Climate Diplomacy Week kicks off in Serbia

The EU, in cooperation with partners, including Balkan Green Energy News, is marking Climate Diplomacy Week in Serbia with a range of activities from September 24 to 29, aiming to propel dialogue and cooperation in the area of climate change, showcase examples of good practice, and drive future action.

Events during Climate Diplomacy Week include conferences, debates, exhibitions, film screenings, and outdoor activities to involve a range of participants, organizations, and communities, according to a press release from the EU Delegation to Serbia.

Tokom Nedelje klimatske diplomatije širom sveta biće održani brojni događaji kako bi inspirisali dalje akcije o klimatskim promenama
??Sutra u 11.30h kod nas konferencija "Adaptacija na klimatske promene u prioritetnim sektorima ?♻"#EUdonacija za Strategiju klimatske promene pic.twitter.com/885CDYlRyr

— EU u Srbiji (@eusrbija) September 25, 2018

In 2018, Climate Diplomacy Week centers on the Talanoa dialogue, a process aimed at taking stock of the results of collective and individual efforts to achieve goals set under the Paris Agreement on climate change. Commenting on the start of Climate Diplomacy Week, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Sem Fabrizi said that climate change is real and not positive. Extreme weather, rising temperatures, migrations, and major water and air pollution all expose the planet and mankind to a risk, he said.

Fabrizi warned that it is of the essence to fight climate change, noting that it is time to mitigate climate change and change the way we use resources and modify our behavior and consumption patterns, as well as to work on a successful transition to a clean, zero-emission economy and the creation of resilient societies.

The EU ambassador invited citizens to join the global action and take part in the activities organized at the Climate Village on the Ada Ciganlija island on September 29, when they will be able to see hands-on examples and participate in a cycling tour around the lake.

Balkan Green Energy News will have a stand at the Climate Village, which it will share with others who have good examples to showcase, including the H-Bridges team of students from the University of Belgrade School of Electrical Engineering (ETF), which developed an energy storage device that brought it 4th place and the Best Education Impact award at the International Future Energy Challenge 2018, the world’s largest student competition in the area of innovative and energy efficiency solutions, held in Beijing from July 18 to 22. Our stand will also feature the INTEGRA active house, an innovative, environmentally responsible, energy-independent and energy efficient prefabricated house that can be installed in just two weeks.

Climate Diplomacy Week in Serbia is organized by the EU Delegation to Serbia in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the embassies of Germany, France, and Sweden, Austrian Development Agency, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the German development organization GIZ, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Balkan Green Energy News, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS), RES Foundation, EIT Climate-KIC, and other projects and organizations.

What steps is the EU taking to fight climate change?

The EU’s 2030 climate and energy framework sets three key targets for the year 2030:

• At least 40% cuts in greenhouse gas emissions (from 1990 levels);
• At least 27% share for renewable energy;
• At least 27% improvement in energy efficiency.

Here are several examples of how the EU supports Serbia in the fight against climate change:

The EU supports Serbia with EUR 1 million in IPA funds to produce an analysis of the current situation and prepare a draft climate change strategy and action plan in line with the EU ambitions and the UN requirements.

Given that the best energy is the energy not consumed, the EU supports Serbia in improving its energy efficiency (EUR 19 million under IPA 2018), modernizing the existing energy capacities (EUR 9 million to reduce NOx emissions at the Nikola Tesla thermal power plant), and improving its legislation in the area, according to the press release.