as being to blame for the situation, and I consider the biggest problem as being the imbalance in global supply and demand, which emerged, among other things, as a result of the pandemic. Unfortunately, the recommissioning of thermal power plants is currently being considered in Europe, which would actually increase CO2 emissions, while the reducing of emissions and protecting of the environment is being promoted on the other side.

Over the course of recent years, businesses operating in the Republic of Serbia have expressed interest in the process of transitioning to renewable energy sources, both for their own needs and, at the same time, for selling electricity and connecting to the energy grid. I expect this to be even more pronounced in the future. Steel Impex is a company that has recognised the importance of investing in renewable energy sources, and our investment and installing of 550kW actually represents a continuation of our commitment to protecting the environment, while at the same time demonstrating innovation in the Republic of Serbia’s recycling sector.

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BUSINESS BOJANA PERIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER, EKOSTAR PAK

We Create Preconditions For The

UTILISATION OF WASTE

Ekostar Pak is a national Operater of packaging waste management system. In terms of its number of clients, which exceeds 800, it is the Serbian market leader, with a market share of 34% in total amounts of packaging placed on Serbian market economy’s integration into the circular model.

Finally, the willingness and readiness of all of us to approach waste responsibly, in accordance with regulations, but also natural law, ensures the cycle of the circular economy is complete.

The European Union adopted an action plan in 2020 that should ensure that there are no emissions of greenhouse gases at the level of the entire European community by 2050.

In our country we should start introducing the model of collecting three separate categories of waste: paper/ cardboard, plastic/metal and glass

C

omparative data collected over the course of the past decade show that the amount of waste recycled in Serbia by Ekostar increases every year.

Provided the direction of growth is maintained, the full scope of national targets linked to the reduction of packaging and packaging waste could become achievable.

between these two models is reflected in the way they treat waste: does it end up dumped in landfill sites, where it slowly decomposes, polluting water, soil and air, before returning to nature; or does it, instead, through recycling, return to the production process to be used again for the same purpose or a similar one. The way waste circulates is dependent on all of us.

We often here talk of the circular economy, which is something that citizens actually know very little about. What lurks behind this notion?

The circular economy represents the “product-waste-product” model and is an ecological alternative to the inefficient “take-make-use-discard” system. More simply put, the key difference

Is waste management the first step towards a circular economy?

The state and institutions are creating a normative framework that should integrate circular economy principles from the local to the national level. The principle of extended responsibility of the producer towards the packaging in which its product is sold represents a key pillar for the

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Green Serbia 2022

With this goal in mind, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted its Programme of Waste Management in the Republic of Serbia for the 2022-2031 period, which should enable the creating of preconditions for utilising waste in the circular economy. This ambitious policy certainly famous numerous challenges in practise, but successful examples aren’t a rarity either.

We often think that everything can be recycled. However, in order for waste to be able to become a resource, it is essential for its disposal to be controlled through the existence of clear rules of separation. If we carefully examine the packaging we use, we will see that every package displays codes in letters and numbers that the producer is obliged to highlight, as instructions for proper disposal following use. There are multiple benefits of adhering to this disposal rule.

Could you illustrate that to us with some specific statistics?

As an example, paper separated from food leftovers, glass or plastic will not be dumped in nature somewhere, but rather returned to industry and processed in an appropriate way.

This will simultaneously satisfy industry’s need for paper without the use of additional natural resources, which serves to address another major ecological challenge. Properly separated waste was a precondition for the recycling of more than 80,000tons of packaging waste 50,000 tons of paper,8,300 tons of plastic, 9,600 tons of glass, 5,000 tons of metal and 7,100 tons of wood – which is how much Ekostar Pak managed to return to the cycle of reuse with its recycling system in 2021 alone.

I consider that it would be far more beneficial to start introducing the model of collecting three separate categories of waste: paper/cardboard, plastic/metal and glass. Such a way of separating enables the harvesting of high-quality raw materials and the fulfilling of specific prescribed goals for each material. Secondly, the costs of dividing waste into three groups justified recycling, because it reduces the costs of sorting and increases the value of material sorted for further use. Next, changing daily routines is an important incentive for increasing respect for the principles of the circular economy across the entire community, and has a direct impact

will have to shorten this deadline if we want to achieve the planned goals.

on protecting the environment. Furthermore, applying the circular economy model contributes to raising competitiveness, innovation and economic growth, alongside significant potential for the creation of new jobs. Finally, by changing economic principles and our daily lives, we add value to waste materials and preserve the precious and increasingly scarce natural resources and the environment to which we belong.

The Programme that’s been adopted envisages current national targets for the reduction of packaging and packaging waste to match EU targets in 2025. Besides this challenge, the Programme also envisages that we will introduce the required separation of waste into paper, plastic, glass and metal by 2029, so we have quite a difficult task ahead of us, because we

large number of municipalities, which is why the Programme of Waste Management envisages their overhaul or closure.

