SDG Summit 2023, UN HQ, New York
In the period back to back to the UN General Assembly in New York, the Summit on Sustainable Development Goals was held on September 18 and 19, 2023. Before the Summit, during the weekend of September 16 and 17, the SDG “Action Weekend” was held, as an opportunity for various interested stakeholders, representatives of the UN and member states to meet at the headquarters of the United Nations and present specific commitments and contributions to initiate the transformation of the Sustainable Development Goals from now until 2030.
The activities were divided into two days: “Mobilization Day” on September 16 and Acceleration Day on September 17. During the Mobilization Day, stakeholders from different sectors had the opportunity to gather at the United Nations headquarters and mobilize for the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals Summit and the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week. “Acceleration Day” focused on high-impact UN initiatives.
Civil society, the private sector, youth, scientists, local and regional governments, feminists and other actors have a key role in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Their participation, contributions and catalytic mobilization are recognized as essential during the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The President of the Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development Aleksandra Mladenović, attended the SDG Action Weekend and SDG Summit as a representative of an organization that has ECOSOC consultative status and as one of the representatives of the Women’s Main Group at the UN.
The focus of the Sustainable Development Goals Summit was on the fulfillment of the Goals. According to official data, at the global level, only 15% of the goals have been met so far, and we are halfway to the set deadline (2015-2030). It is obvious that, despite the frequent rhetorical glorification of the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals, there is no strong political will to fulfill the Goals, especially of the major world powers, which “hide” behind the success of smaller countries, who care, because the Goals are directly related on their progress, such as reducing poverty, ending hunger, accessing clean water and addressing climate change. The need to change the global “financial architecture” is increasingly being heard, bearing in mind that developing countries are increasingly stagnating, affected by large debts, which often amount to more than investments in key areas, such as education or health in those countries. Young people also raised their voices, because they are beginning to understand that adults are putting a “hot potato” in their hands, under the pretext that their future is already ruined by the present. The youth made it clear that without defined financial means for the Sustainable Development Goals individually, little or nothing will be able to be done in terms of their fulfillment. More at the link: https://www.un.org/en/conferences/SDGSummit2023/SDG-Action-Weekend
As part of the activities of the interested parties, there was also a two-day session of the “Global People Assembly”, where activists from 145 countries gathered and sent a Declaration demanding urgent action from decision-makers in the field of economic and financial justice, climate change, and the environment. social justice and gender equality, protection of civil society, and human rights. More at the link: https://www.peoplesassembly.global/en/
And last but not least, the Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals was held, and a political Declaration was adopted, covering the different and complementary functions of both sessions of the forum under the auspices of the General Assembly – the Summit and the forum under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC ). It seems that this Declaration, as well as the Summit itself, have become only a satisfactory form and “first companion” to the main event in the United Nations, which is the General Assembly. More about the Sustainable Development Goals Summit: https://www.un.org/en/conferences/SDGSummit2023/political-declaration
WSSP: Risk management in the water, sanitation, and microplastics sector in the Balkan region
To improve water, sanitation and waste management in Romania, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the risk management tool “Water and Sanitation Safety Planning” (WSSP) is introduced and thematically extended through various interactive educational measures in schools – including the topics of menstruation and (micro-)plastics. The educational materials are published in Compendia as well as in the online educational platform “Water Classroom” in the respective national languages and are freely accessible. Educational materials at the academic level are developed in cooperation with universities for study programmes relevant to the topic. To improve gender equality, situation analyses on menstrual poverty and gender equality in WASH (water, sanitation & hygiene) facilities and professions are prepared. Recommendations for action will then be developed. This will be accompanied by campaigns for the free provision of menstrual products in public buildings and schools as well as against fiscal discrimination in menstrual products. The aim is to establish a gender-equitable WASH situation in the project countries on a long-term and sustainable basis.
For Environmental Ambassadors this is a continuation of the project successfully finalized with the very important active participation of the Eco-schools network in Serbia.
Kick-off meeting, Sarajevo May 18 and 19, 2023 – Project WSSP
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and more about project…..
In the project countries Romania, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is a lack of sustainable water, sanitation, wastewater, and waste management in rural areas, which can have serious consequences for the environment and health of the population. The aim of WECF and the local partner organizations is to further develop or introduce the “Water and Sanitation Safety Planning” (WSSP) instrument in the target countries. WSSP shows methods for risk management for water and sanitation and explains measures to minimize risks and improve the water and sanitation situation.
The online educational portals “Water Classroom” developed in the previous project, on which interactive educational materials on the topics of WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) and WSSP are already freely available in Romanian and Macedonian, will be translated into Albanian and Serbian and made freely accessible online. In various educational measures, WECF’s WSSP compendium is introduced to Bosnian-Herzegovinian, Serbian and Albanian teachers, pupils and various stakeholders from administration, politics and institutions. In North Macedonia, children with disabilities are included in the educational activities, for which the teaching materials are adapted. In collaboration with North Macedonian and Albanian universities, educational material on an academic level will be developed. Interactive and playful educational materials on microplastics will be developed and used in additional educational activities. Some of the materials will be digitized and included in the “water classrooms”. Menstrual Health Management (MHM) will be a broad focus of the educational activities. In addition, the project partners will prepare a cost-benefit analysis of menstrual products and conduct a survey on menstrual poverty. Subsequently, a campaign will call for the provision of free menstrual products in schools and public buildings. The North Macedonian partners work with gender organizations against gender-specific tax discrimination, e.g. in menstrual products. To analyse gender equality in the WASH sector, data collection takes place in various project countries, on the basis of which recommendations for action are subsequently developed.
Environmental Ambassadors will continue to work with the Eco-schools network in Serbia to raise teachers capacities to deal with the topics Water+Sanitation+Hygiene, in order to be more strengthen to focus the attention of decision-makers, at the local and national levels, on these topics, especially in rural areas.
Schools go green and digital – and Erasmus+ supports teaching excellence!
A European Conference on the Challenges of Schools in the Face of climate change and digitalization was held in Bonn from May 3 to 5, 2023. With more than 200 participants in EU and WB countries, it was a really great opportunity to exchange best practices on how teachers are finding balance in the on and off-line world, how to learn to grow by protecting the environment and humans or to present possibilities of Teacher Academy to going green and digital.
Exhibition of best practices and exchange of experience, presentations of best practices in parallel groups, open space, partner finding, and parallel group discussions provided very well-organized opportunities to present results of different Erasmus + projects around Europe. Participants also received information about the Erasmus+ Programme and funding opportunities. Photo: ©PAD/Marcus Gloger
Most of the present teachers searched and found partners for future projects. In the end, the chances of eTwinning for future teachers were presented, and how to build resilience to disinformation in a digital media age.
Environmental Ambassadors had the opportunity to present the main results of the ongoing Erasmus + project “Forest-our long-life teacher” (ForLife), which is led by Association Doves from Slovenia, in partnership with Environmental Ambassadors from Serbia and Jump Association from Italy. This project focuses on the fight against climate change, covering inclusion and diversity of all fields of education and supporting teachers in gathering knowledge and green skills development. So far, three trainings under the projects are organized in Slovenia, Serbia and Italy, one online international conference and a lot of materials for teachers and students are produced. The project will be ended in August 2023.
augMentor
augMENTOR (full title: Augmented Intelligence for Pedagogically Sustained Training and Education) project has received funding from the European Union’s HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-CL2-2021-TRANSFORMATIONS-01-05 , Integration of emerging new technologies into education and training) under grant agreement (No. 101061509).
Overall, the augMentor propose a new Pedagogical Framework for designing and planning technology-augmented educational scenarios. The main specification of this type of educational activity will be the embedment of Artificial Intelligence and Learning Analytics techniques. In addition, they will focus on overall classroom activity design alongside putting great emphasis on the orchestration from the teacher’s point of view and, at the same time, using emergent technologies as powerful cognitive tools for students and decision making and adaptation tools for teachers. In addition, it will aim to develop higher-order cognitive competencies/thinking skills (design and critical thinking, creativity, decision making, modelling, computational thinking, etc.).
Part of this research (pilot studies) will involve minors, and in particular school children of 8 to 18 years old. The studies will take place in schools.
Duration: 36 months starting at 01 Jan 2023.
augMENTOR is led by UNISYSTEMS LUXEMBOURG SARL, (Luxembourg) and the augMENTOR consortium is composed by the IASIS NGO (Greece), CSI CENTER FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION LTD (Cyprus), Universität Duisburg-Essen (Germany), EPISTIMI EPIKOINONIA – SCIENCE COMMUNICATION (Greece), KONNEKT ABLE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED (Ireland), PANEPISTIMIO PATRON – UNIVERSITY OF PATRAS (Greece), TSAKALIDIS-G.DOMALIS OE – NOVELCORE OE (Greece), AMBASADORI ODRZIVOG RAZVOJA I ZIVOTNE SREDINE UDRUZENJE – EASD (Serbia), Université Côte d’Azur (France), KAUNO TECHNOLOGIJOS UNIVERSITETAS (Lithuania), Austrian Study Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution (OSTERREICHISCHES STUDIENZENTRUM FÜR FRIEDEN UND KONFLIKTLÖSUNG-ÖSFK) (Austria). Associated Partner is Mission-X LTD (United Kingdom).
Second Carpathian ESD Seminar
Second Carpathian ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) Seminar was held in Zakopane, Poland, from 28 to 30 September 2022. The aim of the seminar was to find appropriate way to connect different interested parties which exist in the Carpathian Region, from academia, universities, business, national/local authorities, protected areas manager and civil society organization, to promote different activities under the Carpathian Convention, in order to become core activities of the Carpathian ESD Expert network.
The field trip as accompanying activity was demonstration of ecological education in the national parks in Poland, with a focus on the Tatra National Park.
Introductory presentation on the Carpathian ESD process to-date: Carpathian Convention networks report; UNECE SC on ESD, UNECE and UNESCO frameworks and how Carpathian Convention is related, were done by representatives of UNEP Vienna Office, Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention.
Participants from all Carpathian countries: Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Serbia discussed of results in national groups, based on target group (teachers, NGOs, policy-makers, scientists), on implementing and leading specific activities of the Carpathian ESD Network. EASD representative participated.
Some of the question raised were: How can the Carpathian Convention be promoted via these activities?, How are the Carpathian ESD activities contributing to the implementation of UNECE and UNESCO strategies?, What are the needs of each group of participants in implementing and planning Carpathian ESD-related activities, which can help to be addressed together?
The main conclusion from this ESD Seminar will be presented at the Environment for Europe Conference, which will be held in Cyprus, from October 5 to 7, 2022.
Call to action for a tomorrow without toxics
Sign the Call to Action here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecU8_1QRK983bsB1s92c0sHyVBv
adDWW2dW–T_46_JiWjgg/viewform
Urgent call for a strong SAICM-Beyond-2020-Framework ensuring sound chemicals and waste management!
Increasing chemical production, use of harmful chemicals, pollution, and waste are turning into a third planetary crisis[1], beside the climate and biodiversity crises, and at the same time exacerbating them. There is an urgent need for solution-focused actions along the whole lifecycle of chemicals and waste, addressing the threats to human health and the environment – from the enormous use of chemicals, poor chemicals and waste management, to the ever-increasing production and raw material extraction. The undersigned organizations stand together in urgently calling
on governments, industry, and other stakeholders to work towards a tomorrow without toxics. We urge them to actively reduce their chemical footprint and make prevention, reduction, and sound management of chemicals and waste a priority issue.
The current levels of chemicals used in industrial processes, agriculture and daily life products massively expose people and ecosystems to harmful substances.
Ubiquitous, excessive and often uncontrolled use of chemicals, their improper storage and disposal, and accidents, as well as the amount of waste in general and in particular mismanaged waste lead to harmful substances entering the environment, food chains, and human bodies. They poison air, soil and water, harm wildlife and cause biodiversity loss. Exposure to hazardous chemicals produces reproductive and neurological disorders, causes intergenerational effects, and the loss of livelihoods and food systems, among other things. The burdens fall disproportionately on the most financially oppressed, vulnerable and marginalized groups, such as Indigenous
Communities, people in the Global South, workers in industry and agriculture, women and children. This makes chemicals and waste management a cross-cutting issue.
The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) and the Dubai Declaration, adopted in 2006 by the First International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM1), aimed to achieve sound management of chemicals and waste throughout their life cycle by 2020.[2] Now, at the beginning of the year 2022, we see an even more urgent need for action. SAICM has identified important issues and created a multi-sector platform and multi-stakeholder process for action, involving governments, civil society, businesses and academics. However, the overall objective has not been achieved and progress made is insufficient and mainly limited to information collection, while only a few concrete risk reduction measures have been undertaken. Adverse impacts on human health and the environment from raw material extraction, chemical production, use and disposal continue.
There is no time to waste.
We need an agreement for a strong SAICM-Beyond-2020-Framework that goes beyond the Dubai Declaration on International Chemicals Management[3] and secures ambitious reduction and prevention of harmful chemicals and waste globally, bringing about real change, including the implementation of safe alternatives. Our vision is a world where chemicals and wastes are no longer a source of harm and where all people live in safe and healthy environments, free from toxic threats to ecosystems and to future generations. We call upon all stakeholders to commit to this goal and to increase engagement, expressing a concrete will to end the poisoning of our world. Put a
SAICM-Beyond-2020-Framework urgently into practice as follows:
● Recognize and implement the precautionary and sustainability principles as basic principles and rationale behind all measures. Follow the hierarchy of prevention, elimination and minimization of hazardous substances.
● Include the possibility to stipulate or initiate binding elements for chemicals and waste management throughout the whole lifecycle, including raw material extraction, production, use and disposal of chemicals.
● Set ambitious targets and milestones. Make national action plans binding for all SAICM stakeholders, which particularly promote implementation and monitoring. Include concrete activities to solve the Issues of Concern in SAICM national action plans as well as education and awareness raising measures. Ensure that groups of related chemicals are addressed in the framework and in related action plans
● Establish mechanisms for implementation and progress reporting, and independent monitoring, as well as mechanisms for compliance.
● Realize global implementation on all levels (i.e. local, national, regional and international levels) and ensure this through national action plans. Make a SAICM-Beyond-2020-Framework compatible with other global treaties
including a future legally binding Plastics Treaty[4] or a future international regulation on pesticides[5].
● Secure the multistakeholder and multisectoral character of SAICM. Ensure that the negotiation process is carried out in a way that guarantees equal and fair participation of all stakeholders and right holders, as well as the
possibility to bring in contributions, especially from the civil society.
● Guarantee solid, sustainable, and reliable financing by the internalization of external costs, according to the Polluter Pays Principle. This could be achieved through a coordinated tax on chemical feedstocks, levied by the
national governments where the chemicals are produced[6], ensuring and prioritizing the support for developing and emerging countries. Especially civil society organizations, Indigenous Communities, and science, including citizen science, should be eligible for funding. Further options to implement the Polluter Pays Principle are to be explored and implemented.
● Make sure that a SAICM-Beyond-2020 addresses the identified shortcomings of the predecessor framework and in particular, that solutions for all identified Issues of Concern (IoCs) are developed and new IoCs included when they are needed. Current IoCs must be kept until resolved[7]. This includes e.g. a global phase-out of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) and their replacement with agroecology in line with ICCM4 resolution, measures to reduce endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) exposure for humans and the environment, and transparency and traceability for chemicals in products.
● Guarantee globally equal safety levels for everyone and everywhere. States must ensure the protection of people and the environment through laws and regulations that hold producers accountable along the entire supply chain
and throughout the whole lifecycle. Eliminate unethical and unacceptable double standards.
● Support the approach of a binding Global Minimum Transparency Standard[8] as a first step for chemicals in products and the establishment of labeling according to UNEP SCP guidelines[9]. This can ensure transparency and
traceability, which are, together with the right to know, key requirements for a safe circular economy globally. It further helps to eliminate double standards and dumping of products in countries with less ambitious chemicals legislation, and to guarantee an equal level of safety for everyone everywhere.
● Ensure sensitivity to the different exposition and vulnerability of people and groups of people to hazardous substances, depending on their area of residence, occupation, social and economic status, age, and gender. Consider
that children are particularly vulnerable to hazardous substances and must be protected from being born pre-polluted.
● Better protect women from hazardous chemicals, by implementing gender responsive policies, mainstreaming gender-equality and collecting gender disaggregated data. Recognize and encourage the leadership role of women in society, politics and science, and also in a SAICM-Beyond-2020-Framework. Consider that women are more susceptible to harmful chemicals than men and have different windows of vulnerability, e.g. during pregnancy.
They are also exposed differently to toxic chemicals due to their gender roles.
● Recognize the principles and values of the universal human rights[10]. Support all right holders, according to the respective international resolutions and declarations[11].
● Recognize the principles of the Rio-Declaration on Environment and Development and the principles of the Agenda 2030, as basic principles.
● Acknowledge the role of chemicals and waste in the biodiversity and climate crises and take action to address these impacts through decreased chemical production, use and disposal, phase out of harmful substances and
implementation of safe and non-chemical alternatives
Urgent call for a strong SAICM-Beyond-2020-Framework ensuring sound chemicals and waste management!
UNEP@50 and World Environment Day
EASD is participating in Stocholm@50 preparatory meetings and conference 2-3 June 2022 . Also, celebrate with activities World Environment Day on June 5, 2022 .
Stocholm+50 mandate is to enable resolutions A/RES/75/280 of 24 May 2021 and A/RES/75/326 of 10 September 2021. Stockholm +50 offers an opportunity to reinforce the 1972 principles, opportunity for stakeholders to cooperate, share expertise and address complex issues for urgent actions.
EASD stay with whole-of-society approach; participated at Regional Multi-stakeholder Consultations (for Europe and North America) on May 5, together with different stakeholders, including youth, Indigenous Peoples, governments, and non-governmental organizations, who identified and highlighted some of the key messages, such as need to phase out fossil fuel subsidies in order to transition away from reliance on fossil fuels towards a more sustainable energy resources, or call for a declaration recognizing “the rights of nature,” as well as for governments to recognize “ecocide” as an international crime.
Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development participated in the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Region, held in Geneva on 6 and 7 April 2022 . Within the Side Event, together with other partners on the project “Water and Sanitation Safety Planning in the Balkan Region: Albania, North Macedonia, Romania and Serbia (WatSanPlan)”, presented the results of a year of work on the project.
EASD representative also participated at One Planet Network to accelerate the implementation of SDG12: The One Planet Network Forum, taking place 31.5. – 1.6. 2022.
Being a part of strong global and regional networks, EASD is actively contributing to position development of certain issues ( NGO Major Group, Women Major Group, Science and Technology Major Group, IPEN, EEB, WECF). Also, EASD participated on number of Towards Stockholm+ 50 Webinars as well as side events .
EASD also follow national preparation of Serbia, within 3 Leadership Dialogues. On outputs and outcomes of Stockholm+50 see more… Among others, about:
- United Nations Foundation/Unlock the Future Coalition
- Ministerial Statement on Future Generations led by Sweden and signed by other 14 countries
- Global petition for a UN Declaration of Rights of Mother Earth
- The People’s Environment Narrative, Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future and the Norwegian Forum for Environment and Development, with the support of UNEP and the Swedish Government
- Stockholm+50 Interfaith Statement, Faith, Values and Reach – Contribution to Environmental Policy
- The Global Youth Policy Paper
- Declaration for Stockholm+50: Restoring Our Common Home
- Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Declaration
The 2022 World Environment Day campaign #OnlyOneEarth calls for collective, transformative action on a global scale to celebrate, protect and restore our planet. This year’s campaign, #OnlyOneEarth, highlights the need to reset the balance with nature through transformative changes in how we eat, live, work and move around. This guide presents actions that communities, organizations and people everywhere can take. It spotlights the key responsibility of governments, cities, business, faith groups and finance to make sustainable living possible by transforming consumption, production, infrastructure, investment and land use. It also includes examples of personal decisions to effect change and push for action.
EASD contributed with activities focused on water safety, sanitation and hygiene, which included activities with children with special needs through the Eco-schools program in Serbia, under the knowledge-based campaign “Safety water for all”. The activities are realized during the EU Green week, from May 30th to June 3rd, using this annual opportunity to pay attention of local and national decision and policy makers to support inclusive environmental education, by using knowledge based advocacy. This activity relies on decades of achievements of the event “Environment to Europe”, which EASD organized as part of celebration of the World Environment Day.
