23rd of April 2016, Belgrade

CEDEF Platform The Climate Panel of Serbia

The Conference about WASTE and WASTEWATER IN SERBIA

Central European Development Forum - CEDEF, has formed a new Platform, in cooperation with its partners dedicated to the struggle against climate changes in Serbia- THE CLIMATE PANEL OF SERBIA. CEDEF has started public debates and expert meetings on current subjects, with representatives of institutions at national and local level, Parliament, government agencies, universities, representatives of legislative authority, socially responsible and inventive companies, non-governmental organizations, the media and professional public.

After signing the Paris’s Framework Convention in New York, CEDEF has gathered all aspects that define and affect on Serbian climate politics. The key issue has been stated: what is the next step?

The Conference was held on the occasion of 22nd of April- Earth Day in Congress hall of Faculty of Mechanical engineering in Belgrade. THE CLIMATE PANEL OF SERBIA is dedicated to the following the results of COP21 and is convicted that it is necessary to retify Parisian treaty from all signatories.

The Conference UN of climate changes COP21 in Paris gathered around 150 presidents of states and governments. Representatives of 175 United Nation members states have signed Paris agreement on 22nd of April about the limitation of global temperatures rising. Previously, the agreement was achieved which 195 members states were adopted, including Serbia. Ministry, agencies, universities, local governments, civil society and medias have made what practical measures should be implemented during the agreement realisation. Expectation is that Serbia will ratify the agreement as soon as possible in order to make hard work of applying envisaged measures.

The Conference program can be dowloaded here.

The photo gallery can be seen here.

The presentation from gathering can be downloaded here.

The State Secretary for environmental protection dr Stana Božović pointed out that the important steps have already been made so the environmental protection department crossed from „red“ into „green“ phase of 27 chapter preparation for EU accession. Also, she pointed out about the importance of achieving agreement and indicated that the Government of Republic Serbia is among the top ten world countries who delived their goals to Secretary of the Framework Convention on climate change about emissions of gas reducing with the greenhouse effect which would amount 9,8% by 2030 in comparation with 1990. „Now, Serbia has 36 facilities for waste water purification, where only 6 are working with full capacity. During the process of Serbia’s accession to EU, Serbia will be in obligation to have 320 operational facilities for waste water purification who would be fully complianted with EU standards“, said Božović.

HE Kristin Moro, ambassador of France in Serbia has pointed out the importance of signing an agreement in New York which date was not randomly chosen - it is 22nd of April from 1970. The Earth Day, which is the future, depends of the implementation of the Paris agreement. „The world should looking forward about the success of ceremonial signing, as well as the agreement adoption in December last year after long and difficult negotiations. Paris agreement will entered into effect when 55% of countries would ratified who emit 55% of world gas emission with greenhouse effect. „Urgent“ will be a mark for the French Presidency during the work on this issue. We can’t waste time any more because the climate changes are accelerating and effects can be felt. Also, in parallel with legal procedures, we must keep up in order to stay mobilized and quickly set up effective measures of energy transition“, said ambassador of France in Serbia Kristin Moro.

Some consequences of the climate changes are floods, droughts, heat waves, etc. Serbia has already felt and experienced those consequences and extreme losses. Floods in 2014 are affecting on the reduced production of electricity by 40%, leaving polluted watercourses and damage exceeding of 1.5 bilion euros. In 2012, drought damages in agriculture are bigger of 2 bilion dolars, yields are reduced, alfatoxin is found in corn. As consequence of heat waves in 2007 and numbers of deaths in Belgrade is reached.

Filip Radović, director of the Agency for environmental protection of Republic Serbia pointed out that extreme temperatures and other resources should reach out to public awareness and to indicate on the importance of rational and responsible behavior. He told that only 10% of waste is recycled but Serbia treats just 9% of waste water. Goran Trivan, secretary of environmental protection in Belgrade pointed out the significance of afforestation as cheapest and the most effective way in battle against the climate changes.

Prof. dr Ana B. Bovan, president of CEDEF reminded that the next meeting of COP22 will be held 7-18 of November 2016 in Marrakech in Morocco, whose theme will be: Reduction of greenhouse effects. Doc. dr Vladimir Đurđević from the Institute of Meterology in Belgrade pointed out that temperature in Serbia has increased by 1.2 °C which reaches more then half of global conditions.

Biljana Vraneš, Bachelor of Science in Meteorology and editor on Information program in RTS pointed out on the importance of the media among these issues. She said that 2015 was the most hottest year on the planet since 1880 and this sort of trend is continuing in 2016. The consequences of climate changes on Balkan are increasingly frequent and more devastating. She set a question, how much is difficult to fight for the media involving about this subject in Serbia and why is human negligence greater than disasters?

Prof. dr Branko Vasić, associate dean for industry cooperation from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade expressed satisfaction for being the host of the conference and pointed out that the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering will be always opened for this sort of cooperation and partner of the events.

On the first time on the conference, CEDEF is launched a survey about theme of raising awareness on climate changes in Serbia. The aim of the survey is exploring the attitudes and perception of the public about climate changes. CEDEF will implement this research on the next two meetings of the Climate Panel of Serbia on 5th of July when will be held Public debate and on 15th of December on VI Summit of Energy Managers of Serbia.