What we can see on a daily basis is that interest in recycling exists among citizens, and initiatives to promote primary selection, such as the campaign being conducted by Ekostar Pak in all 27 schools on the territory of Pančevo that’s directed towards raising awareness among young people that recycling is part and parcel of responsible behaviour and inclusion in the circle of nature conservation. As such, the key to improving the situation in this area lies in a systemic solution that implies synergy between the economy and the state, that is a joint model of system operators and local government units entrusted with collecting municipal packaging waste.

Are things changing for the better? Is there a shift in the right direction?

Space needs to be created for improvement in the form of systemic steps in the area of primary selection, and that should be done through cooperation with units of local government. This means that it’s necessary to secure infrastructure nationwide throughout Serbia, in both larger and smaller areas, in order for citizens to be able to recycle waste unhindered. The capacities of existing landfills have already been filled in a

We commonly simplify the recycling issue, because we don’t know how waste is properly sorted. Is that the first step to successful recycling, if not the key?

There are various waste collection models. The Programme of Waste Management in the Republic

of Serbia envisaged the first step as being the minimal separating of communal waste in households into two bins, one for recyclable materials and another for all other waste. However, experience has shown that not all waste collected in this way can be utilised by the recycling industry. Specifically, the industry requires raw materials that haven’t been contaminated by other impurities. It turned out that the “two bins” system doesn’t ensure the high quality of the materials collected, even if secondary separation is introduced, particularly when we want to incorporate the raw material obtained into new packaging that will serve the needs of food products, rather than being sent to be incinerated or landfilled.

What kind of recycling model do you advocate for?

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ECOLOGY

‘Radical Action’ Needed To Hit

CLIMATE GOALS 24

Green Serbia 2022

The world must take “radical action” to shift away from fossil fuels, including investing $5.7 trillion annually in solar, wind, and other forms of clean power this decade to ensure that global warming doesn’t pass dangerous thresholds, the head of the International Renewable Energy Agency said at the end of March

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ther measures proposed in a 348page report on the global energy transition include improving energy efficiency, increasing electrification, capturing carbon emissions and expanding the use of hydrogen gas.

Scientists say global emissions need to drop 45% by the end of the decade compared to 1990 levels. But recent data show they are going up, not down, in part due to rising energy demand and the expansion of fossil fuel use.

“The energy transition is far from being on track and anything short of radical action in the coming years will diminish, even eliminate, chances to meet our climate goals,” said Francesco La Camera, the director-general of IRENA. Countries agreed seven years ago in Paris to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), ideally no more than 1.5 degrees C (2.7 F), to avoid potentially catastrophic consequences for the planet. With temperatures now more than 1.1 degrees C above the pre-industrial average, a recent report by a U.N. science panel found that billions around the world are already vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

La Camera told an energy conference in Berlin that “not only the 1.5 C, the 2 C goal is really in danger if we don’t act and don’t make a dramatic change in the way we produce and consume energy.”

IRENA, which is based in the oil-rich Gulf emirate of Abu Dhabi-based IRENA, said investments of $700 billion should be diverted away from the fossil fuel sector each year to avoid creating wells, pipelines and power plants that can’t be used anymore.

This demand was echoed by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called for an end to private sector financing for coal power, which surged to record highs last year.

“Lenders need to recognize that coal and fossil fuels are futile investments that will lead to billions of dollars in stranded assets,” he said.

With countries such as the United States ramping up domestic fossil fuel production

amid energy price hikes and fears of supply shortages because of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Guterres urged governments not to delay the shift away from fossil fuels.

“The current crisis shows that we must accelerate, not slow, the renewable energy transition,” he said. “This is the only true path to energy security.”

Such calls have met with mixed results.

At a forum in Dubai at the end of March energy ministers of major oil producers Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the secretary general of the OPEC oil cartel,

Scientists say global emissions need to drop 45% by the end of the decade compared to 1990 levels. But recent data show they are going up, not down, in part due to rising energy demand and the expansion of fossil fuel use insisted that fossil fuels are part of the energy transition and hundreds of billions of dollars in oil and gas investments are still needed.

While the two Gulf countries have pledged to reduce emissions within their borders to net zero, they tout their barrels of oil as less carbon-intensive than those extracted elsewhere and have no plans to scale back production. OPEC expects more oil will be needed in the coming decades, mainly due to a population boom in Asia.

Even Germany, which seeks to become carbon neutral by 2045 and recently announced a raft of new measures to further boost renewable power, continues to dig coal for energy needs.

Utility company RWE this week won a court case allowing it to bulldoze a farm in the western German village of Luetzerath in preparation for the expansion of a nearby lignite mine.

BY FRANK JORDANS / AP 25

THE ONLY WAY FORWARD, IF WE ARE GOING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, IS TO GET EVERYBODY INVOLVED. ~ Richard Rogers

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EARTH PROVIDES ENOUGH TO SATISFY EVERY MAN’S NEEDS, BUT NOT EVERY MAN’S GREED. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

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