Biodiversity protection and nature-based solutions in focus of EASD activities
Concept of nature-based solutions implies searching for existing, sustainable solutions from nature in order to provide benefits for both human well-being and biodiversity, by addressing societal challenges. There are different solutions mapped so far and implemented in different areas and environments, such as protection, restoration or management of natural and semi-natural ecosystems; the sustainable management of aquatic systems and working lands such as croplands or timberlands; or the creation of novel ecosystems in and around cities. All solutions are designed to be implemented by local communities and related institutions and organizations (towards implementation of United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030)
EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, represents a comprehensive plan under the European Green Deal, which serves to improve state of the nature in European Union, by protecting biodiversity and reversing the degradation of ecosystems. In the focus of this Strategy is increasing the area under protection for at least 30% of both land and sea in Europe, restoring degraded ecosystems and securing 20 billion EUR/year for biodiversity through various sources, including EU funds, national and private funding.
The main challenge in the region of Western Balkan, area with outstanding biodiversity, natural resources and huge number of solutions created by nature, is to set up Green Agenda and Biodiversity for the Western Balkans as important as all other Development Agendas. In 2017, the Biodiversity Task Force of South East Europe was established to serve as a technical and advisory body of the Regional Working Group on Environment (RWG Env) of the Regional Cooperation Council. The most important objective for Western Balkans in Green Agenda implementation is to mainstream biodiversity elements in other policy areas in order to improve state of protected areas (through sustainable financing), increase number of protected areas and increased surface area under protection, as well as to improve the status of the endangered species. In addition, these actions will lead to protect, restore and manage natural and semi-natural ecosystems; to establish sustainable management of aquatic systems and working lands, but also will provide different solutions and possibilities for creation of novel ecosystems in and around cities. The strategic Green Agenda for WB document will identify priorities to focus on, while the implementation would require synchronized actions and involvement of the entire region, by strengthening regional cooperation and involvement of all relevant institutions and organizations, in order to promote and implement nature-based solutions.
Biodiversity and nature protection are among EASD priorities in last ten years, reflecting in conference proceedings[1][2] , contribution to Study on Achievements and Perspectives towards a Green Economy and Sustainable Growth in Serbia, or training providing on ecological footprint. One of the priorities of EASD focus is education on importance of biodiversity protection, which is implemented mainly through the Eco-schools Serbia network. In the period 2017-2020, under the project The Great Plant Hunt biodiversity topic is introduced in Eco-schools Serbia network and started with implementation of the nature-based solutions concept.
From February 2022, EASD started to implement within Eco-schools Serbia network an Erasmus+ project ForLife , with leading partner from Slovenia, and another partner from Italy. This project is directly connected to nature-based solution concept, by using positive examples from nature, regarding promotion of protection, restoration or management of natural and semi-natural ecosystems and in the same time creation of novel ecosystems in urban and sub-urban areas where Eco-schools belong to.
EASD more focused to activities against plastic pollution
Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development (EASD) started in 2020 with more focused engagement and activities in the thematic issue of plastic pollution. We found important UNEP initiative to beat plastic pollution , as well as designing out plastic pollution .
EASD started with analysis, participation in global studies and relevant national/local surveys and initiatives related plastic in products and in waste.
EASD activities include activities in : Science and Research (for better Governance and regulation) – A circular economy for plastic, Education and learning against plastic pollution, Promotion of sustainable travel against plastic pollution, Promotion of clean beach against plastic pollution, as well as Processes towards global plastic treaty and EU accession, participation and monitoring.
Further, EASD is following development of an international legally binding agreement . See resolution at the resumed fifth session of the 2022 United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) in Nairobi to end plastic pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024. EASD special attention is to harmonize global process against plastic pollution with EU accession process at national and regional level. To note that Serbia is candidate country for EU membership and Cluster 4 was opened for negotiation in December 2021. See also EASD work in theme EU accession and enlargement. In this period, EC priority is European Green Deal with action on plastics to tackle plastic pollution and marine litter, and to accelerate the transition to a circular plastics economy . For Western Balkan, Action Plan for the Implementation of the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans 2021-2030 (GAWB) is approved.
BE CONNECTED WITH THE REGIONAL UNECE FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Register to participate on Side Event: https://regionalforum.unece.org/events/adequate-and-qualitative-education-young-people-continues-spite-covid-19
The Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Region will be held in Geneva on 6 and 7 April 2022 as a hybrid meeting with the theme: Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the UNECE Region.
Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development will participate in the RFSD and within the Side Event, together with their partners, will present the results of a year of work on the project: “Water and Sanitation Safety Planning in the Balkan Region: Albania, North Macedonia, Romania and Serbia (WatSanPlan)”. All the results concerning education on the topic of WASH and MHM (Menstrual Health Management) in the Balkan region will be presented, demonstrating the needs and opportunities to connect with local CSOs, women groups, decision makers, water supply and sanitation companies, public authorities, and schools/knowledge institutions in peri urban and rural areas in the region. In addition will also be presented how was promoted and built capacity on Water and Sanitation Safety Planning in terms of a developed Compendium, an online learning platform “Water Classroom“ and further on-going educational activities in the Balkan region.
All the activities are based on WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) and WHO (World Health Organization) programmes related to improvement of the water and sanitation facilities, especially in schools, which represent the joint achievements of the project and the experience gathered by WECF and its partners’ network.
Agenda of the Side Event is available HERE.
More details on the Regional Forum are available at: https://regionalforum.unece.org/events/regional-forum-2022
Forest – our lifelong teacher (Erasmus+)
ForLife is a joint project of three partners: Doves, Slovenia (project leader), Jump (Italy) and Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development (Serbia), under the Erasmus+ Program.
EC Project Number: 2021-1-SI01-KA210-SCH-
National Project ID: KA210-SCH-2/21
Project title: Forest – our lifelong teacher
The projects is in line with the new EU Priority “European Green Deal” which is a strong claim and a new strong message of the EU towards all citizens. The project aims to train and empower teachers in the field of global challenges of environmental education (with emphasis on forests and the connection to climate change), through quality lessons and outdoor activities to achieve goals in the field of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The professional support of experts who will share their knowledge in the field of forestry will be provided to teachers, in order to enable them the opportunity to exchange experience of good practice that they will transfer to their work. At the end of the project, teachers will be sufficiently qualified, confident, with new skills and knowledge to be able to pass on to students and educate them about the importance of forests in relation to climate change. It is expected that students will, in following period, change their attitude towards forests and show the concern for nature and the future of our planet through their activities (not only in schools, but also widely) and to become active citizens. The role and importance of forests and their main functions (social, production and especially ecological) will be emphasized during the project, as well as the inclusion of forest visits in regular school work will be proposed, in order to improve knowledge regarding forest as a natural environment in Europe, to emphasize the importance of forest protection, but also afforestation and sustainable forest management. Teachers that teach students with special needs, marginalized and sensitive groups (Roma and immigrants who often have difficulty learning due to their knowledge of terminology, women and girls) will be included in the project, having in mind they do not have as many opportunities to participate in international projects. Through practical activities, games and outdoor activities, the mentioned groups can actively participate, learn and gain new knowledge about forests. The sustainable forest management requires the adoption of practices that take in account scenarios of future climate. Information/educational instruments are foreseen as the important tool of the resilience of the forest to climate change (educational institutions have important role, including Eco-Schools and others).
The implementation of these measures needs to be supported by a training and awareness raising that builds both general knowledge on climate change and forest management. The project is primarily aimed at teachers who teach students aged 5 -15. Teachers who educate children with special needs or work with marginal groups (Roma and immigrants), with the project activities they will help these children to easily integrate into society and encourage them to contribute to the overall progress.
The project goal is to achieve state in which teachers will feel equipped and competent to transfer knowledge in the first place to the secondary group indirectly involved in the project: colleagues, school managements and further students, which will gain new knowledge in the field of forests. The teachers involved will continue to share their knowledge and experience at professional meetings for teachers, study groups, thematic conferences, the network of Eco-schools in Slovenia and Serbia also have its own monthly newspaper, through which they inform the teachers involved in the programme.
Project ForLife started in February 2022, and lasts until July 2023. It is supported by EU, throught the Erasmus+ programm.
Kick-off meeting was held on February 24-25, 2022 in Portorož, Slovenia, with participation of all three partner organizations. It was very good opportunity to discuss upcoming activities in each country, as well as activities that will be organized jointly, as trainings for teachers involved in the project. During the meeting there was also opportunity to visit Skocijan cave, to see how on of the forest track in the vicinity of Skocijan looks, to learn about educational activities that National forestry institute from Slovenia organize with school children, and to see how Eco-schools program is running in pre-school in Slovenia.
Final online Conference on the project: Forest – our lifelong teacher May 29-31, 2023
Schools go green and digital – and Erasmus+ supports teaching excellence!
Sustainability of wastewater treatment methods from (Eco) schools in Serbia
From October 2021, EASD is implementing the project “Sustainability of wastewater treatment from (Eco) schools in Serbia”, with the aim of developing awareness of rural residents about the needs, benefits and opportunities to provide sanitation and treatment of waste water in small communities . Through the organization of promotional and educational activities planned by the project, it is expected to raise the level of knowledge and action in the field of wastewater management and related sanitation. The realization of the planned project activities is expected to improve the cooperation between Eco-schools and decision makers in local communities, and knowledge will also be increased in the preparation of the Plan for water supply safety and sanitation.
The project will analyze the possibilities and requirements of sustainable sanitation and properties of wastewater from Eco-schools and other sources, map the problems that exist due to inadequate wastewater treatment in Eco-schools in rural communities and present the results of civic activism through Eco -schools in local communities, related to sustainable wastewater treatment.
* Project: “Sustainability of wastewater treatment from (Eco) schools in Serbia” is supported by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia, through support for civil society projects in the field environmental protection in 2021.
More on activities in Serbian.
Satellite-like activity in Serbia (and region): Serious of “Seminars for Climate and Environment Ambassadors”
Prof dr Andjelka Mihajlov as European Climate Pact Ambassador launched satellite-like activity as serious of “Seminars for Climate and Environment Ambassadors”. Launched event was National Eco-Schools coordinators meeting, held in Vladimirovci, Serbia on October 8, 2021. With introductory speech, she informed about upcoming serious of climate education and awareness raising “Seminars for Climate and Environment Ambassadors”, structured by European Pact Ambassador on Climate Pact priority topics, and to be realized by professional association “Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development” through national network of Eco-Schools (with more than 100 educational institutions from pre-school to university level).
The first one will be webinar on November 25, 2011 with green knowledge and skills as thematic focus, with agenda focus on “vocabulary” and terms understanding related EU Climate Pact and Green Deal/Fit for 55, to be presented by Prof dr Andjelka Mihajlov. Case activities and lectures on theme will be presented by other professors, having as the base Climate Box .
Registration is mandatory: https://forms.gle/LoBoNrQSxSEQLcXv5
Time: Nov 25, 2021 09:30 AM Budapest
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 856 2230 5302
Passcode: 023813
The second webinar will be in February 2022 with thematic focus on green areas and buildings. This seminar will be partially supported by Ministry of Environmental Protection of Republics of Serbia, and project Water and Sanitation Safety Planning in the Balkan Region. The third webinar/seminar will be in May/June 2022 with thematic focus on green transport.
These satellite-like events clearly go along the objectives and values of the Climate Pact, involving a number of citizens to take climate action and building a greener country, region and Europe. Real assumption is that each of seminars will attract at least 50 teachers and professors (150+ for 3 seminars), reaching further at least about 4000 students and pupils, further influencing their families and community members on climate friendly way of living. Seminars will not be limited to Eco-schools; it will be open also to public in all countries in region for participants able to follow presentations in Serbian language.
CLIMATE BOX is available in Serbian language!
We are promoting the use of “CLIMATE BOX” – Serbian Edition (available in English and Russian language ).
This is outreach result of the project Adaptation of the innovative interactive learning toolkit on climate change – the Climate Box , EASD team with partners developed in 2020 and 2021. The main objectives of the project are to promote education and awareness on climate change impacts and drivers among youth and general public, and to enhance the ability of Serbia to participate actively in addressing the global environmental threat of climate change.
Training for trainers on water safety and sanitation
Within the project “ Water and Sanitation Safety Planning in the Balkan Region: Albania, North Macedonia, Romania and Serbia (WatSanPlan), FKZ 16EXI4004A, Förderprogramm „Exportinitiative grüner und nachhaltiger (Umwelt-) Infrastruktur“ BMU, the first training for teachers of the Eco-school was held in Aleksandrovac. During the two-day training, teachers from primary schools, secondary school and educators from pre-school were introduced to the possibilities provided by the development of a plan for water safety and sanitation, with special reference to the situation in rural communities. In addition to the theoretical work presented by Bistra Mihajlova, a project coordinator on behalf of project leading organization “Women engage for a common future” (WECF) from Germany, participants had the opportunity to exchange their own experiences related to water safety and sanitation in rural areas, where there are many field-departments of Aleksandrovac schools. The topic of menstrual hygiene and how girls and young women are educated in the current conditions was also raised, with general comments that this topic is still taboo in our area and that little attention is generally paid to this topic, through regular curricular and extracurricular activities.
Representatives of one of the partners in the project from North Macedonia, “Journalists for Human Rights”, Nataša Dokovska and Aleksandra, were guest lecturers, who shared their experiences in many years of struggle related to water safety, sanitation, menstrual hygiene and menstrual health. According to research that has been conducted in North Macedonia, Nataša Dokovska pointed out that almost 30% of women in this country cannot afford menstrual products. In North Macedonia, as it is situation in Serbia, they face insufficient education on this topic and an unwillingness to accept it as something that is biologically normal and impossible to pretend not to exist. Among other things, their association advocates that menstrual hygiene be spoken in a gender-neutral language, instead of “products for female hygiene “to be named as “menstrual products”. It is a problem in general that almost 80% of girls know about the menstrual cycle in communication with friends or older sisters in the family, and less often from their mothers or through the education system. The biggest problem in schools is practically that there are no basic sanitary conditions to help girls and women during the menstrual period, so, according to research „Journalist for Human Rights“ realized, in rural areas girls are forced to stay at home during menstruation and to miss classes.
Discussion among teachers from the Eco-schools in Aleksandrovac, there are no such bad experiences in this municipality. However, the positive sign is that through the biology curriculum for the 6th grade, the topic of the menstrual cycle is dealt with, in which boys and girls participate equally.
So far, no more detailed research on menstrual health and menstrual hygiene has been done in Serbia, except sporadic articles in the media and initiatives from the University that can be found. Under this WatSanPlan project, the initial research related to menstrual hygiene and menstrual health will be realized through the Eco-schools program during the school year 2021/2022. The results will show a general observation of water safety, sanitation and menstrual hygiene, which will enable further research and launch advocacy campaigns towards decision makers, primarily related to the availability of menstrual products for free in selected Eco-schools.
The next activity on the project will be training for Eco-schools students on water safety and sanitation in rural communities.
The project “Water and Sanitation Safety Planning in the Balkan Region: Albania, North Macedonia, Romania and Serbia (WatSanPlan)” is supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety and the European Union. The project is managed by the international organization “Women Engage for a Common Future”. In addition to the Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development from Serbia, the project also includes civil society organizations from North Macedonia, Albania and Romania.
Our Future through the Sustainable Development Goals
Event “Our Future through the SDGs” was held on March 19, 2021, virtually. Environmental Ambassador Prof dr Andjelka Mihajlov (EASD Honorable President) was among the Panelists, with presentation “Education, Environment, Gender and Inequality – 1/6 SDG Transformation as modular building-blocks of SDG”. There were more than 130 participants, with interesting discussion.
More at http://sdsn-blacksea.auth.gr/projects/our-future-through-the-sustainable-development-goals/
http://sdsn-blacksea.auth.gr/…/our-future-through-the…/
#SDSNYouthBlackSea #OurFuture #Youth #SDGs
Virtually we are in Nairobi: participating at The Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum , the fifth meeting of the Open-Ended Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives, Science-Policy Forum and the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.1)
On February 9, 2021, EASD two representatives starts two weeks engagements and participation at: The Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (February 9-11) , the fifth meeting of the Open-Ended Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (February 15-16), Science-Policy Forum (February 18-20) and the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.1), February 22-23.
We are starting with the consultations considering the following themes: UNEP Mid-Term Strategy, UNEP Program and Stockholm + 50, as well as main messages from Major Groups and Stakeholders to UNEA. To note that Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development is accredited to UNEP participated previously at Regional Consultation Meeting for Europe in preparation for UNEA 5 – RCM for UNEA 5.1, virtual meeting on December 16-17, 2020. Also, EASD was engaged with its preparatory process and exchange views with Major Groups towards UNEA5. This year, Serbian Minister of Environment is Vice President of UNEA.
UNEA 5.1. Messages and selected outcomes:
OUTCOMES OF THE ONLINE SESSION: UNEA-5
Major Groups and Stakeholders Joint Statement to UNEA-5
Statement by the Women’s Major Group
CPR Chair’s Speech on the Report of the OECPR to UNEA-5.1
UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment ;Event report
…..
Moments from EASD participation at UNEA 4 are available, as well as at Science and Technology Community Meetings and UNEP Network of the Women Ministers and Leaders.
WatSanPlan
WatSanPlan (Water and Sanitation Safety Planning in the Balkan Region: Albania, North Macedonia, Romania and Serbia ). In cooperation with WECF, EASD is promoting WSSP in Serbia, through extension and revision of the WSSP compendium, WSSP educational materials & concepts, improve qualification of teachers and students in a Serbian community, conduct media campaign to motivate citizens to measure nitrate levels in water on their own, conduct relevant analysis and publication of results. The actions include public actions by students and teachers on the selected UN World Days, presentation of the project at the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development of the UNECE (Economic Commission for Europe) in Geneva (Switzerland, March 2022), and in Berlin for BMU and other interested parties. All partners should get to know each other, tasks and responsibilities will be discussed in detail and assigned to individual persons. Milieukontakt Albania (MA) and Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development (EASD) will be officially included in the Balkan WASH network.
Project is supported by funds from the Germen Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). EASD signed contract with Women Engage for a Common Future – WECF e.V., Germany. The timeframe of the project is from 01 September 2020 to 31 August 2022.
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EASD is at World Water Week ( Stockholm 2022)
UNEP@50 and World Environment Day
Joining the World menstrual hygiene day 2022; Reflection
BE CONNECTED WITH THE REGIONAL UNECE FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Link for Survey : SVETSKI DAN TOALETA 2021. GODINE – Učestvujte u istraživanju koliko su održivi načini tretmana otpadnih voda iz (Eko)škola u Srbiji –
TRAINING FOR STUDENTS – ALEKSANDROVAC, OCTOBER 22, 2021
Training for trainers on water safety and sanitation
(Razvoj plana za bezbednost vodosnabdevanja i sanitacije u ruralnoj zajednici )
Information paper on Climate Change and Floods
Promotion by media (in Serbian, Da li smo spremni za sve češće poplave? )
Promotion in schools (in Serbian, Kako smanjiti i sprečiti širenje infektivnih bolesti u školama )
Adaptation of the innovative interactive learning toolkit on climate change – the Climate Box
During 2013-2015, UNDP developed and piloted in Russia a new innovative interactive learning toolkit on Climate Change –” Climate Box” . The toolkit was developed by an interdisciplinary team of Russian experts including climatologists, geographers, biologists, economists, environmental experts, teachers and methodologists, and launched on UNFCCC 21st Conference of Parties (in Paris, 2015). Since 2016, the toolkit has been adapted, translated into national languages and piloted in 7 other countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Since 2020, Serbia has joined the Climate Box project.
The purpose of the project is to adapt the innovative interactive learning toolkit on climate change – the Climate Box into Serbian language.
The main objectives of the project are to promote education and awareness on climate change impacts and drivers among youth and general public, and to enhance the ability of Serbia to participate actively in addressing the global environmental threat of climate change.
CLIMATE BOX is available in Serbian language!
ENV.net
ENV.net project consists of ENV.net 1/2 (2012-2016) and ENV.net 3 (2017-2020) projects. EC supported
ENV.net 1/2: ENV.net – Development of ENV.net in West Balkan and Turkey: giving citizens a voice to influence the environmental process reforms for closer EU integration, EuropeAid/132438/C/
ACT/Multi – 2012/306-642 and 2014/351-610; Partners for project implementation are: Puntosud , EASD , Co-PLAN , EEB – European Environmental Bureau, ATRC and TEMA . The project builds on the experience of an EU-funded project, namely the Environment Forum, implemented in the period 2009-2012, aiming at developing capacities of environmental NGOs to establish a constructive dialogue with national authorities. The present project strategy has been designed to achieve a greater commitment and capacity of a group of CSOs coming from Environment Forum experience and which have agreed on the creation of a new network, the ENV.net, to support the civil activism, give citizens a voice and influence the public reform processes in the approximation to the environment acquis. With the view to further enhance their capacities to work with CSOs and to share experience with other European countries, EEB has accepted to participate and to share its experience. Project objective – Greater commitment and capacity of the ENV.net to give citizens a voice and influence public sector reform processes in the environment sector through analysis, monitoring and advocacy. As one of the outcome National ENV.net networks (to complement Regional ENV.net network) were established; established ENV.net Network in Serbia have 54 organizations (multistakeholders).
ENV.net3: “ENV-net factoring the environmental portfolio for Western Balkans and Turkey in the EU Policy Agenda” – EuropeAid/154870/ACT/Multi ; EASD (Serbia) partners for project implementation are: 4X4X4 Balkan Bridges from North Macedonia, European Environmental Bureau from Belgium, Advocacy Training and Resource Center, from Kosovo*, Green Home, from Montenegro, Lir Evolution, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, TEMA – the Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and Protection of Natural Habitats, from Turkey and Foundation Punto,Sud, from Italy. The project contributes to the improvement of environmental policy-making and implementation in compliance with the EU standards. To this end, the network foresees to contribute to both improved and intensified inter-action among actors (including environmental CSOs, media and policy-makers) and an overall more enabling technical and financial environment where these actors operate. The action sets out to strengthen the profile of ENV.net as the leading network and bridging actor in environmental policy-influencing in the WB and Turkey region (vis-à-vis EU). Further, it foresees introducing and initiating a discussion on the Circular Economy concept in the region, as well as intensifying climate change actions. The action also foresees a number of value-adding, cross-cutting elements such as inter-partner learning/exchange, networking, and thematic organisational support to third parties (i.e. local grass-root organisations, media).
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Paper published: Andjelka Mihajlov, Aleksandra Mladenovic & Filip Jovanovic, Contribution to Environmental Communication: comparative analysis of two qualitative methods as the performance to European Union accession, in “Adapt to Survive. The role of social media, sharing and communication to ameliorate this world “, Conference Proceedings Book Edited by Margarita Kefalaki, Communication Institute of Greece (COMinG),Athens, p.57-66 , 2021 ( ISSN: ISBN: 978-618-85622-3-3 ), Available at https://coming.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1_1_2021_Adapt-to-survive_Book_conf-proceedings_COMinG.pdf
Selected activities:
March 2021:
Information paper on Climate Change and Energy
Information paper on Climate Change and Floods
August 2021: Environmental Communication: Media Archive Reports as a Participant Science Tool
Promotion by media (Da li smo spremni za sve češće poplave?)
December 31, 2020: ENV.net3 project final steps – infographics with documents developed by EASD
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Report on monitoring the progress of national environmental legislation (Chapter 27) in 2018, 2019, and half-year 2020, with projections through end-2020 / Izveštaj o monitoringu napredovanja nacionalnog zakonodavstva o životnoj sredini (Poglavlje 27) u 2018., 2019. i prvoj polovini 2020. godine, sa projekcijom do kraja 2020.godine (Extended abstract in English, Full text in Serbian)
Position Paper on COVID 19 and waste management
Circular Economy goes beyond Waste Management presented at EurAsia Waste Management Symposium 2020
Information paper on meaning of Cluster “Green agenda and sustainable connectivity” for Serbia
Reflection paper on air quality data for Serbia
2020 Spotlight Report on Circular Economy in Serbia
EASD publication on circular economy acknowledged by European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform
Virtual tour on the experience from Italian practices in circular economy
November 2020: Joint civil society statement for Sofia Summit
EASD research presented at EurAsia Waste Management Symposium
October 2020, New Momentum for the Environmental Agenda in the Western Balkans and Turkey?
Establishment of the South East European Platform to Beat Pollution – SEEPP
Recap the moments from EnE19/ENV.net Conference
March 2019: UN Environment : 4th Assembly (and pre- and side-events) , ENV.net related event
November 2018: To report: The first Regional Conference on Circular Economy was success ; The first regional conference on circular economy, Belgrade, November 2018: Agenda
Call for sub-grants (6.novembar 2018: Otvoren poziv za dodelu sub-grantova u okviru ENV.net projekta)
YRE competition: apply before February 1, 2019.; Theme: Energy Efficiency
ENV.net Initiative: to update National Strategy on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Goods, by applying Circular Economy concept ; ENV.net Initiative and Knowledge based advocacy: to update National Strategy of Sustainable Use of Natural Resources
Circular economy knowledge based advocacy in Eco-schools network in Serbia
May 2018. Guest lectures made at two Universities in Serbia: “Circular economy is concept and process, and still not full circle” ; Participation at the Green Parliamentary Group meeting
Follow project at : facebook.com/envnetsite/ and www.env-net.org
February 2018 – ENV.net 3 Kick-off Meeting in Tirana
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In December 2017. we started with ENV.net 3 : ENV-net factoring the environmental portfolio for Western Balkans and Turkey in the EU Policy Agenda (reference number 2017/394-372)
ENV.net 3 – Serbia team include: Aleksandra Mladenovic –National Coordinator and Manager. In addition, Thematic experts/consultants, on demand, are Prof dr Andjelka Mihajlov and Filip Jovanovic, and Media communication expert, on demend, is Milica Momcilovic.
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Development of ENV.net in West Balkan and Turkey: giving citizens a voice to influence the environmental process reforms for closer EU integration – EuropeAid/132438/C/ACT/Multi – 2012/306-642 and 2014/351-610 (2012-2016)
The project builds on the experience of an EU-funded project, namely the Environment Forum , implemented in the period 2009-2012, aiming at developing capacities of environmental NGOs to establish a constructive dialogue with national authorities. The present project strategy has been designed to achieve a greater commitment and capacity of a group of CSOs coming from Environment Forum experience and which have agreed on the creation of a new network, the ENV.net, to support the civil activism, give citizens a voice and influence the public reform processes in the approximation to the environment acquis. With the view to further enhance their capacities to work with CSOs and to share experience with other European countries, EEB has accepted to participate and to share its experience. Project objective – Greater commitment and capacity of the ENV.net to give citizens a voice and influence public sector reform processes in the environment sector through analysis, monitoring and advocacy.
Partners for project implementation are: Puntosud , EASD , Co-PLAN , EEB – European Environmental Bureau , ATRC and TEMA . EASD Activity circles represent the scope of our activities.
Project launched site for presentation of activities in all participating countries, as well as facebook page and ENV.net Newsletters.
ENV.net 1/2– Serbia team include: Dr Nataša Žugić Drakulić –National Coordinator and Filip Jovanović – project manager , chosen in transparent process by „ Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development“, partner organisation in this project. In addition, National consultant for European integration is Prof dr Andjelka Mihajlov , dr Hristina Stevanović Čarapina is leading expert .
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ENV.net Serbia network is functioning : Some of activities could be followed only in Serbian, like calls to participate, and other actions targeted to citizens in Serbia.
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Highlights: ENV.net publications
- A Guideline of EU Accession Monitoring Tools for CSOs in candidate and potential candidate countries: Chapter 27, (Authors and contributors: Andjelka Mihajlov, Natasa Zugic-Drakulic, Filip Jovanovic, Federico Bastia, Simona Pogliani, Mara Silina, Teida Shehi and Dusko Hristov), Published by Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development with the financial assistance of the EU – ENV.net project document, Belgrade January 2015
- How to influence environmental policy through effective advocacy (Authors: Margherita Tolotto and Mara Silina), ENV.net Advocacy Toolkit, European Environmental Bureau, Brussels, January 2015
- Climate change and challenges of the enlargement (Authors: Anja Kolmuss, Dragana Mileusnic, Zanna Vanrenterghem and Richard Filcak), ENV.net Advocacy Toolkit, European Environmental Bureau, Brussels,September 2016
June 2016: Agenda, WED Messages from Serbia: 12th Regional Conference “Environment to Europe” , REPORT FROM EnE16-ENV.net, BELGRADE, SERBIA
April 2016 – ENV.net Course: CSO Participation in Accession Process , Chapter 27: CSOs participation
March 2016 – New internet portal: Greenweb
January 2016 – Save the date for EnE16-ENV.net Conference ; We participate: Regional Conference: „Sustainability of the FPAs” , Brussels . Water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus assessment in the Sava River Basin – Lessons learned and further steps
October – December 2015 – Ministry support to ENV.net , Event
October – Partnership for Climate Change issue : Serbia’s climate talks – on the way to Paris
June 11 – European Commission Vice-President Mr Maroš Šefčovič had meeting with CSOs in Belgrade. EASD participate!
June 7 – Bicycling-ENV.net promotion in town Gornji Milanovac , Green day in Gornji Milanovac
June 5 – Regional Conference ”Environment to Europe” EnE15 – ENV.net EU Environmental Horizontal Legislation: Methods, Standards and Tools , Invitation , AGENDA , Proc. of papers
May 26, 2015 – Promotional activity
April 21, 2015 – Participation in Public Hearing on Climate Change related challenges in Republic of Serbia
April – THE ELEVENTH REGIONAL CONFERENCE ENVIRONMENT TO EUROPE – ENE15 – ENV.NET acknowledged as the European Sustainable Development Week event
March 22 – Celebrating the World Water Day in Serbia: field visit to Ada Ciganlija
February 2, 2015: Invitation for EnE15-ENV.net Conference launched
January 29, 2015: A Guideline of EU Accession Monitoring Tools for CSOs in candidate and potential candidate countries (ENV.net region): Chapter 27 , document finalized
January , 2015: Promotion of Publication
December 31: Thematic Publication “Environment to Europe”, 2014 ( Tematski zbornik radova “Životna sredina ka Evropi”)
December 12: ENV.net Serbia Seminar: Environmental Education in Schools
November 24-25, ENV.net on the margins of ECF Annual Meeting in Brussels with European Commision
November 4-5 , Regional training on the process of designation of potential Natura 2000 sites
October 30 – Conference “EU accession in the field of environmental protection and the role of local authorities”
October 28 – Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection is co-funded ENV.net project , contract signed
October 22-23, Belgrade: ENV.net training: “EU project design process and Implementation of environmental policy”, Invitation , Agenda , Training
October 2014 – ENV.net brochure published and presented
October 14 – ENV.net related: Participation on Conference “Eco-standards and Education”
October 8 – “Little progress has been made in the areas of environment and climate change”
September 29 – ENV.net Round-table Dialogue for Green Future (ENV.net okrugli sto sa niškim srednjoškolcima “Dijalogom ka zelenijoj budućnosti“) (sub-grant)
September 23-25, Brussels: ENV.net preparatory partnership meeting and Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) Closing Event for Phase I
September 19-24 , We are following Explanatory Screening for the Chapter 27
August 29 – ENV.net (sub-granting) publication published PUBLICATION : “Species of plants and animals of special conservation concern in EU” , in Serbian
July 27 – Partnership with media – Radio Beograd 2
June 19 – Eco-package initiative as the example environmental education for the future EU citizens
June 5 – CONFERENCE , ENV.net multi-stakeholder Conference on Chapter 27: about 200 participants
June 4 – Meeting with media , Moments from the Conference for Media
May 29, 2014 – ENV.net Serbia Conference organisation on the good track –Agenda for EnE14/ENV.net Conference “Environment to Europe”, June 5, 2014 in SCC – opening at 10:00
May 22-24, 2014 – 4th Partners Meeting in Milan
May 13, 2014 – European Solar Days – participation in promotion of EU environmental values
May 10, 2014 – ENV.net Let us clean up Europe! event: Ada Ciganlija Beograd ; ENV.net Serbia with children, parents and teachers “cleaning up Serbia” , Event in pictures
May 22-24, 2014 – 4th ENV.net Partners Meeting in Milan
May 7-8, 2014 – Some of ENV.net Partners meet in the corridors of ECRAN ECF Meeting
April 25, 2014 – UNEP acknowledged EnE14-ENV.net 2014 Conference as the World Environmental Day Event
April 5, 2014 – Education for future citizens of EU: guest lecturing at the Law Faculty
April 4, 2014 – EU Delegation to Serbia: Consultative Meeting with CSOs on progress towards EU in 2014
Aprl 4, 2014 – We participated to the meeting related to EU-Serbia Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee – JCC
April 2, 2014 – ECRAN NGOs Environment and Climate Change Forum – Evaluation Outcome – Congratulation to ENV.net partners!!!!
April 1, 2014 – Protego and Protecta sign subcontracting contracts
Marc 20-9, 2014 – EASD written contribution to the 2014 Progress Report
March 25, 2014 – Participation on UNECE consultation related to the 3rd EPR for Serbia
March 23, 2014 – ENV.net sub-grants winners announced , ENV.net
March 20, 2014 – We participate on Panel at Faculty of Organisation Sciences – University of Belgrade : Knowledge about Environment
March 9, 2014 – Technical (formal requests) evaluation of sub-grants application finished: 45 projects eligible for further evaluation
March 6, 2014 – Promotion of global activity EARTH HOUR (Marh 29, 20:30-21:30) and call for participation
March 4-6, 2014 – We participate in Zagreb on Workshop on Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Nexus Assessment in the Sava River Basin
From February 2014 – EU negotiation process: we are following explanatory screenings
February 26, 2014 – In accordance with procedure, QUESTIONS by potential applicants with our ANSWERS are posted on web site on February 26, at 07:00 , taking in account questions received by February 25 at 23:59
February 20-21, 2014 – EASD-ENV.net Serbia participated in defining the first strategic framework for CSOs development
February 18,2014- Knowledge based advocacy: Environment should be within priorities in the negotiations with EU
February 13, 2014 – Environment in youth policy in Serbia
February 12, 2014 – Meeting with ENVAP2 Project representatives
February 7, 2014 – Participation on Training related the Sector Planning Documents – SPDs
February 1, 2014 – Call of proposals for ENV.net sub-granting in Serbia “EU: we watch and learn to be ready!”
January 30, 2014 – Participation on public hearing by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Study Group
January 30,2014 – Thematic meeting of the SECO mechanism on IPA II programming
January 30, 2014 – Participate in the Mapping of CSOs and other stakeholders in in the process of EU accession negotiations
January 19, 2014 – EASD / ENV.net Team reading of European Parliament Resolution, January 2014
January 07, 2014 – Starting preparation for ENV.net 2014 Round-table / Conference
January 2, 2014 – Attention to ENVIRONMENT in EUROPA DAIRY
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December 23, 2013 – Workshop on environmental values for kindergarten children from Sombor (Minutes) , Participation on meetings in Nature Protection Institute and Agency for Environmental Protection
Decembar 20, 2013 – In media : Promotion of knowledge based information
December 20, 2013 – Environmental Education for future EU citizens , Minutes
December 17, 2013 – ENV.net region news: European Affairs ministers give green light to Serbia’s EU negotiations
December 16, 2013: Workshop for strategic planning of further work SECO mechanism
December 3, 2013 – ENV.net presented to the master students of Faculty of Security Studies
December 2, 2013 – Eye on EU integration process: Parliament of Serbia , Eye on SEE regional cooperation
November 28, 2013 – Meeting FPA project grantees with DG Enlargement representative
November 25, 2013 – Partnership with Media : Partnership agreement with Journalist’ Association of Serbia
Environmental Education of future EU citizens: Activity on November 19,2013
Acknowledging the outreach of ENV.net Survey and ENV.net 2013 Roudtable recomendations, EASD – ENV.net Serbia recognized importance of children/youth education for active EU citizenship , through promotion of EU environmental values. We would like to share moments from kindergarten “Pčelice”, from village Šetonje, as promotion event for environmental values in education. With children and teachers, as well as EASD Team, there were Prof dr Ivica Radovic and mr Ljubiša Antonijević, assistant ministers for education and science. |
Partnership with municipality – On November 18., 2013, ENV.net project presented on the Round table in Municipality Vračar (within City of Belgrade).
Cooperation with TACSO Serbia – On November 15. 2013, in Belgrade, TACSO Advisory Committee (LAG) organized a consultative meeting with representatives of civil society organizations and networks and Serbian civil society expert community. At the meeting a draft of a document on the assessment needs of civil society in Serbia was discussed.
EASD prepared Opinion and contribution to the Draft Strategy Paper for the Republic of Serbia 2014-2020. Through SECO mechanism opinion is sent to Governmental Office for European Integration. Opinion is based on Serbia 2013 Progress Report and Strategy – Reading by ENV.net Serbia Team .
Organisation capacity building process: EASD acknowledged becoming IPEN network Participating Organization
Eye on environmental laws changes: monitoring compliance with EU directives
November 2013. – The third ENV.net partnership meeting in Milan
28. October – Meeting with European Parliamentarians
ENV.net Serbia Team prepared document: Reading of 2013 Progress Report for Serbia and Strategy by ENV.net Serbia Team ( Serbia 2013 Progress Report and Strategy – Reading by ENV.net Serbia Team ).
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22. and 23 October – Education on sustainable management of lead/chemicals
October 18 – EC Delegation in Serbia, present to relevant CSOs, on October 18, 2013 , Serbia Progress Report 2013, in which the Commission services present their assessment of what Serbia as the candidate country has achieved over the last year.
October 2013 : Participated on different events organized to raise awareness to EU approximation environmental challenges.
Promotion of ENV.net facebook page!
October 2, 2013 – ENV.net team participated at the First SEE Regional Science Promotion Conference (SCIPROM), opened in Belgrade, with the aim to bring together science promotion professionals, practitioners and enthusiasts to share experience and network in order to strengthen the link between science and society in our Region. In the current competitive global environment it is an imperative to enhance economic and social capacities by improving the educational structure of society, inspiring innovation and technological advancement and creating a milieu for appreciation of the value and benefits of knowledge. In the opening address, Minister for Education, Science and Technology development of Serbia underlined, among others the importance of knowledge based actions, as well as the importance of drinking water for development. Conference bring international experts and representatives of international organizations, research and educational institutions, science camps, science communicators, NGOs, private sector and media on board.
This conference justify the path of ENV.net Serbia implementation and development, linking European Integration, Knowledge based activities and sectors : Education, Science and Environment/Natural Resources.
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Waste management and water management are considered as two important segments of environmental acquis and studies in this area represent an important aspect of ENV.net project. Environmental accession status of Serbia ( waste , water and EIA thematic issues) was presented by EASD team at International Conferences in Vienna (Austria) and Zadar (Croatia), as well as on chemicals at SAICM Regional Meeting (Skopje, Macedonia FYR).
In addition, possible ENV.net partnerships are discussed with other participants and interested CSOs.
In Skopje, EASD representative met Macedonian 4x4x4 BB representative on September 26, 2013, to discuss possible enlargement of ENV.net project to Macedonia.
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Promotion of ENV.net site in place Join us!
Added value for ENV.net Serbia is EASD activities within the development of Post-Rio+20 Agenda.
Office for Cooperation with Civil Society organized on September 6, 2013 Conference devoted to negotiating Chapter 27 (Environment). Presentation (in Serbian) from the Conference includes: Poglavlje 27 pregovori, Iskustvo R Slovenije, Natura 2000 Ministarstvo, Uloga civilnog drustva u monitoringu, Natura 2000 NGO )
September 2013: ENV.net project presented in the Ministry of Education, Science and Development of Serbia (Meeting of the National Committee for Environmental Education Programs)
August 2013. – Snapshot analysis : While waiting for EC 2013 Progress Report
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ENVIRONMENT TO EUROPE – EnE
This project/process present different phases towards European values, as well as globally values promoted through Multilateral Environmental Agreements. Started to raise awareness of the importance of the UNECE Ministerial “Environment for Europe” Belgrade 2007 Conference, and further continuously is mobilizing interesting parties in Serbia and Region to catalyze environmental and sustainable development.
Within “Environment to Europe” Process, EASD actively participate and organize different supporting activities in different related thematic areas, like sustainable consumption and production, efficient resource use, chemicals, eco-consumers protection, participation at global, EC, regional and with papers at different conferences, etc. Regional cohesion projects supported Environment to Europe process.
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EEB 2022 ANNUAL CONFERENCE – “Boosting the Deal for a Greener Europe in Turbulent Times”
Study visit to Grenoble – the Green Capital of Europe
EnE22, June 2022 – UNEP@50 and World Environment Day
December 2021 – Climate Pact for Serbia: Snapshot targeted rehearsal of country’s obligations in climate action….
Virtual tour on the experience from Italian practices in circular economy
Recap the moments from EnE19/ENV.net Conference
WEBINAR – Regional Forum of Sustainable Development (RFSD) for the UNECE Region : we participate
EASD full member in European Environmental Bureau – honor and challenge
The ESDN Conference 2018 – we participate ; We participate – ESDN Conference 2018, “Stakeholder-Policy Cooperation in the Age of the SDGs: What new approaches are required to be successful?”, Vienna (Austria), 1-2 October, 2018
Join us for June 5th: Conference Agenda is available
6th UN regional meeting on SAICM, Poland, February 2018: we participate
February 2018: Call for participation for EnE18: Nature protection – Nature-Responsive Development
February 2018: ENV.net 3 Kick-off Meeting in Tirana
November 2017: EASD participate: Summit to Plan the End of Amalgam in Europe 2017– November 20-21, Berlin
September 2017: “Make Mercury History” – EASD participated at Minamata COP1 in Geneva
July 2017: Civil Society Forum in Trieste, 11-12 July 2017 – we (EASD) participate ; Good signal: Serbia gets (again) separate Ministry of environmental protection
June 2017: Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development
April 2017: Call: The Thirteenth Regional Conference ”Environment to Europe – EnE17″, June 5th 2017, Belgrade
February 2017: “EnE17 – The 13th Regional Conference Environment to Europe” announcement: Climate Change Education
June 2016: Agenda , EnE16-ENV.net Zbornik radova/Proceedings of papers ; WED Messages from Serbia: 12th Regional Conference “Environment to Europe” , REPORT FROM EnE16-ENV.net, BELGRADE, SERBIA
January 2016 – Save the date and participate: June 6, 2016 – Environment to Europe Conference
June 5, 2015 – 2015 Conference, Information, Proc. of papers
We participate at European Green Week
December 2014 – Thematic Publication “Environment to Europe” ( Tematski zbornik radova “Životna sredina ka Evropi”)
June 5, 2014 – ENV.net multi-stakeholder Conference on Chapter 27: about 200 participants , 2014 Conference
Agenda for EnE14/ENV.net Conference “Environment to Europe”, June 5, 2014 in SCC – opening at 10:00
Invitation for EnE14-ENV.net Conference, June 5 – 2014 in Belgrade
EnE14 / ENV.net Conference will be held on June 5, 2014 in Belgrade (it will 10th regional conference!). Thematic focus: Chapter 27. Reserve the date! More information soon. Follow the updated information related to event.
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EnE13 – Environment to Europe Conference on June 10, 2013 is focused on local environment. The main messages from this participatory ENV.net event are: environmental sector activities should be knowledge based, and education for environment and sustainable development should be priority. Capacities and continuity is very important for inclusion environment in other sectoral policies. Conference is institutionally supported by Ministry of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection and Ministry of Natural Resources, Mining and Spatial Planning, as well as National Commission for UNESCO. This Conference is UNEP WED event.
2013 | EnE13 | ENV.net Roundtable Focus: Local Environment | Agenda, Zbornik radova EnE13 – Zivotna sredina ka Evropi – Papers Proceedings; Minutes; More than 120 participants at EnE13 conference/ENV.net Roundtable: 10 June, 2013 in Belgrade |
Snapshots from the previous EnE “Environment to Europe” Conferences:
Thematic focus | Published materials | ||
2005 | EnE05 | Thematic focus : The importance of Environmental Sector in EU Integration process | Detailed Agenda published.CD Proceedings of Papers published. Book “Sustainable Development and Environment towards Europe in 95+ steps”, by A.Mihajlov, published in Serbian |
2006 | EnE06 | European/developed countries values in environmental and related issues; lessons learned. At the same time, the Civil Society Forum EfE07 Meeting towards UN Pan-European Ministerial Conference Belgrade 2007 “Environment for Europe” held. | Detailed Agenda published.CD Proceedings of Papers published. Book “Sustainable Sustainable Development and Environment Towards Europe in 95+ Steps”, by A.Mihajlov, published in English |
2007 | EnE07 | Dedicated to contribute to upcoming UNECE “Environment for Europe” (2007, Belgrade) Pan-European Ministerial Conference ; NGO Declaration on Environmental Cohesion of Western Balkan agreed | Detailed Agenda published.CD Proceedings of Papers published. |
2008 | EnE08 | Youth and Vulnerable Groups in Environmental EU Accession | Detailed Agenda published. EnE08 Zbornik radova 4. regionalne Konferencije „Zivotna sredina ka Evropi“-sadrzaj published. |
2009 | EnE09 | Climate Change and Sustainable Tourism Conference | Detailed Agenda published (agenda EnE09) ; CD Proceedings of Papers published. |
2010 | EnE10 | Green Education and Green Economy | Detailed Agenda published ( Agenda EnE10 Konferencije ); CD Proceedings of Papers published. |
2011 | EnE11 | Rural and Mountain Sustainable Development | Detailed Agenda published (agenda_ene11) CD Proceedings of Papers published. Publication with selected paper published. |
2012 | EnE12 | Learning event for Rio=20 preparation – Green Economy and Governance for Sustainable Development | Detailed Agenda published ( Agenda EnE12 )
CD Proceedings of Papers published. UNDP/UNEP Green Economy Study published http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/984serbia.pdf |
Eco-schools’ steps
Project refers to the translation of international, global wide criteria for Eco-schools and adjustment to the situation in Serbia as well as preparation of electronic publication which is available free for downloading for all interested educational institutions, in the process of acquiring the status of an Eco-school. In addition, poster eco-school steps is also re-designed and printed, as a mandatory part of the eco-school landmark on a permanent board in the school hall. During supervisory visits to Eco-schools that are in the process of acquiring / renewing status, consultations, assistance in preparing a permanent board and making the necessary elements contained in the permanent board are realized.
Project is supported by Ministry of education, science and technological development.
Circular economy as part of the concept of sustainable development of society
The project was created with the aim of informing the public about the values of the concept of circular economy and presenting previous experiences and examples of application of circular economy in educational institutions in Serbia. In this regard, in the period July-November 2019, consultations with prominent representatives in the sectors of economy, science, state and local government and the non-governmental sector were organized. Key stakeholders involved in the development of the concept of circular economy in Serbia were mapped, especially in relation to entrepreneurial initiatives of educational institutions, women and youth, as well as other institutions and organizations who showed experience and achievements in the application of the concept of circular economy in Serbia. Achievements in the circular economy were presented to the general public, through publications and public presentations, with involvement of Eco-schools coordinators as the main force in knowledge based advocacy activities.
Project is supported by Ministry of Environmental Protection.
Energy Efficiency in Eco-schools
Through the Eco-schools Serbia network, series of workshops regarding raising awareness on energy efficiency, especially related measures that can be implemented in Eco-schools, at homes and wider in local communities, are organized. Participants are pre-school children and students from primary and secondary schools which are members of Eco-school network in Serbia. Educational material was prepared, printed (with original illustrations and design) and shared during the workshops. The material served for building capacity of teachers and professors to deal with energy efficiency issue. Workshops are organized in cooperation with the staff from the Public enterprise “Elektroprivreda Srbije”, using and sharing their knowledge regarding energy efficiency.
Inspiring World campaigns
Through the Eco-schools network in Serbia, in 2018 the focus of IW campaign was on re-using textile in order to show that textile is not waste and can be used as much as we wish, depending on ideas and creative inspiration. Under the project, Eco-schools Serbia members, especially schools for children with special needs, among other thing, prepared “silent books” that serve as educational material. Re-used textile was “changed” to carpets, bed covers, shirts, different renovated cloths and other different decorative items. By selling those products, Eco-schools gather opportunity to earn money for new textile and other material needed in their every-day work.
In 2019 IW campaign related to sustainable fashion and sustainable eating: what we wear, does it become from the sustainable chain, and are we responsible to the nature and other resources by wearing different kinds of clothes, and how much is our lifestyle sustainable? The campaign concerned, as well, sustainable food production and consumption, answering on question Do we eat responsible?
Project is supported by C&A Foundation.
Every can counts in Eco-schools
Through the Eco-schools Serbia network, series of workshops regarding raising awareness on recycling process (collection, separation, recycling), with focus on cans, are organized. Participants are pre-school children and students from primary and secondary schools which are members of Eco-school network in Serbia. Educational material was prepared, printed (with original illustrations and design) and shared during the workshops. The material served for building capacity of students, teachers and professors to deal with waste collection and recycling issues. Competition in collection of used can is organized through Eco-schools Serbia network, using pre-defined system for awarding the most successful Eco-schools.
Project activities supported by RECAN foundation.
Education and raising awareness regarding need to protect the environment
With the support of the City of Sombor, the Environmental Ambassadors of Sustainable Development Environment realized workshops in primary schools in suburban settlements. These activities were a continuation of the cooperation that began in 2013, when the first workshops were organized during the summer camp on Golija Mt., for high school students.
Based on previous experience and taking into account the interest of students and teachers, as well as their engagement during the workshops on sustainable development and environmental protection, preparation and implementation of workshops covered several topics, such as water, biodiversity, waste, adapted to primary school students.
Mapping recyclers and purchasers of secondary raw materials through an international Eco-schools program
Project contributed to the development of skills and raising the awareness of the need for separation and the importance of recycling among educational institutions and local communities involved in the international Eco-school program.
Through Eco-schools Serbia network information were collected and the results are processed, regarding the types and quantities of waste collected. This served to develop map of locations where recyclers and purchasers of secondary raw materials are registered, which can become partners of Eco-schools in their activities related to waste collection and separation.
Supported by Government of the Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection.
June 5,2020 – EnE20 Conference “Citizen science: Focus on Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals”
Professional association “Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development ” and Serbian Chamber of Commerce , on June 5th 2020, organize the 16th Environment to Europe – EnE20 Conference. Traditionally, it is an official event that marks the UN World Environment Day (WED) in the Republic of Serbia and region.
In accordance with the current circumstances around Covid19, the EnE20 conference “Citizen Science: focus on Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals” is realized online, presenting the results so far achieved in the development of citizen science concept in Serbia. Bearing in mind that the concept of “citizen science” in Serbia is still developing, but supported through various joint actions and initiatives of scientists and formal / informal civic activists and organizations, the focus is to youth participation, especially through educational institutions involved in international Eco-schools program in Serbia.
This year, the co-organizers of EnE20 are the UN in Serbia , the Global Listening Center , the Center for the Promotion of Science , NALED , the French Institute in Serbia and PE Ada Ciganlija .
Plenary lectures of experts from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the Global Listening Center, the Center for the Promotion of Science, NALED and the Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development, can be found at the link HERE. Invited speakers include dr Tanja Adnadjević, dr Marjana Brkić, mr Dušan Stokić, Slobodan Krstović, Sanja Knežević Mitrović, Đurdjija Petrović, and Prof dr Andjelka Mihajlov.
As part of the celebration of World Environment Day and as a special part of the EnE20 conference, a national debate is held for 20 students aged 11 to 18, who were nominated in the essay part of the competition organized by the international organization The Trust for Sustainable Living . The aim of the debate is to find solutions for a sustainable future by referring to SDG 17, My vision: Partnerships for a sustainable future. The emphasis of the speakers will be on the issues related to the environment, climate change and sustainable use of resources. By listening the young people and their visions, we can harmonize further economic and social development with the possibilities and potentials of the environment and nature.
The debate is taking place on Ada Ciganlija, a beach that has been awarded for 9 years by Blue Flag certificate, including the 2020 season, as a symbol of commitment to environmental protection and care for the health and safety of visitors during the summer bathing season. By meeting the criteria for obtaining the Blue Flag for Ada Ciganlija beach, the local community and the managers of the beach contribute to efforts to combat against climate change and raise citizen awareness on sustainable use of resources and the need to protect the environment.
Agenda and presentations, as well as detailed agenda of National Youth Debate
Minutes from Debate:
EU info center on debate and conference
Radio Television Serbia Portal about the Conference
The EnE20 conference is part of a campaign related to climate change, within the project: “ENV.net factoring the environmental portfolio for WB and Turkey in the EU Policy Agenda” (reference number 2017/394-372)
All information regarding the EnE20 conference can be obtained via Email: eneconference@feeserbia.com.
Country factsheets on resource efficiency and circular economy in Europe: EASD activities mentioned
In July 2019, EEA issued TC/WMGE Reports 4/2019: Country factsheets on resource efficiency and circular economy in Europe – a set of 32 country factsheets that summarise policies and initiatives on the area of resource efficiency and circular economy.
, Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development (EASD) are mentioned two times, within sub-chapters Non-formal Education and Awareness Raising and Networking and Conferences, pages 17 and 18. By this, EASD work in those areas acknowledged.
EASD participated at 2019 FEE National Operator’s Meetings
The Blue Flag National Operator Meeting gathered over 50 participants from all over the world on 8-9 October. This two-day event was held by Keep Britain Tidy, Blue Flag National Operator in England! EASD as Blue Flag NO for Serbia participated.
Eco-Schools National Operators Meeting 2019, hosted by Eco-Schools Netherlands at the Green Key awarded bungalow park Landal Reeuwijk from 11-14 November, The Hague,the Netherlands : The main objectives of the meeting were to celebrate the Eco-Schools 25th Anniversary through campaign ceremonies, look at strategic planning for 2020-2024, strengthen Eco-Schools’ impact at a global scale through campaigns and community engagement, networking and capacity building, exploring opportunities within Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and gaining a better understanding of the FEE EcoCampus programme, its implementation and potential. More . Eco-Schools Serbia/ EASD as NO participated.
The annual 2019 Green Key National Operators Meeting is in December in Doha, Qatar. An opportunity for members of the Green Key International network to share best practices and discuss the programme with colleagues from around the world! As NO for Serbia EASD participated.
Eco-Paket (Eco-Package) in Eco-Schools
Eco-package is a project implemented in Serbia since 2013/2014 school year, exclusively run in the framework of the International Eco-schools Programme.
Until 2019 the number of Eco-Schools participating in the project increased continuously. This project supported Eco-schools network in their activities performed to be linked to the education for sustainable development through realization of UN Sustainable Development Goals, primarily Goal 4 (Quality education), Goal11 (Sustainable cities and communities) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
The project consisted of three activities:
• creative art work competition: based on different theme, every year the students are collecting used beverage cartons (UBC)
• collection of used beverage cartons (UBC) and
• educational workshops for school children including the demonstration how UBC can be turned into paper (these workshops are being conducted by EASD since 2015/2016 school year).
The main goal was to raise awareness among pre-school children, school children and students of Eco-schools, their families and wider community about the need for sustainable use of resources on the example of correct methods of separation, disposal and recycling of used beverage cartons
Specific goals were:
– Educate pre-school children, school children and students about correct methods of separation and disposal of used beverage cartons.
– Encourage wider community to participate in the process of collection and recycling of used beverage cartons in order to raise their environmental awareness.
– Introduce sustainable forest management principle through FSC model, including sustainable production and consumption of used cartons.
– Present and promote companies and businesses that have incorporated the principles of sustainable development and social responsibility towards the environment and natural resources into their operation.
Main target groups were children in kinder gardens (pre-school institutions), pupils in primary and secondary schools and university students, as well as teaching and non-teaching school staff
Other target groups were parents/families/neighbours, local communities (including local companies, institutions, organizations) and media.
Outreach include Eco-schools Serbia network management, workshops organization, preparation of educational material, knowledge based advocacy, raising awareness among educational institutions and local communities on circular economy issue, establishing good cooperation with local communities where Eco-schools exist
From 2019/20 project is not active at national level
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More about Eco-Schools Program in Serbia.
Also, detailed instructions are posted in Serbian, as well as most news and announcements.
In addition, there is separated dedicated web sites (in Serbian) for this Eko-paket (Eco-Package) project, supported by Tetra Pak in Serbia.
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October 2018: Circular economy knowledge based advocacy in Eco-schools network in Serbia
October 2017: Eko-paket – Eco-Schools annual conference for the school year 2017/2018
May 2017: Eko-paket 2017 outcome
September 2016: Education for Sustainability
September 2016: FEE General Assembly 2016 and International Conference on Education for Sustainable Development, Ahmedabad, India
June 2016: WED Messages from Serbia: 12th Regional Conference “Environment to Europe”
May 2016: EASD Knowledge Partner with CEE for ESD for transforming education for children and youth
November 2015: Eco-Schools 2015 NOM in Northern Ireland
October 2015 – SDGs as the relevant part of the context within which FEE operates
January 2015 – Eco-schools Serbia in the International Eco-schools news
December 2014, status: ECO-SCHOOLS FAMILY IN SERBIA IS GROWING, CATALYZED BY ECO-PACKAGE ACTIVITY, On December 12, 2014 in Belgrade, two different activities, merged in one great and successful event, happened: Green Flags Award ceremony and Annual meeting of Eco-Schools Coordinators. Over 50 participants were present from all levels of education institutions. The main topics discussed include different ideas and methods on how environmental education in schools could be enhanced and better represented in school curriculum. Positive experiences are shared, in particular related motivation through ECO-PACKAGE activity, supported in Serbia by Tetra-Pak Production Company (Tetra Pak Production d.o.o Beograd in 2013/14 and 2013/14 supports Eco-Schools Program in Serbia, as a socially responsible company). From 3 Eco-schools in 2012/13, 15 in 2013/14, in Serbia there are in the moment 24 schools in different stages of Eco-School Program implementation 2014/15 (2 higher education institutions level, 1 secondary school level, 18 elementary schools and 3 pre-schools). Behind this growing success is NO Team in Serbia (from organization Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development): National FEE Mentor for FEE Programs Prof.dr. Andjelka Mihajlov, National Eco-School Coordinator (until October 2014 Milica Petrovic, from October to December 2014 Dragana Grujicic, and in 2015 expecting new dedicated person on the board), National FEE Council (with representatives of supporting ministries, other relevant institutions and experts), Prof. dr. Natasa Zugic-Drakulic – Executive Director, assistance of Milena Tabasevic and Marina Marjanovic, as well as Coordinators and dedicated teachers, professors and principals in Eco-Schools (participants of 2014 Seminar): Andrijanić Zoran, Angeleski Alma, Babović Dragana , Božilović Dragica, Bursać Slađana,Davidović Stevan,Despotović Slavica, Đurović Ljiljana, Gligorovski Tatjana, Grahovac Prole Milijana, Ivanović Vesna, Janković Danijela, Jeličić Biljana, Joksimović Ana, Jovanović Dragana, Kocić Vesna, Luković Verica, Luković Brankica, Maksić Marina, Mandić Miroslav, Miloradović Dragana, Milosavljević Zorica, Momčilović Verica, Nikitović Dragana, Nikolić Perčević Đulica, Pantović Zoran, Perić Snežana, Sekulić Dragojle, Simendić Siniša, Stoiljković Slavica, Strugar Aleksandra, Vasiljević Milka, Večei Funda Valerija, Vidojević Mirjana, Vranić Darko, Grujičić Marina, Malinić Uglik Sanja, Planić Vasilie, Marković Jasmina, Radić Marija, Stanojlović Dragana and Ceranić Đuro. Moments from the Event are available at: http://ambassadors-env.com/gallery/eko-skole-12-12-2014/ and http://ambassadors-env.com/gallery/eko-skole12-12-2014-deo-2/
December 2014 – Eco-schools National Operators Meeting 2014 ; National Meeting of Eco-Schools Coordinators
May 2014 – With children, parents and teachers “cleaning up Serbia”
January 2014. : There are 18 schools in the Program, 3 of them already awarded with Green Flag
Meeting with Eco-Schools Coordinators, December 2013
Tetra Pak Production d.o.o Beograd in 2013/14 start to support Eco-Schools Program in Serbia. Tetra Pak, as a social responsible company takes part in this Program in order to raise awareness of children and local communities on the importance of responsible behaviour towards environment.
The first GREEN FLAG ceremonies : September 19 and 12, 2013 , November 19 2013
National FEE Committee Meeting, September 6, 2013 : 3 schools awarded
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3 schools applied and started process in 2012-13 .
June 2013: International Mentor visited school “Drinka Pavlović” in Belgrade.
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Program activities include summer schools, summer camps, etc.
Related activities: Education for Sustainable Development
Advancing environmental sustainability action- Financial Support to Third Parties for Monitoring and Evidence-Based Advocacy under the ENV.Net Project –
“Advancing environmental sustainability action” is a new theme in the frame of the project: “ENV.Net Factoring the Environmental Portfolio for WB and Turkey in The EU Policy Agenda” (IPA 2017/ 394-372), connected to financial support to third party for monitoring and evidence-based advocacy. Awarded organizations and projects are following:
1. “Education Development Centre “Planet” from Sombor, project “The Hive- circular economy as a model of entrepreneurship for the youth”
2. Association of citizens „Zlatiborski krug“ from Čajetina, project „Model of circular economy in the service of environmental protection in the municipality of Cajetina“
3. Non-smoking Educational Center„EKO-Nec“ from Kragujevac, project „The contribution to media reporting on Chapter 27 and a circular economy”“.
During 2019 and partly in 2020, organizations will work to promote the concept of circular economy through entrepreneurial activities of young people at the local level, with customized trainings for different target groups, from children of school age, teachers, parents, representatives of local government, to reporting on the undertaken activities and results achieved, aimed to improve the state of the environment in terms of local sustainable development.
The projects will start with implementation on February 1, 2019 and will include over 200 participants from participating local communities and organizations of sub-grantees. We expect the first results in April and we believe that the concept of “circular economy” will not remain as a good idea that is being talked about, but will become an integral part of future entrepreneurial initiatives, from youth and educational level to business and economic, in order to improve initiatives and raise awareness on need to protect the environment and to safe resources as much as possible.
To report: The first Regional Conference on Circular Economy was success
The first regional conference on circular economy, was held on November 2018 in Belgrade. See Agenda
At the beginning, as the host, EASD President Aleksandra Mladenovic, welcome participants to Belgrade. She also thanks to the Eco-Schools (for nice bags for participants) and to Serbian Chamber of Commerce.
Representative of EU Delegation in Serbia Antoine Avignon address the Conference .
In introductory address, Lead Partner Co-PLAN, Albania, representative Rodion Gjoka, thanks to Serbian Chamber of Commerce and EASD, for hosting and organizing Conference. He underlined that ENV.net is introducing circular economy concept in region.
On behalf of Serbian Chamber of Commerce (SCC) Isabel Airas informed on existence of Unit for Circular Economy in SCC , and noted positive and possible positive future cooperation with EASD.
Miroslav Tadic, from UNDP Serbia presented circular communities and circular economy relation with climate smart development. Special attention in presentation is dedicated to circular economy from climate change mitigation perspective in Serbia and links with Paris Agreement, highlighting UNDP Serbia ongoing project
Natasa Djereg, from NGO CEKOR from Subotica, Serbia, talk about climate action as incentive of circular economy, pointing out needs of decarburization of energy sector , Regional Energy Community Treaty and external costs for energy production, as well as moral/ethics when revise National Spatial Plan.
Conference continued with ENV.net Partners presentations.
On behalf of Punto.sud – Italy, Eleonora Puddu, express proudness of Punto.sud on ENV.net network, now and in the future (to note that Punto.sud was Lead Partner for 6 years in ENV,net 1 and ENV.net2 projects). She presents assessment methodology and ENV.net challenges.
Conference is followed by presentations by ENV.net Partners from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Turkey and Serbia.
Conference is followed by the Panel on Circular Economy , chaired by respective journalist Milica Momcilovic. Panelist are: Maja Krunic (Serbian Environmental Protection Agency/Ministry of Environmental Protection ), Richard Filcak (EEB, Brussels – ENV.net Partner organization), Jelena Kiš ( Ball Packaging Europe), Isabel Airas (Serbian Chamber of Commerce), Radmila Jokić (teacher from Sombor) and Zoran Jakovljevic ( GIZ Serbia).
Questions to Panelists are:
1. In your opinion, what are the main challenges/obstacles to introduce circular economy concept into national economy?
2. What is your experience regarding circular economy topic?
3. Is there any doubt regarding sustainability of this concept?
4. Is there any differences regarding implementation of this concept in developed and developing countries/countries in transition?
5. How to engage community and citizens to follow circular economy concept and implement it in everyday life?
6. if any other question?
Panelist main messages are: -importance of: knowledge and education, financial sources, consumption patterns, and coordination of all activities and sectors; -circular economy concept is complex, but present clear signal for future businesses; – corporate sustainability is important; it is important that region is connected; – the importance of sustainable production and cooperation on different levels; – “responsible entrepreneurship” are the key words for circular economy concept in practice; -difficulties in waste management practice influence possible achievements in circular economy.
Circular economy knowledge based advocacy in Eco-schools network in Serbia
On October 8, supported by Municipality Gornji Milanovac, EASD as Nacional Operator for International Eco-Schools Program, organised yearly national meeting of Eco-schools coordinators. To note that now in Eco-schools network in Serbia are more than 100 educational institutions; Network is coordinated by EASD.
At the meeting, it was announced that the theme for 2018/19 Eko-paket activity is “circular economy”. By this, EASD begin circular economy knowledge based advocacy in Eco-schools network in Serbia
Call for participation for EnE18: Nature protection – Nature-Responsive Development
We are pleased to invite you to The Fourteenth Regional Conference ”Environment to Europe – EnE18‘‘, which will be held on June 5th 2018 in Belgrade (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia). Conference is UN WED (World Environmental Day) and ESDW (European Sustainable Development Week) event. On the World Environment Day 2018 , the UN is expected to give emphasis on the fact that individual actions to preserve the nature can actually help in sustaining a green environment and to understand why forests are important.
Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development in partnership with Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia organize The Fourteenth Regional Conference ”Environment to Europe – EnE18”. Thematic area this year is Nature protection – Nature-Responsive Development
Nature protection is highly ranked on the list of priorities of the United Nations (Sustainable Development Goal 15 and UN Decade on Biodiversity by 2020), the European Union (NATURA 2000) and all countries that strive to preserve natural values, biodiversity, geodiversity have to develop with responsibility to nature. The goal of the UN Decade on Biodiversity is to support the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and to promote its overall vision of living in harmony with nature. UN SDG 15 refers to the protection, restoration and promotion of sustainable ecosystems use, sustainable forests management, combating desertification and preventing land degradation and biodiversity loss. In response to the threat to nature and biodiversity, the EU has formed a wide European network of protected natural areas, known as NATURA 2000. It covers over 18% of the EU territory, ensuring long-term survival of the most valuable and threatened species and habitats in Europe. Candidate countries and potential candidates for membership in the European Union are facing a great challenge to protect nature and implement a development responsive to nature.
The aim of the EnE18 Conference is to highlight the importance of environmental protection and sustainable development in the context of the protection of nature. The Conference is an opportunity for representatives of state institutions, professional, consultative, educational and scientific institutions, managers of protected areas, civil sector, to present current topics in the field of nature protection.
Traditionally, within the Conference every year we have a significant number of participants from Serbia and abroad, the participation of over 150 authors and co-authors of papers who published in the CD Proceedings of the Conference, as well as participants without paper.
We firmly believe that your scientific/research results/consultancy/views and experience will substantially help a better understanding of these fields. Being aware of the necessity of a close cooperation between science and practice, we invite you to take active participation in the Conference Environment to Europe – EnE18, either by preparing and presenting your paper or by contributing as an auditor and participant.
Application forms (with or without paper) should be sent by email: eneconference@feeserbia.com
Focus themes on WED through years:
- Theme of the year 2017 – “Join the race to make the world a better place”.
- Theme of the year 2015 – “One World, One Environment”.
- Theme of the year 2014 – “small island developing states” or “SIDS” and “Raise your voice, not the sea level”.
- Theme of the year 2013 – “Think. Eat. Save.” And slogan – “Reduce Your Foodprint”.
- Theme of the year 2012 – “Green Economy: Does it include you?”.
- Theme of the year 2011 – “Forests: Nature at your Service”.
- Theme of the year 2010 – “Many Species. One Planet. One Future”.
- Theme of the year 2009 – “Your Planet Needs You – Unite to Combat Climate Change”.
- Theme and slogan of the year 2008 – “CO2, Kick the Habit – Towards a Low Carbon Economy”.
- Theme of the year 2007 – “Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?”.
- Theme of the year 2006 – “Deserts and Desertification” and slogan – “Don’t Desert Drylands!.”
- Theme of the year 2005 – “Green Cities” and slogan – “Plan for the Planet!”.
- Theme of the year 2004 – “Wanted! Seas and Oceans” and slogan – “Dead or Alive?”.
- Theme of the year 2003 – “Water” and slogan – “Two Billion People are Dying for It!”.
- Theme of the year 2002 – “Give Earth a Chance”.
- Theme of the year 2001 – “Connect with the World Wide Web of Life”.
- Theme of the year 2000 – “The Environment Millennium” and slogan – “Time to Act”.
- Theme of the year 1999 – “Our Earth – Our Future” and slogan – “Just Save It!”.
- Theme of the year 1998 – “For Life on Earth and slogan – “Save Our Seas”.
- Theme of the year 1997 – “For Life on Earth”.
- Theme of the year 1996 – “Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home”.
- Theme of the year 1995 – “We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment”.
- Theme of the year 1994 – “One Earth One Family”.
- Theme of the year 1993 – “Poverty and the Environment and slogan – “Breaking the Vicious Circle”.
- Theme of the year 1992 – “Only One Earth, Care and Share”.
- Theme of the year 1991 – “Climate Change. Need for Global Partnership”.
- Theme of the year 1990 – “Children and the Environment”.
- Theme of the year 1989 – “Global Warming; Global Warning”.
- Theme of the year 1988 – “When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last”.
- Theme of the year 1987 – “Environment and Shelter: More Than A Roof”.
- Theme of the year 1986 – “A Tree for Peace”.
- Theme of the year 1985 – “Youth: Population and the Environment”.
EASD activities related SDGs
EASD team , from January 1,2018 will follow activities through SDGs lenses:
SD GOAL 1 – No Poverty SD GOAL 2 – Zero Hunger SD GOAL 3 – Good Health and Well-Being SD GOAL 4- Quality Education SD GOAL 5 – Gender Equality SD GOAL 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation SD GOAL 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy SD GOAL 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth SD GOAL 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure SD GOAL 10 – Reduced Inequalities SD GOAL 11- Sustainable Cities and Communities SD GOAL 12 – Sustainable Consumption and Production SD GOAL 13 – Climate Action SD GOAL 14 – Life below Water SD GOAL 15 – Life on Land SD GOAL 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions SD GOAL 17 – Partnerships for the GoalsIn addition, we are following our activities as UN Environment TOPICS:
AIR CHEMICALS AND WASTE CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION AND TRAINING ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE FORESTS GREEN ECONOMY RESOURSE EFFICIENCY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS WATER SCIENCE, INNOVATION ENVIRONMENT UNDER REVIEW ( ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, INFORMATION MANAGEMENT).The goal of this activities categorisation is EASD strategic planning of activities in future. It is also lesson learned after EASD representative participation at UNEA3 in Nairobi.
2018!…..With activity highlights from 2017!
Activity important milestones in 2017
EASD activities are focused to 3 thematic groups:
- Promoting sustainable development; Agenda 2030 and SDGs;
- Environment and Natural Resources; Climate action; Advancing policy integration ; Advancing science/technology/innovation integration; Environmental Security and Justice;
- Building partnerships; Raising awareness on emerging issues; Working with civil society and non-state actors
Promoting sustainable development; Agenda 2030 and SDGs:
Initiative: End mercury use in dentistry by 2022, civil society challenge European Union
EASD participate at UNEA3, Nairobi, Nov-Dec 2017
EASD participate: Summit to Plan the End of Amalgam in Europe 2017– November 20-21, Berlin
EASD participate: IPEN Regional meeting, Prague 16-20 October 2014
“Make Mercury History” – EASD participated at Minamata COP1 in Geneva
Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development
2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development
EASD participate at 2017 Vienna UN Conference – Implementing the 2030 Agenda
Environment and Natural Resources; Climate action; Advancing policy integration ; Advancing science/technology/innovation integration; Environmental Security and Justice:
Initiative: End mercury use in dentistry by 2022, civil society challenge European Union
Good signal: Serbia gets (again) separate Ministry of environmental protection
Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development
“EnE17 – The 13th Regional Conference Environment to Europe” announcement: Climate Change Education
Building partnerships; Raising awareness on emerging issues; Working with civil society and non-state actors:
Initiative: End mercury use in dentistry by 2022, civil society challenge European Union
EASD participate at UNEA3, Nairobi, Nov-Dec 2017
EASD participate at 2017 Blue Flag National Operator Meeting
Eko-paket – Eco-Schools annual conference for the school year 2017/2018
EASD participate: IPEN Regional meeting, Prague 16-20 October 2014
EASD become the Member of the Western Balkans Youth Cooperation Platform!
Civil Society Forum in Trieste, 11-12 July 2017 – we (EASD) participate
Good signal: Serbia gets (again) separate Ministry of environmental protection
Serbia: Blue Flag 2017 Ceremony at beach on “Belgrade Sea”
EnE17 Conference and Panel in Media
Mercury Initial Assessment in the Republic of Serbia Workshop – we participate
Eko-paket – Eco-Schools annual conference for the school year 2017/2018
The annual meeting of Eco-School coordinators was held in the Integrated Educational System for Natural and Social Sciences in Belgrade, on October 20th 2017. The Conference was attended by over 100 representatives of Eco-Schools.
After introductory speeches, choir from the institution “Srce u jabuci” from Pancevo had wonderful music performances which completed the atmosphere for the meeting to proceed.
Milena Tabasevic, coordinator of the Eko-paket project presented the results of the project and announced the new season of the Eko-paket project in Serbia.
Afterwards, Ljubica Naumovic held a presentation on renewability and sustainability in the Tetra Pak company, as well about importance and possibilities of recycling used Tetra Pak cartons.
Then the Green Flag awarding ceremony followed. Green Flags were awarded to 21 new educational institutions, 8 educational institutions got their second Green Flag and three educational institutions got their third Green Flag.
Eco-Schools National Coordinator, Aleksandra Mladenovic, pointed out that the number of Eco-Schools in Serbia is constantly increasing and that this year’s Green Flag winners have put great effort in order to improve the environment and to motivate local communities to concrete actions and changes in habits towards cleaner environment.
During the educational part of the Conference, prof. dr. Andjelka Mihajlov held a presentation about the consequences of mercury on human health and which food and products can contain mercury. She introduced to the participants the importance of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. (See ” Sve boje zivota” RadioTelevisionSerbia).
At the end of the conference, Eco-schools Coordinators addressed their experiences and achievements in the implementation of the Eco-Schools programme and Eko-paket project. Presentations were held by coordinators from: elementary school “Stojan Novakovic”, Blace, kindergarten “1001 radost”, Belgrade, elementary school “Rastko Nemanjić – Sveti Sava“, Nova Pazova, elementary school “Sveti Sava”, Pozarevac, elementary school “Dimitrije Todorović Kaplar”, Knjazevac, elementary school “Desanka Maksimović”, Gornji Milanovac, elementary school “Sveti Sava”, Cacak and College of Applied Studies in Management and Business Communication, Sremski Karlovci.
As always, the Conference was an opportunity to exchange experiences and to share many new ideas. We continue to take care of our environment through the Eco-Schools programme and the Eko-paket project.
Good signal: Serbia gets (again) separate Ministry of environmental protection
EASD Honorable President noted that separate Ministry for Environment is a good signal …. more at
To recall that Serbian Government established the first Ministry for Environment in 1993. Environment sector in Serbian Government(s):
1.Pavle Todorovic (Minister of Ministry of Environmental Protection, 1993-1994; Note: it was also Federal Republic Yugoslavia Ministry for Environment with Minister Slobodanka Djordan);
2. Jordan Aleksic (Minister of Ministry of Environmental Protection, 1994-1998);
3. Branislav Blazic (Minister of Ministry of Environmental Protection, March 1998 -Oct 2000);
4. Mila Rosic (Minister of Ministry of Environmental Protection, Oct 2000-Jan 2001);
5. Obren Joksimovic (Minister of Ministry of Health and Environment, Jan.2001 – October 2001);
6. Uros Jovanovic (acting Minister of Ministry of Health and Environment, Oct.2001- June 2002);
7. Andjelka Mihajlov (Minister of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, June 2002-March 2004);
8. Aleksandar Popovic (Minister of Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection, March 2004-2007);
9. Sasa Dragin (Minister of Ministry of Environmental Protection, May 2007 – July 2008);
10. Oliver Dulic (Minister of Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning , July 2008-March 2011, and Ministry of Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning, March 2011-July 2012);
11. Zorana Mihajlovic (Minister of Ministry of Energy, Development, and Environment, July 2012-April 2014);
12.Snežana Bogosavljević Bošković (Minister of Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, April 2014-August 2016);
13. Branislav Nedimovic (Minister of Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, August 2016- June 2017);
14. Goran Trivan (Minister of Ministry of Environmental Protection, June 2017- ongoing).
New Minister Goran Trivan opened the 2017 EnE Conference “Environment to Europe”, with strong message where it is and how it should develop the sector of environment and climate change in the Republic of Serbia.
Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development
The Thirteenth Regional Conference – EnE17 Environment to Europe was successful UN Environment WED and ESDW event. Traditionally, this Conference was organized by professional association “Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development” and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.
Especially interested was Panel on Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development (panelists are: Prof. dr Vladimir Đurđević, Faculty of Physics, University of Belgrade ; Prof. dr Aleksandar Jovović, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade; Prim. mr sci. med. Branislava Matić, Head of Unit for Human Ecology and School Hygiene at Institute of Public health of Serbia “Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut”; Nataša Đokić, Head of Department for planning projects at City of Belgrade, Secretariat for Environmental Protection; MSc Izabel Airas, Advisor for circular economy, Center for Circular Economy, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia; prof. dr Anđelka Mihajlov (Member of the Government of the Republic of Serbia Negotiating Team for the Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the EU, responsible for climate changes in Chapter 27); Panel was moderated by Milica Momcilovic.
EnE17 was opened with introductory speeches by Goran Trivan, Secretary for Environmental Protection of the City of Belgrade with strong and clear message where it is and how it should develop the sector of environment and climate change in the Republic of Serbia, Päivi Alatalo, Deputy Head of the Mission, Embassy of Finland, Belgrade, Stanojla Mandic, Deputy Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection of the Republic of Serbia, Zoran Vujovic, Vicepresident, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, PhD Mirjana Drenovak Ivanovic, Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade and member of the Government of the Republic of Serbia Negotiating Team for the Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the EU, responsible for specific sectors of Chapter 27, MSc Dusan Stokic, Co-organizer of the EnE17 Conference, Director of the Centre for Environmental Protection, Standards and Technical Regulation, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and PhD Dunja Prokic, the EnE17 Conference Chair person, Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development. Conference was attended by representatives from government and non-government sectors, international organizations, scientific and educational institutions.
Conference participants (about 100 registered participants) were united in: education on climate change is very important in order to be able to mitigate the consequences of climate change and to adapt to them. Key role should have educational institutions to prepare and implement multidisciplinary programs tailored to different educational institutions and different age categories. Education on climate change requires professionals who will work with young people, so young people will be prepared to make the right decisions in the future. Participants in the discussion have tried to provide answers to questions on how to be more effective in environmental protection and responsive to nature.
The Conference awarded prizes for the best Young Reporters for the Environmnet (YRE), who took part in the competition, “Saving resources, do not throw, recycle!” The competition is organized in the framework of the FEE International Young Reporters for the Environmnet, implemented in Serbia by a professional association “Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development” with RECAN Foundation support. Prizes are awarded MSc Aleksandra Mladenovic, Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development president, MSc Milena Tabasevic, coordinator of the Young Reporters for the Environment in Serbia and Jelena Kis, manager of the RECAN Foundation for recycling beverage cans.
See pictures from Opening , Green Planet Award to Tetra Pak Company , Panel CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT , YRE awards ceremony , Research papers presentation .
Draft Agenda for Environment to Europe EnE17 Conference (Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development), June 5, 2017, Belgrade
The Thirteenth Regional Conference – EnE17
Environment to Europe
Belgrade, Serbia, June 5, 2017
Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development
Conference Agenda – Draft as on 24/5 ; Conference Agenda- Draft as on 22/05
UNEP World Environment Day – WED event
European Sustainable Development Week, ESDW event
5. jun June 5th
Velika sala u PKS, II sprat, Terazije 23, Beograd | Main Hall, 2nd floor – Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Terazije 23, Belgrade |
9:00 – 10:00 Registration
10:00 – 10:40 Opening remarks
Confirmed / Potvrdili
- Goran Trivan, Secretary for Environmental Protection of the City of Belgrade / Sekretar za zaštitu životne sredine Grada Beograda
- Päivi Alatalo, Deputy Head of the Mission, Embassy of Finland, Belgrade / Zamenik šefa misije Ambasade Finske u Beogradu
- Rodolјub Šabić,The Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data / Poverenik za informacije od javnog značaja i zaštitu podataka o ličnosti Vlade Srbije
- Representative, Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia / Predstavnik Zavoda za zaštitu prirode Srbije
- Zoran Vujović, Vicepresident, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia / Potpredsednik Privredne komore Srbije
- dr Mirjana Drenovak Ivanović, Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade (and Member of the Government of the Republic of Serbia Negotiating Team for the Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the EU, responsible for specific sectors of Chapter 27 ) / Pravni fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu ( i član Pregovaračkog tima za vođenje pregovora o pristupanju Republike Srbije Evropskoj uniji Vlade Republike Srbije zadužena za određene sektore poglavlja 27)
- mr Dusan Stokić, Co-organizer of the EnE17 Conference, Director of the Centre for Environmental Protection, Standards and Technical Regulation, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia / suorganizator EnE17 Konferencije, Direktor Centra za zaštitu životne sredine, standarde i tehničke propise, Privredna komora Srbije
- dr Dunja Prokić, the EnE17 Conference Chair person, Environmental Ambassador for Sustainable Development / predsedavajuća EnE17 Konferencije, Ambasadorka održivog razvoja i životne sredine
Note : The Conference will be opened by Mr. Goran Trivan, Secretary for Environmental Protection of the City of Belgrade.
10:50 -11:00 Technical Break / Tehnička pauza
11:00 -12:30 Panel on Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development
Moderator: Milica Momčilović, journalist
Panelists:
Prof. dr Vladimir Đurđević, Faculty of Physics, University of Belgrade
Prof. dr Aleksandar Jovović, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade
Prim. mr sci. med. Branislava Matić, Head of Unit for Human Ecology and School Hygiene at Institute of Public health of Serbia “Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut”
Nataša Đokić, Head of Department for planning projects at City of Belgrade, Secretariat for Environmental Protection
MSc Izabel Airas, Advisor for circular economy, Center for Circular Economy, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia
prof. dr Anđelka Mihajlov (Member of the Government of the Republic of Serbia Negotiating Team for the Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the EU, responsible for climate changes in Chapter 27 )
12:30 -13:00 Awards for the best Young Reporters for the Environmnet (YRE) in 2017
13:00-13:30 Break
13:30-17:00 Presentations
17:00 Conference closing
The Great Plant Hunt: Eco-Schools Toyota Biodiversity Educational Project
The project is a joint initiative of Toyota Motor Europe and the Foundation for Environmental Education, with focus on biodiversity, especially on plants and their associated species. The campaign was officially launched in November 2015. In Year 1, it was run in ten countries throughout Europe. In Year 2, which started in September 2016, the number of countries increased to 15, including Serbia and EASD participation (participating countries are Serbia, Belgium-Flanders, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain). The campaign includes educational aspects, based on FEE Educational Principles, and practical activities based on resources developed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew with funding from the Welcome Trust.
The campaign aims to educate students about biodiversity, its importance and encourage them to take positive action.
Objectives are:
– Develop young people as advocates for conservation
– Promotion of local biodiversity actions
– Develop science based resources in line with the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) principles to allow teachers to promote biodiversity education activity
– Promote critical thinking by “go and see” study approach (learn by doing)
– Consistent with Convention on Biological Diversity/Green Corridor
– Help meet EU/UN targets for biodiversity education
More about implementation actions in Serbia (in Serbian) and also at (in Serbian).
On June 26, 2020 project is finished.
Call: The Thirteenth Regional Conference ”Environment to Europe – EnE17″, June 5th 2017, Belgrade
We are pleased to invite you to in Belgrade (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Terazije 23, 2nd floor, main hall). Conference is UN WED event.
Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development in partnership with Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia organize The Thirteenth Regional Conference ”Environment to Europe – EnE17”. Thematic area this year is Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development. The Conference is an opportunity for institutions, organizations and experts to present their research and exchange viewpoints regarding climate change and environmental education. We firmly believe that your scientific/research results and experience will substantially help a better understanding of these fields. Being aware of the necessity of a close cooperation between science and practice, including the practice within competent institutions, we invite you to take active participation in the Conference “Environment to Europe – EnE17”, either by preparing and presenting your paper or by contributing as an auditor and participant. First, you need to apply to the Conference “Environment to Europe” Program (http://feeserbia.com/ Conference Organizing Committee is pleased to inform you that the registration fee for paper publishing in the CD Conference Proceeding is 50 €. Students are exempt from paying the registration fee. More information: Dunja Prokić, Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development, e-mail: eneconference@feeserbia.com, web site: http://ambassadors-env.com and http://feeserbia.com/. Environment to Europe Program Coordinator dr Dunja Prokić |
EASD have new President of the Council
From March 2017 President of the Council is Dunja Prokic. Dunja is the 2nd elected President of Council of “Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Developments” ( The first President of Council was Hristina Stevanovic Carapina, from organisation establishment)
From 2012 Dunja Prokic is engaged by Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development on EnE program – Environment to Europe (as main coordinator of the Regional Conference “Environment to Europe).
Dunja Prokic, has PhD in environmental protection science, dissertation in the field of contaminated sites remediation was defended at the Faculty of Environmental Governance and Corporate Responsibility, Educons University in Sremska Kamenica in 2012. Finished her Master degree at the Faculty of Technical Science, University of Novi Sad in 2009 (Master of Technical Science). During postgraduate studies, her research focused on waste management and as a scholar of the Ministry of Science, she worked on several projects in the field of energy technologies and renewable energy sources. She finished her basic studies at the Faculty of Technical Science, Environmental Engineering Department, University of Novi Sad in 2005 (Graduate Engineer of Environmental Engineering).
From 2008 to 2012, Dunja worked as a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Environmental Governance and Corporate Responsibility, Educons University in Sremska Kamenica. From 2012. till now, she has worked as a assistant professor for environmental management at the Faculty of Environmental Governance and Corporate Responsibility, Educons University in Sremska Kamenica on the following subjects: Corporate environmental standards, Environmental risk management, Management of technological development, Environmental strategic planning and Revitalization and remediation of the environment. Since 2009, she worked as a expert –associat in NGO “Ambassadors of Sustainable Development” on projects in the area of local environmental security, waste management, eco-communication etc. She was in a team of a national expert for Serbian preparation for the World Conference on Sustainable Development RIO+20.
Since 2008 till now, Dunja has participated in numerous scientific and professional conferences in the country and abroad. She has published more than 50 scientific papers in the following areas: waste management, environmental security, EIA and SEIA, climate change, remediation of contaminated sites, water resources management, LCA and sustainable development. She actively participated in several international, national, regional and local projects in the field of environmental protection. She is currently engaged on the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development project (project number 176019). In recent years, she has worked as a consultant on the study related to waste and wastewater management. During professional development, she is focused on implementation of the values in protecting and preserving our environment through the concept of sustainable development at all levels of governance.
EASD have new President
On the session of EASD Council (Assembly) held on March 9, 2017 Aleksandra Mladenovic is elected for President.
Aleksandra has an in depth knowledge of and high commitment for environmental issues.
From 2015 Aleksandra is engaged by Environmental Ambassadors of Sustainable Development on FEE programs – Foundation for environmental education (as National coordinator of the Eco-Schools and Blue Flag programs).
She holds a master’s degree in biology, acquired at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. The master thesis was related to animal ecology and biodiversity issues. Her professional research experience is also connected to environmental issues. From 1998 to 2003, she worked as a researcher in the largest Serbian institution dealing with biological research, the Institute for Biological Research “Sinisa Stankovic”, on long-term research projects, financed by the Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia, in the field of animal ecology, biodiversity and environmental protection. Most of the projects she has been engaged in during her work in the Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), Country Office Serbia (from 2003 to 2009), were also connected to environmental protection and biodiversity. She gained huge experience and specific knowledge working with local communities and public institutions in Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia.
Aleksandra was engaged as local consultant in more projects related to biodiversity and nature protection, managed by international organizations such as ECNC (European Center for Nature Conservation), IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), UNDP (UN Development Program), REC (Regional Environmental Center) and WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature).
Born in 1971. in Gornji Milanovac.
To note that Aleksandra is the 2nd elected President of “Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Developments” ( The first President was Andjelka Mihajlov, from organisation establishment until 2014; from 2014 to 2017 organisation was without President and organisation legal representative was executive director).
“EnE17 – The 13th Regional Conference Environment to Europe” announcement: Climate Change Education
It is our pleasure to announce “EnE17 – The 13th Regional Conference Environment to Europe”. This year it is dedicated to Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development.
Traditionally, this Conference (with a success record) is organized by “Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development” and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. Conference is UNEP WED event.
Conference will be held on June 5th 2017 in Belgrade (at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbian in Belgrade). Within the Conference opening (opening session is usually from 10:00), we plan to organized Panel discussion on the topic of the Conference: ”Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development”.
More information http://feeserbia.com/
Contact email: eneconference@feeserbia.com.
Education for Sustainability
EASD organized an event “Education for Sustainability” in partnership with EU Info Centre in Belgrade within the campaign “Europe for Green Serbia”, promoting the idea that by participating in YRE and Eco-Schools programmes, we can improve the quality of the environment, not only in schools but also in the wider communities. Young Reporters from Serbia presented their entries and they talked about different subjects. Also some of their works are printed and presented in the hall of the EU Info Centre
http://euinfo.rs/obrazovanje-za-odrzivost-eko-skole-i-mladi-eko-reporteri/?rs=lat
FEE General Assembly 2016 and International Conference on Education for Sustainable Development, Ahmedabad, India
The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is holding its biennial General Assembly on 15-16 September in Ahmedabad, India. At the assembly sessions, member organisations from 75 countries are discussing the most recent developments in FEE and elect new President and Board of Directors.
The General Assembly is arranged and hosted by the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) India, FEE’s Associate Member in India. The first two assembly sessions is addressing the latest developments and strategic planning for FEE and its five programmes, whilst at the Members’ Forum sessions, members are having the opportunity to join workshops on the implementation of programmes, projects and campaigns. 15 new organisations are to be confirmed as members of FEE. EASD, as the FEE member organisation, participate at FEE General Assembly, presented by honorable president.
The assembly will be followed by the CEE Conference on ‘Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for Transforming Education for Children and Youth’, 16–18 September 2016. The Conference aims at bringing together global experience and expertise to highlight and strengthen the role of ESD.
By invitation, EASD honorable president Prof dr Andjelka Mihajlov, is presenting paper Education for Sustainable Development in practice: Eco-Package program in Serbia and SEE region (Presentation ).
EASD is Knowledge Partner with CEE for ESD for transforming education for children and youth
InWASTEgate
UNESCO GREEN CITIZENS is highlighting 25 amazing game changers in the area of sustainable development as they share their stories. These stories come from around the world .
Among the various initiatives on education for sustainable development throughout the world, our (EASD) activity on Collect, investigate and find solutions for waste management in schools is given as the good example.
InWASTEgate is previously published in FEE publication Blue Flag Program: Environmental Education Activities Handbook 2013.
Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development (at that time) President (Prof Andjelka Mihajlov) develop this course as the part of her lecture at the Youth Encounter on Sustainability (YES) held in Braunwald, Switzerland and Bratislava, Slovakia.
REPORT FROM EnE16-ENV.net, BELGRADE, SERBIA
The Regional Conference ‘’Environment to Europe – EnE16-ENV.net’’ was held on 6th of June 2016 in Belgrade (Serbia) to address issues related to climate changes and sustainability of resources. Traditionally, this Conference was organized by professional association “Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development” and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. Conference was UNEP WED event, supporting EU Integration process through project ’’Development of the ENV.net in West Balkans and Turkey: giving citizens a voice to influence the environmental process reforms for closer EU integration’’.
EnE16-ENV-net was opened with introductory speeches by Nermina Ljubovic, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Stanojla Mandic, Deputy Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection of the Republic of Serbia, PhD Mirjana Drenovak-Ivanovic from Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade and member of the Government of the Republic of Serbia Negotiating Team for the Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the EU, responsible for specific sectors of Chapter 27 and prof. dr Anđelka Mihajlov, from Environmental Ambassador for Sustainable Development and member of the Government of the Republic of Serbia Negotiating Team for the Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the EU, responsible for specific sectors of Chapter 27. Conference was attended by representatives from government and non-government sectors, international organizations, scientific institutions and business associations.
Conference participants (about 170 registered participants) were unique in that: we have a respectable experts in the field of environment and climate change (both those with experience, and young professionals – who have difficulty finding employment in their profession). As the EU accession a significant priority for Serbia, so will the chapter relating to the environment and climate change (Chapter 27) will be increasingly important in the process that in our country we have European standards. Profession and experience should be the guarantor for the “right” solution to this path. Public participation in decision-making on issues relevant to the environment is one of the pillars of sustainability solutions. Appropriate environmental education is an important factor for the performance of the process of sustainable growth and development. Participants in the discussion have tried to provide answers to questions on how to be more effective in environmental protection and responsive to nature. More information
WED Messages from Serbia: 12th Regional Conference “Environment to Europe”
The Twelfth Regional Conference EnE16–ENV.net was held in Belgrade on June 6, 2016 – traditionally as the main UNEP WED event in country. This year Conference focus are Climate Change and Sustainability of Resources.
More about Conference ; EnE16-ENV.net Zbornik radova/Proceedings of papers
Moments from the Conference – Gallery of pictures.
Key messages from Conference:
1. Conference in continuity shows that we have a respectable experts in the field of environment and climate change (both those with experience and young professionals – who have difficulties to find the job in the profession),
2. As the EU accession is a significant priority for Serbia,the chapter related to the environment and climate change (Chapter 27) will be more and more important in the process of achieving EU standards. Knowledge and experience should be the guarantee for the “right” solution to this path towards EU environmental values
3. This conference contributes to the improvement of citizens’ influence on the process of reform in the environment sector in support of the European Union accession. The participation of the public in decision-making on issues relevant to the environment is one of the pillars of sustainability solutions
4. Adequate education for environment and sustainable development, is an important factor in the performance of the process of sustainable growth and development
At the Conference will hear the voice of young people – the winning article at the international competition “YRE“.
5. As this conference is supported by UNEP, as one of the official events to celebrate World Environment Day , we advocate and promote message that globally, environmental crime rise and it is the strong need to “reverse” performance in order to achieve sustainable growth and development
EASD promoted sustainable tourism (GREEN KEY eco labeling) and organic food consumerism (On June 5), and “Bicycling” promotion by ECO-SCHOOLS children (June 4), merging with Eco-Package exhibition.
EASD Knowledge Partner with CEE for ESD for transforming education for children and youth
The Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) has generated rich experiences of transforming education for children and youth. The Global Action Programme (GAP), an outcome from the DESD has a large emphasis on children and youth as key drivers for change.
he International Conference ‘ESD for transforming Education for Children and Youth’ provide an opportunity for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) professionals, core education professionals, academics, students/youth, government officials, CSR professionals and individuals from across the world to create an informed understanding about the way education is and can support, strengthen and catalyse sustainable development. The proposed International Conference will discuss the outcomes of Goal 4 from the ESDG Conference specifically focussing on good practice examples highlighting innovative strategies and methodologies in pedagogy and curriculum in both formal and non formal settings to engage children and youth. The deliberations from this conference will further enhance cooperation and action around Goal 4.7.(SDG). The International Conference is being organised at Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad, India between 16-18 September 2016. Expected Outcomes include: to share the work being done in the field of EE/ESD. to develop synergies and partnerships, to take forward the Ahmedabad Plan of Action for children and youth in context of Goal 4.7.
Environmental Ambassadors Honorable President Prof. Andjelka Mihajlov, will share our experience in TetraPack Eco Package Project as the tool for ESD in practice.
Towards UNEA-2: background paper for multistakeholder dialogue
The background paper for the multi stakeholder dialogue that will take place during UNEA-2 on Friday 27 May, is prepared and available.
Other information and all relevant UNEA-2 documents are also available . EASD representatives are registered for participation at UNEA-2 (still subject of financial support).
The Second Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly will take place on 23-27 May 2016, at the UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya under the overarching theme “Delivering on the Environmental Dimensions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. The assembly will be preceded by the Science and Policy Forum taking place on 19-20 May 2016. The two day event will bring together science and policy stakeholders with the aim of addressing challenges and opportunities as well as recommending concrete measures for collective action in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 16th Global Major Groups and Stakeholder Forum (GMGSF16) will take place on 21-22 May 2016. This meeting facilitates the preparations of Major Groups & Stakeholders for UNEA-2 and is open to representatives of accredited and non- accredited organisations. In parallel to UNEA-2 proceedings, a three day Sustainable Innovation Expo (SIE2016) will be held from 23 to 25 May 2016. More information is available at . Furthermore, Greenroom side events which are primarily for and by Major Groups & Stakeholders, and official side events will take place from 23 to 27 May 2016. They will provide an opportunity for dialogue and exchange on a variety of themes.
Agenda 2030 and SDGs in the focus of EASD work
Multi-stakeholder partnerships at the national, local, regional and international levels, that are solution-oriented and inclusive of all groups, including women, indigenous peoples and minorities, will be crucial to realizing these joint aspirations and will be a key element of the 2030 Agenda and SDG implementation.
The successful adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals was the result of more than two years of intensive consultation and engagement of all stakeholders.
The UNEP Regional Office for Europe, in partnership with the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Environmental Bureau, organized a multi-stakeholders meeting on the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, combined with the yearly UNEP Regional Consultation Meeting for Major Groups and Stakeholders on 12-13 November 2015 in Brussels, Belgium. EASD participated ( report).
Sustainable Development Indicators data and development for SEE region is underway through Platform Indicators Development. For Serbia, EASD team is focused on Environmental Sustainability, Science and Technology , Health and Hygiene and Energy and Environment . EASD promote The World Environmental Education Day, having the great event in school “Vuk Karadžić”, Surčin.
The 2nd meeting of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) will take place from 23-27 May, 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting will be held under the overarching theme: “Delivering on the Environmental Dimension of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.” There will also be a Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF) held prior to UNEA-2 on 21 and 22 May 2016. Environmental Ambassadors (EASD) is organisation accredited in UNEP/UNEA.
In the preparatory phase, EASD participated in the process of UNEP Redefinition of its Youth Strategy, familiarise with the interactive version of the Bali Guideline Implementation Guide , reviewing new sustainable development agenda (results from open consultation on ‘grey‘ and “green” indicators are now available ).
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requested the UN Secretary General, in consultation with Member States, to prepare a report in preparation for the 2016 meeting of the High-level Political Forum, which outlines critical milestones towards coherent, efficient and inclusive follow-up and review at the global level, for consideration of the General Assembly. In order to informally contribute to the reflection, Major Groups and other Stakeholders have been invited to provide their views and inputs on these issues by completing an online questionnaire by 15 November 2015. The inputs and responses received is available on the Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform (our organisation is the member of SDKP). In addition, we keep eye on Open-ended Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to UNEP (OECPR) and Preparatory meeting for the 2nd Session of UNEA, 14-19 February 2016 – we registered our representative to participate.
EASD participated in the UNEP’s survey on the involvement of Major Groups and Stakeholders in the generation, utilization and dissemination of environmental information developed by UNEP. Below some of the key findings are highlighted:
· 63% of the organizations contributed to the generation of environmental information by UNEP to a moderate, large or very large extent
· Of contributions made, the greatest percentage, 56%, was to UNEP publications.
· 88% have accessed environmental information generated by UNEP; publications were the most common form of information accessed, with assessments and findings, and emerging issues coming a joint second.
· The most common way in which organizations accessed UNEP information was via the UNEP website, with the second most common mechanism being via email.
· 87%, have made use of information generated by UNEP either to a moderate, large, or very large extent. Organizations primarily used UNEP generated information for educational purposes, as a guide to their own work, or for analysis.
· 86% have contributed to the further dissemination of environmental information generated by UNEP, principally during meeting discussions or through posting on social media.
· 65% experienced no difficulties in contributing to, accessing, using or disseminating environmental information generated by UNEP, but for those who did the main issue was with language constraints.
· The most effective mode for organizations to be involved in the generation, access, receipt and dissemination of environmental information generated by UNEP was email; this was followed by the UNEP website and through social media.
· 85% successfully received the type of information they needed from UNEP either to a moderate, large or very large extent.
· Suggestions on how UNEP could improve included:
o greater interaction from UNEP on social media
o improvements to websites to make them more user-friendly
o sending of hard copies of important reports and documents to resource centers
o the use of shorter bulletin messages to facilitate understanding of the public
o greater dissemination
o more translations
o timely information sharing to allow sufficient time for review and comments
o the use of Google hangouts, online workshops
o more active engagement with mass-media (e.g. TV)
We “keep eye” on the multi-stakeholder dialogue will be held on Friday 27 May 2016 from 12:30 hrs to 14.00 hrs, TO BE HELD DURING THE HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF UNEA-2. It will be open to all interested delegations and will be organized as a moderated, interactive dialogue session. The proposed theme for the dialogue is: “Restoring and sustaining healthy ecosystems for people and planet: partnerships to jointly deliver on the environmental dimension of Agenda 2030”.
In February 2016, EASD promote stronger position of Environmental NGOs in the draft UNEP Stakeholders Engagement Policy (SEP) . More in local language
SDGs as the relevant part of the context within which FEE operates
After a long series of intergovernmental negotiations on various themes,which saw a broad participation from major groups and civil society stakeholders under the guidance of the United Nations State Members, the Goals have been adopted on September 25th at the New York United Nations Summit by 193 Member States. In the same occasion, the UN launched their post-2015 development agenda, in which the Goals are integrated. UN Member States, the civil society and private sector contributors will use this new, universal set of goals, targets and indicators to guide development global efforts over the next 15 years in a concerted international action within the broadest, most ambitious development agenda ever agreed at the global level. The 17 Goals and 169 Targets are meant to be action-oriented, concise and easy to communicate, aspirational, global in nature and universally applicable to all countries, while taking into account the different national realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities.
The Foundation for Environmental Education with its global network thus needs to frame and highlight its role as a stakeholder and trendsetter in the Sustainable Development process, particularly for environmental, educational and eco-tourism matters. The SDGs will define a relevant part of the context within which FEE operates, thus we are driven to reflect our work in the Goals.
FEE through its mission of fostering awareness, knowledge, participation, commitment, skills, actions and creativity on the environment and on sustainable development, shares the core values behind the set of SDGs. The programmes based on Education for Sustainable Development, such as YRE, Eco-Schools and LEAF show a strong link with the educational Goal (SDG 4) and the Goal on global partnership for sustainable development (SDG 17). FEE’s tourism eco-labels, Green Key and Blue Flag, on the other hand, have a focus on making human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (SDG 11) and on implementing tools for monitoring sustainable development impacts for tourism (SDG 12.b).
Thus, FEE as an umbrella organisation aims at reaching objectives as indicated in the SDGs:
– “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” (SDG 3).
– “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all” (SDG 4).
– “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water..” (SDG 6),
– “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all” (SDG 7),
– “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development” (SDG14), as well as to
– “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems..” (SDG 15).
– “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth..” (SDG 8), particularly to “..Implement policies to promote sustainable tourism which creates jobs, promotes local culture and products” (SDG 8.9).
– “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” (SDG 11).
– “Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns” (SDG 12).
– “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts” (SDG 13).
– “..Promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems..” (SDG 15).
– “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development..” (SDG 16), particularly to build transparent institutions and promote non-discriminatory policies for sustainable development (SDGs 16.6, 16.b) with a positive, proactive, democratic modus operandi and a strong synergic support to civil society and third sector.
– “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development” (SDG 17) through a geographically spread, multi-stakeholder approach.
Programmes’ overview:
a) YRE: Young Reporters for the Environment is a network of international youth engaged in environmental journalism and Education for Sustainable Development, where the students investigate an environmental problem and report it to the local community, while, at the international level, they may cooperate with young reporters from other countries for sharing information or data, with the aim of proposing a solution and disseminating it.
The most evident link between the Young Reporters for the Environment programme and the SDGs is found in the Goal 4:
“Ensure inclusive and equitable quality educationand promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” and its subparagraphs“..increase … the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship” (SDG 4.4) with the aim of learning to think critically, “ensure all learners acquire knowledge and skillsneeded to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of cultures contribution to sustainable development” (SDG 4.7) for being able to connectwith concrete issues.
The environmental educational programme thus also wish for taking “action to combat climate change and its impacts” (SDG13), specifically for what concerns to “improveeducation, awareness raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning” (SDG 13.3) through active solution-oriented learning. The programme canalso help to“promote mechanisms for raising capacities for effective climate change related planning and management, in LDCs, including focusing on women, youth, local and marginalized communities” (SDG 13.b).
YRE is a network of young people educating for sustainable developmentand environmental issues in general, thus it also supportsthe aim of many other SDGs, such as:
“Promotesustainable agriculture” (SDG 2).
“Promote well-beingfor all at all ages” (SDG 3).
“Achieve gender equality and empowerall womenand girls” (SDG 5).
“Ensure availability and sustainable management of waterand sanitation for all”, supporting and strengthening the participation of local communities (SDG6)
“Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energyfor all”(SDG7)
“Promotesustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”, developing measures that support creativity and innovation (SDG8)
“Build resilient infrastructure, promoteinclusive and sustainableindustrializationand fosterinnovation”enhancing scientific research (SDG9)
“Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable … Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality, municipal and other waste management”(SDG 11)
“Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”, raising awareness on sustainable development and lifestyles which are in harmony with nature (SDG12)
“Conserve and sustainably use the oceans seas and marine resources for sustainable development”, aiming to preventmarine pollution and protectmarine and coastal ecosystems (SDG14)
“Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”, promoting the implementation of sustainable management of the forests (SDG15)
YRE helps to “Promotepeaceful and inclusive societies for sustainabledevelopment..”(SDG16)
YRE can encourage to “..Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development” (SDG17)
The journalistic piece can influence the local communities to take action on various environmental matters
b) ECO-SCHOOLS: A global student-led change process in Education for Sustainable Development which involves also teachers’ training, integration in the school curriculum, environmental reviews, action plans, monitoring and evaluation, informing and involving the local community, setting an eco-code focusing on the various environmental themes (water, energy, waste, global citizenship..).
The programme is fully in line with the Goals:
“Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” increasing the number of youth and adults with relevant skills and ensuring that all learners acquire knowledge for promoting sustainable development, developinga culture of peace and global citizenship while upgrading education facilities to child, disability and gender sensitive ones as to provide a safe, inclusive and effective learning environment for all(SDG 4)
“Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”, strengthening efforts to safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritagewith a focus on schools’ waste management, resource efficiency and climate change mitigation (e.g. Litter Less Campaign) (SDG 11)
“Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development” (SDG 17).
The implementation of the Eco-Schools programme also works towards the achievement of the aim of more SDGs, such as:
“Ensure healthy lives and promote well-beingfor all at all ages” (SDG 3)
“Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”, improving water quality and water-use efficiency with pollution reduction, minimizing the release ofhazardous chemicals, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater,increasing recycling or safe reuse and ensuring sustainable withdrawals together with the strengthening of the participation of local communitiesfor such purposes (SDG 6)
“Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all” increasing the share of renewable energy and energy efficiency, with the result of creating also savings (SDG 7)
“Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”with the improvement of resource efficiency in consumption and production as to endeavour to decouple economic growthfrom environmental degradation (SDG 8)
“Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation” (SDG 9)
“Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”, using the natural resources efficiently, reducing the waste generation (including the food waste) and managing sustainably the chemical products (SDG 12)
“Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”specially improving education, awareness raising and capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning (SDG 13)
“Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrialecosystems..” (SDG 15)
“Promotepeacefuland inclusivesocietiesfor sustainable development… and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels” highlighting the theme ofsocial justice(SDG 16).
c) LEAF: Learning About Forests wants to encourage environmental education through awareness raising among students, teachers and the wider school community, to increase knowledge about the key role forests play for sustainable life on our planet, reflecting their cultural, ecological, economic and social functions, with themes as biodiversity, climate, products or services, codes and myths.
The key Goals linked to the Learning About Forests programme are:
“Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”, increasing the number of youths and adults who have relevant skills and ensuring that all learners (referring to the whole school community) acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including through education for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature (SDG 4)
“Ensure availability and sustainable management of water..”, protecting water-related ecosystems and supporting the participation of local communitiesfor improving water management(SDG 6)
“Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainable manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”, ensuring a sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, including their biodiversity, in particular forests, wetlands mountains and drylands, preventing the extinction of threatened species(SDG 15)
The principles behind LEAF are compatible with the aim of more SDGs:
“End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promotesustainable agriculture”, implementing agricultural practices, such as the tree-planting events, which help maintain ecosystems and progressively improve land and soil quality (SDG 2)
“Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” (SDG3)
“Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainableand modern energyfor all” (SDG7)
“Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment..”, endeavouring to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation and devising policies that encourage sustainable tourism which promotes local culture and products, such as jobs related to the forest, while learning to respect the forest community as well as its myths, laws and codes (SDG8)
“Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”, strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage while supporting positive links between the urban and the rural areas as to widen the access to inclusive green and publicspaces (SDG11)
“Ensure sustainable consumption patterns” through relevant information and awareness for achieving sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources (SDG12)
“Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts” improving education and awareness raising on climatechange and the role of forests (SDG13)
“Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development” (SDG17).
d) BLUE FLAG: The world’s biggest voluntary eco-label for beaches, marinas and eco-tourism boats works towards sustainable development through compliance with criteria dealing with environmental education and information, environmental management, water quality, safety and other services.
The principles and rules of the programme comply with the content of many Goals:
“Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”, improving water quality with pollution reduction and minimization of hazardous chemicals release, increasing recycling, safe reuse and water-use efficiency through the usage of sustainable withdrawals as to protect water-related ecosystems also with the support and participation of local communities (SDG 6)
“Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”improving the resource efficiencyin consumption while devising and implementing policies to promote sustainable tourism which creates job, promotes local culture and products.Blue Flag focuses as well on the protection of labour rights together with the promotion of a safe and secure working environment and the prohibition of child labour (SDG 8)
“Build resilient infrastructure..”upgrading it as to be sustainable and equipped with clean technologies (SDG 9)
“by 2030 empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status”with the aim of reducing inequalities and discriminatory practices for wages as social protection policies (SDG 10.2)
“Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”enhancing capacities for participatory and sustainable human settlements as to strengthen the efforts for safeguarding the world’s cultural and natural heritage while providing universal access to the public spaces particularly for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities(SDG 11)
“Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”for the efficient use of natural resources, through a sound management and reduction of chemicals and wastes and the promotion of sustainable public procurement practices (SDG 12)
“Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”preventing and reducing marine pollutionalso from land-based activities, addressing the impacts of ocean acidification and conserving coastal and marine areas. Blue Flags also contributes in increasing the economic benefits to SIDS and LDCs with the sustainable use of marine resources through tourism (SDG 14)
“Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems… halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss” for halting the loss of biodiversity and preventing the extinction of threatened species, also through the integration of ecosystem values into local planning policies (SDG 15).
The implementation of the Blue Flag programme also work towards the aim of several more SDGs:
• “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” (SDG3)
• “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”as education has a central role in the programme and reaches out for all the persons involved in it as well as for theusers (SDG4)
• “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”(SDG5)
• “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable,and modern energy for all” to help increasing the share of renewable energy and energy efficiency(SDG7)
• “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”(SDG 13)
• “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development..”enforcing non-discriminatory policies for sustainable development (SDG16)
• Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development”through a multi-stakeholder partnership, which involves also public partnersand local authorities,where knowledge and expertise are shared (SDG17)
e) GREEN KEY: This eco-label for tourism facilities (hotels, campsites, small accommodations, tourist attractions and restaurants) is a voluntary award that aims at contributing to prevent climate change and reach sustainable tourism by awarding and promoting best practice, with the goal of changing the environmental practices at the awarded establishments but also the behaviour of tourism actors, including guests, staff, suppliers, authorities, local communities so to involve them in increasingly safeguarding their own environment. The focus is on themes such as environmental management, water, waste and energy saving, involvement and awareness of guests and staff, management of food and beverage and open spaces.
For what concerns the part of the programme related to environmental management, the Goals mainly involved are:
“Ensure … sustainable management of water..” improving its quality, having the proportion of untreated wastewater, increasing recycling, safe reuse and sustainable withdrawals of freshwater (SDG 6)
“Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”setting rules for developing or upgrading quality infrastructures to support economic development and human well-being for an increased resource use efficiency and greateradoption of clean technologies (SDG 9)
“Make … human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”paying attention to air quality, indoor environment and waste management as to tackle climate change(SDG 11)
“Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”with rules for achieving sustainable management of natural resources,respecting eco-criteria for food and beverages, reducing waste generationand achieving environmentallysound management of chemicals (SDG 12).
This way the programme “develops and implements tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism which creates jobs, promotes local culture and products” (12.b).
As an eco-tourism programme focused on the environmental awareness of staff and guests, the Goals principally involved are:
“Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being..” where the programme has to encourage the users to take part in green activities (SDG 3)
“..ensure all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights..” as part of the “educational Goal” (number 4), whereby the learners are the recipients of the environmental information expected in the implementation of the programme (SDG 4.7)
“Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”, as the Green Key programme sets Corporate Social Responsibility and safety rules for the workers(SDG 8)
“Take urgent action tocombat climate change and its impacts”through a reduced environmental impact but also through the improvement of education and awareness raising for both the facilities’ staff and users (SDG 13)
“..revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development” (SDG 17).
First European-wide Sustainable Development Week
The ESDW is a European-wide initiative aiming at stimulating and increasing the visibility of activities, projects and events that promote sustainable development.
The European Sustainable Development Week ensures that European citizens can take an active part in shaping the concept of sustainability in a bottom up approach. I am delighted that so many projects can be regarded as Best-Practice models and contribute to our common, sustainable future.’
The ESDW builds upon existing national sustainable development weeks and acts as an umbrella for new European wide projects. Public authorities, individual citizens, businesses, educational institutions, museums, foundations, civil society organizations, etc. can register their projects. All the activities and events will be displayed on the ESDW website (www.esdw.eu), in order to give organizers of innovative activities the opportunity to promote their initiatives.
Currently, more than 1500 initiatives in 18 countries have been registered as part of the ESDW (THE ELEVENTH REGIONAL CONFERENCE ENVIRONMENT TO EUROPE – ENE15 – ENV.NET is one of the registered events).
EASD will be in Brussels for ESDW events!
Indicators and a Monitoring Framework for Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has recently published its final report on Indicators and a Monitoring Framework for the Sustainable Development Goals: Launching a data revolution for the SDGs. This report is the result of over 18 months of consultations led by the SDSN with the contributions of nearly 500 organizations and thousands of individuals – draft versions of the report have so far been downloaded over 80000 times.The report outlines a tiered monitoring framework at the national, global, regional, and thematic levels, and presents a concise set of 100 Global Monitoring Indicators. This limited number of indicators can comprehensively track all 169 OWG targets while balancing countries’ capacities and domestic monitoring commitments. This report is a contribution to the ongoing post-2015 processes, including the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on the SDGs (IEAG-SDGs).
Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development is the Member of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network – SDSN .
We follow Informal interactive hearings with representatives of NGOs, CSOs, major groups and the private sector on the post-2015 development agenda, in NY.
One more publication , as the outreach in Rio+20 process is 2015 Food Security Report, with key findings : – For the world as a whole, the MDG 1 indicators for prevalence of undernourishment and underweight children under 5 years of age have largely moved in parallel, providing a consistent message regarding achievement of the hunger target; – Underweight in children is expected to decline less rapidly than undernourishment, given that better hygiene conditions, access to clean water and more varied diets usually require more investment and more time to materialize than enhanced availability of calories: – Despite showing rapid reduction, Southern Asia is the region with the highest historical prevalence of underweight children among the developing regions; – In sub-Saharan Africa, there has been limited progress in reducing both undernourishment and child underweight; – Economic growth is necessary for sustaining progress in efforts to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition. But it is not sufficient; – Inclusive growth – growth that provides opportunities for those with meagre assets, skills and opportunities – improves the incomes and livelihoods of the poor, and is effective in the fight against hunger and malnutrition; – Improving the productivity of resources held by family farmers and smallholders is, in most cases, an essential element of inclusive growth and has broad implications for the livelihoods of the rural poor and for the rural economy in general; – In many situations, international trade openness has an important potential for improving food security and nutrition by increasing food availability and for promoting investment and growth; – Social protection directly contributes to the reduction of hunger and malnutrition by promoting income security and access to better nutrition, healthcare and education; – Prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition is significantly higher in protracted crisis contexts resulting from conflict and natural disasters. For more information
Radisson Blu – the first hotel in Serbia with the GREEN KEY
With today’s Green Key certification at the Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia gets its first hotel with the Green Key eco-label. Over 250 properties of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the largest hotel companies worldwide, are already eco-labelled. Rezidor hotels in Germany, France, Turkey, Finland, Netherlands, Nordic countries, Baltic States and the Middle East are certified with the Green Key.
Since 2010, the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has been successfully collaborating with the Foundation for Environmental Education, the international charity in charge of the management of the Green Key, with a long-term agreement currently in place until 2018. Rezidor’s ambition is that all its hotels in the Middle East, Europe and Africa should be eco-labelled by 2015, and Green Key is one of the preferred eco-labels for the hotel chain due to its high credibility. Each hotel is thoroughly audited before a Green Key is awarded.
During today’s official ceremony the International Green Key Programme Director, Finn Bolding Thomsen, has handed over the certificate to Thomas Swieca, General Manager at Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel, Belgrade. “As a global and still growing company, sustainable economy is a principle we are focusing on. With the eco-label Green Key we confirm our company’s own responsible business program and make another consistent step which will have a positive impact on the environment,” Thomas Swieca explained.
Finn Bolding Thomsen was pleased to present the certificate on this special occasion: “Green Key is today one of the world’s largest eco-labels for the tourism industry with more than 2,300 sites in 48 countries having joined the program. It is a great honor to give the Green Key certificate to the Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel as the first certified hotel in Serbia”. More…..
ENV.net Serbia Seminar: Environmental Education in Schools
ENV.net team Serbia, organised the Second Annual Seminar for Teachers, on December 12, 2014., in Belgrade. Over 50 participants were present from all levels of education institutions from pre-schools, elementary and secondary schools, to higher educational institutions (college and university). The main topics discussed include different ideas and methods on how environmental education in schools could be enhanced and better represented in school curriculum.
Eco-schools National Operators Meeting 2014
This year’s NOM took place in Cardiff, from 4th to 6th Decemeber, and was organized by Keep Wales Tidy team in the premises of Maldron hotel. Workshops, presentations, group discussions and many interesting sessions made all participating National Operators fully involved.
After the warm welcome from Lesley Jones, Chief executive of Keep Wales Tidy, Laura Hickey (Member of the Board with responsibilty for Eco-Schools) introduced Peter Davis – Wales’ Commissioner for Sustainable Futures. Sessions related to 7 steps were being introduced either by Brid Conneely, International Eco-Schools Director or Laura Hickey and facilitated by Team Wales. Several Eco-Schools’ showcases presented the good practice in Welsh schools. The Environmental review session, Action planning, Monitoring and evaluation, Social media connections, 21st century skills: linking to the classroom and Eco-Schools report session were followed by FEE Environmental education principles presentation and group work. Decade for ESD, conference update, was given by Lesley Jones, Yukiko Tsuburaya, Kenza Khallafi and Paul Pace. FEE’s new flags supplier, Semaphore, introduced themselves. Conference dinner was served in the beautiful banquet hall of Cardiff Castle. Young Reporters for the Environment were involved in the Meeting as well.
NOM was filled with positive attitude and cooperation, sharing of knowledge, experience and fresh ideas among operators. Many attendees returned to their home countries with precious suggestions and materials for further improvements of the Programme after successful 20 years.
Dragana Grujičić
European Western Balkans Interview: Andjelka Mihajlov, Environmental Ambassador for Sustainable Development
European Western Balkans Interview: Andjelka Mihajlov, Environmental Ambassador for Sustainable Development
Prof dr. Anđelka Mihajlov, Environmental Ambassador for Sustainable Development, is a Full Professor at Faculty of Technical Sciences, the University of Novi Sad and Coordinator for environment and green economy at the Public Policy Institute. UN and EU expert, scientist and consultant. She has more than 300 published scientific papers. In last 20 years, her frameworks of the professional orientation are the environment and sustainable development.
European Western Balkans: What are in your opinion, the biggest ecological problems in Serbia?
Andjelka Mihajlov: The decades in which values and prosperity were/is created based on the principles of traditional economic models not managed to change ever-growing excessive consumption of natural resources and to fight marginalization of environmental issues. This is diagnosis for all over the Western Balkan region. My opinion is, that despite some good and very good snapshots and flagship cases relevant for environment sector, the highest environmental problem in Serbia, as well as in all countries in region, is “position” of sector in agenda of development: not among priorities and priority concerns.
EWB: Serbia expects one of the most difficult chapters in the negotiations with the EU, Chapter 27 relating the environment. In what extent is Serbia preparing for the opening of this chapter?
Serbia is having now 14 years of commitment to EU membership. In environmental sector it was, and it is a great challenge, especially having in mind “grey and brown environmental heritage”. In the frame of these more than ten years of actions, I could tell that improvement is respectable. However, a lot of issues remain unsolved.
In 2012 Serbia became a candidate for EU membership, and on 21st of January 2014 officially opened accession negotiations. Environmental negotiation process in Serbia started with Explanatory screening in September 2014, and followed with bilateral screening in November 2014. Screening report is expected by EC sometimes in 2015. Progress towards EU in the sector Environment (and Climate Change) vary from limited progress (2005), to moderate advanced (2006), little progress (2007, 2008, 2013,2014), some progress (2012), progressed well (2011), the establishment of ambitious legislative program (2002-2004), and to good progress (2009,2010).
And coming back to the question, Serbia is prepared and preparing to open negotiation in Chapter 27, with strong message from my side: it is crucially important to include people/experts with appropriate knowledge, skills and experience, as well as to effective coordinate actions with other sectors.
EWB: What will pose as a major challenge in this chapter?
AM: One of the main challenge is to harmonize socio-economic development with EU’s Resources-Efficient and Low-Carbon Policies and to implement in national legislation, already transposited EU environmental acquis at large extend.
I would like to underline a few national strategic documents: Strategy towards EU accession (2005), National Environmental Program (2010), with Action Plan (2014/15) and the 2011 National Environmental Approximation Strategy. The last one sets three goals: full and high quality transposition of the EU environmental acquis; maintenance of effective and affordable environmental infrastructure and services; and institutional arrangements for efficient approximation.
EWB: How much are events such as IV International Miteco Forum important in this process?
AM: I should acknowledge the intention of the Miteco Forum to bring professionals and experts to the floor, together with governmental official, international organization representatives and all interested in subject. I am very happy that I had opportunity to share reflection from 2014 European Resources Forum, just finished in Berlin, where I participated. I talked on Panel, promoting sustainable use of natural resources in hand with climate change actions. The part of my presentation was short introduction of the Seventh Environmental Action Program to the Miteco Forum audience.
And one more value of Miteco Forum – this is starting to be growing “family gathering” of professionals interested in environmental and waste issues. My pleasure is to see among them, my colleagues, followers, former and current students and civil society fellows.
EWB: What do you think is a good model for solving the problems of industrial and hazardous waste in companies that are in the process of restructuring?
AM: It is known, that personally I “entered” environmental sector through “hazardous waste door”. For years I was technical expert on Basel convention issues.
I do support main principles of preventive measures and environmentally friendly measures for and future generations’ well-being.
I do not support “one model fit all” in solving historical and existing pollution, mainly related to the industrial and the hazardous waste, in companies changing ownerships.
Environmental Due Diligence and environmental liability tools, combined with technical feasible solutions, could serve as the guideline frame. For now, when country do not have licensed hazardous waste facility, technical feasible solution is the export of hazardous waste (as it is practice in Serbia). It has to be understand, that when changing the ownership of company it should go hand-in-hand with proposed solutions and decision who is paying.
EWB: What are benefits of Serbia joining the European Union when it comes to the field of environmental protection?
AM: With EU accession and membership, Serbian citizens should have great benefits to share the same, high environmental values.
Empowering the environment sector, including promoting knowledge based actions and straightening expert capacities, as well investment in infrastructure that supports all aspects of sustainable development (sustainable/green growth) with socially sensible job creation, are challenges we are facing. We should “position” environment sector much higher in the agenda of development!
Andjelka Mihajlov was a member of the Serbian Government as the Minister for Protection of Natural Resources and Environment from June 2002 to March 2004, commencing significant reforms in the environmental sector in the country, with significant results in international and regional cooperation. In 2006, UN Environment Program identified her as the woman “environmental leader of the Western Balkans”. Prof. Mihajlov headed the expert team which prepared the Study on Green Economy for Serbia which was the basic platform for participation of the Serbian delegation at Rio+20 UN Conference in Brazil. In the period from 2005 to 2010, she was the member of the Environmental and Social Advisory Council to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London. She is a member of the National Committee for UNESCO and the Committee for Environment and Sustainable Development of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce. She is national mentor for Foundation for Environmental Education with the seat in Copenhagen
We participate on Green Key national operator meeting 2014
Green Key national operators from 31 countries gathered on 20-21 October 2014 to discuss the future development of the Green Key programme.
The 2014 Green Key national operator meeting took place on 20-21 October 2014 in Rethymno, Crete, Greece.
The Green Key national operators from 31 countries from Europe, Caribbean, Mexico, Africa, Middle East and Japan gathered for two days to discuss the status and the future development of Green Key.
The main issues for the cooperation were the revision of the Green Key criteria, Green Key audits, environmental education and awareness raising in Green Key, PR of Green Key, international cooperation partners and the sharing of best practise examples from different countries.
Green Key International would like to thank the Municipality of Rethymno and the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (the organisation in charge of Green Key in Greece) for organising and hosting the event.
The final 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
In the Outcome Document from the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, session held on 19 July 2014, there are 17 SDGs:
Environmental Leaders from 70 Countries gathering in Copenhagen: FEE General Assembly June 2014
Over 100 representatives from environmental organisations from all over the world gathered in Copenhagen from 19-21 June. The occasion is the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) General Assembly (GA) at UN City in Copenhagen. Many topics concerning environmental education and education for sustainability were discussed and decisions taken concerning the future direction of FEE. The meeting will be attended by the Danish Minister for the Environment, Kirsten Brosbøl, and by Professor Hans Bruyninckx, Executive Director of the European Environmental Agency.
EASD, represented by Prof Andjelka Mihajlov, National FEE Mentor for Serbia, was approved as the FEE FULL MEMBER ORGANISATION.
Daniel Schaffer CEO of FEE, Professor Hans Bruyninckx, Executive Director of the European Environmental Agency and Andjelka Mihajlov, Environmental Ambassador for Sustainable Development.
More images from GE and side events
FEE is a non-government, non-profit organisation promoting sustainable development through environmental education worldwide. FEE is mainly active through its five environmental education programmes: Blue Flag, Eco-Schools, Young Reporters for the Environment, Learning about Forests and Green Key. The programmes engage over 14.5 million students from kindergarten through to university in environmental education. More than 4000 Blue Flag sites and 2100 Green Key sites have been awarded with these prestigious eco labels.
FEE is an umbrella organisation with one member organisation per country in charge of implementing FEE programmes nationally. Currently, FEE has member organisations in 68 countries worldwide including the USA, Africa, China, India, Australia and most countries in Europe, including Serbia.
FEE holds a GA every two years. The GA is the highest authority of the organisation and is used for determining the overall policy and direction of the organisation. For the FEE GA 2014 in Copenhagen, the staff at the FEE Head Office aims to provide the delegates with an impression of Copenhagen as being one of the most environmentally friendly capitals in the world.
BE A PART OF SALVATION
The heaviest rains and floods recorded in 120 years have struck the people in Serbia, leaving thousands of children homeless, without food, water, warm and dry clothes. This project will provide immediate relief assistance to the children and their families. The assistance will help about 1000 children and youth get the essentials to continue education and rebuild their lives. It will also support their parents to concentrate on repairing the houses and businesses.
Help is needed: Help to Serbia, Support Serbia, Change , …..stay informed and – help. Just do something what you can! Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia really need your help. We are all struggling with disastrous floods that have hit our countries like NEVER BEFORE IN HISTORY. Thousands of people have lost their homes, belongings and everything else they worked for their entire lives. For the first time after the war, people of Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia are united in one goal – to survive. Please, BE A PART OF OUR SALVATION.
What is the issue, problem, or challenge?
The heaviest rains and floods recorded in 120 years have struck the people in Serbia, leaving thousands of children homeless, without food, water, warm and dry clothes. More than 10,000 people have been evacuated, but because of destroyed roads and bridges, it is difficult to reach all the victims. About 5,000 children have been displaced, left without any clothes, shoes and other necessities. Their parents have lost all produce, businesses and jobs.
How will this project solve this problem?
This project will enable Pomoc deci to respond quickly and help affected children and their families with immediate assistance in clothes, shoes and basic necessities. Your support will allow Pomoc deci also to provide textbooks and other school supplies to the children for September when the new school year starts. As relief moves into recovery, assistance will help victims regain their livelihoods and will help children continue with education.
Potential Long Term Impact
Major disasters always require a huge amount of support to provide both immediate relief and recovery. Organizations that are deeply-rooted in local communities are often the in the best position to provide long-term support for disaster victims.
Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition (age 15-30) – submit ideas by June 30, 2014
EU negotiation process: we are following explanatory screenings
Chapter 26: Education and Culture ( Explanatory Screening February 20, 2014 , Training for CSOs March 5, 2014 )
Chapter 25: Science and Research (Training for CSOs March 5, 2014 )
Chapter 11: Agriculture and Rural Development (Explanatory Screening, 18-20 March 2014)
19 focus areas recommended for further consideration at upcoming intergovernmental negotiations on SDGs
19 focus areas recommended for further consideration at upcoming intergovernmental negotiations on Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs (which will start on March 3, 2014).
19 focus areas are:
- Poverty eradication
- Food security and nutrition
- Health and population dynamics
- Education
- Gender equality and women’s empowerment
- Water and sanitation
- Energy
- Economic Growth
- Industrialization
- Infrastructure
- Employment and decent work for all
- Promoting equality
- Sustainable cities and human settlements
- Sustainable Consumption and Production
- Climate
- Marine resources, oceans and seas
- Ecosystems and biodiversity
- Means of implementation
- Peaceful and non-violent societies, capable institutions
Call of proposals for ENV.net sub-granting in Serbia “EU: we watch and learn to be ready!”
The deadline for submission of the applications is 28th February 2014 at 23.59. ( In accordance with procedure, QUESTIONS by potential applicants with our ANSWERS are posted on web site on February 26, at 07:00 , taking in account questions received by February 25 at 23:59).
We are announcing the call for proposals under EU funded ENV.net project for the CSOs in the Western Balkans and Turkey: Development of the ENV.net in West Balkan and Turkey: giving citizens a voice to influence the environmental process reforms for closer EU integration, PROJECT CODE: 2012/306-642.
- EU: we watch and learn to be ready!
- EU: we watch and learn to be ready!
- EU: we watch and learn to be ready!
Framework of the action is to support environment education activities and promotion of EU environmental values in schools and for youth, considering today’s children and youth in Serbia as the future EU citizens.
Priority thematic categories are:
a) waste related actions- as the outreach of ENV.net Serbia 2013 Survey, and
b) promotion of EU environmental values
Activities that may be financed under this call
Only the following types of activity are eligible for funding:
– Organisation of public events aiming at sensitise environmental educational activities in schools.
– Preparation and publication of leaflets, brochures, booklets, web sites, focused to promotion of EU environmental values
Size of Grants
Any grant requested under this Call for Proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
– minimum amount: € 1,000
– maximum amount: € 3,000
Organisation that is awarded with a grant must contribute to the overall budget of the proposed action with 5% from their own sources (example: for the grant of 3000 euros, your contribution should be 150 euros).
Who can apply?
In order to be eligible for a grant, the applicant must:
– be legal persons and
– be non-profit-making and
– be specific types of organisations such as: Non-Governmental Organisations/Community Based Organisations (NGO/CBO), social partners (trade unions, employers’ associations), universities, cultural associations, media, etc. and
– be established in Serbia.
Location
The project should be implemented in Serbia.
Project duration
The project will start upon signature of the contract; tentative date is March 10, 2014.
Activities started prior this date cannot be funded.
Maximum duration of the project is 6 months.
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Detailed guidelines , application form , budget form 1, 2 (budget form in excel is available on request, or downloaded from ENV.net site), contract , narrative report form , Financial Report Form
Download APPLICATION PACKAGE
Posted on February 1, 2014.
For your attention: Europa Diary in Serbian, p.51-61
Centre of the European Union publishes its fifth edition of the Europa Diary. Seventy six thousand copies of this specific textbook will be distributed to the 2nd grade students of all high schools in Serbia at the beginning of the 2nd semester. Europa Diary users are 2nd grade students in almost 500 four- and three-year high schools in Serbia. The Diary contents topics on Serbia’s European integration process, but also other topics that are important to the students, such as environment, consumer protection, sport, travel, and human rights. All topics are adapted to the age group. In addition to the Diaries 3,200 Teacher’s Guides will be delivered to the teachers. The Guides are designed to complement the Diary providing a selection of activities, worksheets and class preparations for the teachers. Serbian edition continues to be the only edition published outside the European Union and therefore the only edition in non EU official language. Europa Diary project is funded by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia and has been implemented in the schools for several years with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Development of the Republic of Serbia. A substantial support was also given of drafting some of the texts by the Office for European Integration of the Government of Serbia. A copy of this year’s edition of the Europa Diary and Teacher`s Guide is available on the EU Delegation website or EU Info Centre website .
Text from EU Delegation in Serbia.
In accordance with EASD Mission to environmental educate future EU citizens in Serbia (as the outreach of ENV.net Survey and “Serbia we want” process), we are sharing this publications, with special attention to p.51-61 of Europa Diary.
Environmental Education for future EU citizens
On December 20th, 2013, at the premises of Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS), Environmental Ambassadors are organizing the seminar „Environmental Education for Further EU Citizens“. Almost 20 schools participated.
This participatory seminar was extremely successful! Motivated teachers were interesting in all topics; however recycling and upcycling, as well as involving children as the environmental reporters, as the tool to educate youth (future EU citizens), had the most attention. ENV.net lecturers, as well as presenters from Slovenia and Macedonia, contributed to the success of the seminar.
“Little progress” in Chapter 27 issues in 2013, according to EC
Serbian first priority is accession to EU.
EC Delegation in Serbia, present to relevant CSOs, on October 18, 2013 , Serbia Progress Report 2013, in which the Commission services present their assessment of what Serbia as the candidate country has achieved over the last year. Presentation on 2013 Reports’ economic chapters is followed by discussion by CSOs representatives, including the NGOs as the one of category of CSOs. Environmental Chapter have great attention in discussion part of the meeting.
Related to Chapter 27, overall EC conclusions is “little progress”.
Although there are a lot of challenges ( EU Enlargement Factsheets – Energy, Climate Change and Environment ), EC conclusion is in some relevant segments different that ENV.net Study (ENV.net-Study-Extended-Summary-June-2013 ).
ENV.net Serbia Team prepared document: Reading of 2013 Progress Report for Serbia and Strategy by ENV.net Serbia Team ( Serbia 2013 Progress Report and Strategy – Reading by ENV.net Serbia Team ). Resulting key words are : Group 1 : civil society organizations, empowered civil society, Dialogue between decision makers and stakeholders , Public awareness, public participation and consultation process; Group 2: sustainable growth, synergies between environment and economy, emissions to air /air quality , waste management , environmental governance , climate change, protected areas, water management, chemicals management, environmental impact assessment, integral pollution and prevention control (industrial emissions); Group 3: implementation of adopted legislation, Intra- and inter-institutional cooperation, proper functioning of the core institutions, coordination of sectoral policies; Group 4: the skills gap, education and training.
Some background information for SERBIA: candidate – applied in 2009, obtained candidate status in March 2012. The EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina was launched in March 2011. The First agreement of principles governing normalisation of relations was reached with Kosovo in April 2013. The momentum of reforms has also been reinvigorated in Serbia. The European Council decided in June 2013 to open accession negotiations. The first Intergovernmental Conference on Serbia’s accession negotiations will be held in January 2014 at the very latest, after the Council adopts the negotiating framework, which was proposed by the Commission in July 2013. In the meantime, the ‘screening’ began in September 2013. The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) entered into force on 1 September. – see more
Minister for Education and Science underlined the importance of drinking water for development
The First SEE Regional Science Promotion Conference (SCIPROM), is opened on October 2, 2013 in Belgrade, with the aim to bring together science promotion professionals, practitioners and enthusiasts to share experience and network in order to strengthen the link between science and society in our Region. In the current competitive global environment it is an imperative to enhance economic and social capacities by improving the educational structure of society, inspiring innovation and technological advancement and creating a milieu for appreciation of the value and benefits of knowledge.
In the opening address, Minister for Education, Science and Technology development of Serbia Tomislav Jovanovic underlined, among others the importance of knowledge based actions, as well as the importance of drinking water for development.
Conference bring international experts and representatives of international organizations, research and educational institutions, science camps, science communicators, NGOs, private sector and media on board. ENV.net team participated.
This conference justify the path of ENV.net Serbia development linking European Integration, Knowledge based activities and sectors : Education, Science and Environment/Natural Resources.
Education for Sustainable Development: UNESCO call for contributions
The monitoring and evaluation process for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) is designed to capture a variety of activities related to ESD and take stock of the growth of ESD throughout the DESD. The final assessment and report will summarize and highlight the accomplishments of the DESD, convey lessons learnt and point the way for post-Decade efforts.
UNESCO call for inputs by answering before 31 October 2013 the online questionnaire.
The first GREEN FLAGS in Serbia
The Constitutional National FEE Committee Meeting was held in Ministry for Education, Science and Development of Serbia, on September 6, 2013.
Prof. Dr. Ivica Radovic, Assistant Minister, opened the meeting, followed by presentations from FEE Serbia Team: Prof. Dr. Andjelka Mihajlov (national mentor for FEE programmes), Dragana Grujicic (assistant Eco-Schools national operator and acting YRE national operator), Prof. Dr. Natasa Zugic-Drakulic (assistant Blue Flag national operator) and Petar Marinkoic (assistant Green Key national operator).
Strategic decisions were approved, like starting Green Key and YRE programmes, approval of the first 3 Green Flags for Eco-Schools, as well as the rules for Committee functioning.
The first Eco-School Ceremony was in the school “Drinka Pavlovic”, Belgrade on September 19, 2013- Minutes from ceremony in gallery of pictures and video.
The second Eco-School Ceremony was in kindergarten “1001 radost”, Belgrade, on September 25, 2013.
At the both ceremonies City of Belgrade Secretary for Environment Mr Goran Trivan officially gave green flags to school officials.
National FEE Committee Meeting, September 6, 2013
The Constitutional National FEE Committee Meeting was held in Ministry for Education, Science and Development of Serbia, on September 6, 2013. Strategic decisions are approved, like starting Green Key and Young Reporters for Environment, approval of the first 3 Green Flags for Eco-Schools, as well as the rules for Committee functioning.
Information posted at FEE site
Education power: Ranking of universities in 2013
Center in Shanghai (Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University), published a ranking of all universities in the world for the 2013 (The 2013 Academic Ranking of World Universities – ARWU), presenting the top 500 universities in the world each year, according to a transparent methodology and the data available.
EASD review team made the outline view, which shows that the “educational leader “on a world level are universities in the United States (listed), and in Europe are: United Kingdom, Switzerland and Germany (according to the number of universities that were in the top 100).
Belgrade University is in a group of 301-400 ( best ranked university in the former Yugoslavia), and in a group of 401-500 the University of Ljubljana and the University of Zagreb.
BLUE FLAG
The iconic Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary eco-labels awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators. In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained. National operator in Serbia is EASD.
EASD Activity circles represent the scope of our activities. EASD was approved as the FEE FULL MEMBER ORGANISATION at FEE GA in June 2014.
Related documents for application , as well as activities, are posted in Serbian , and on separate FEE Serbia web page.
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Blue Flag NOM 2018 in Greece: EASD participate
EASD participate at 2017 Blue Flag National Operator Meeting
Serbia: Blue Flag 2017 Ceremony at beach on “Belgrade Sea”
2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development
November 2016: Serbian Visions 2016 : Blue Flag and Green Key programs presented by FEE SERBIA (EASD)
October 2016: Blue Flag NOM 2016: EASD participate
June 2016: Blue Flag for Ada Ciganlija beach
January 2016: National jury and Committee for FEE programs in Serbia
October 2015 EASD at 2015 Blue Flag NOM
October 2015 SDGs as the relevant part of the context within which FEE operates
Blue Flag 2015 National Jury Meeting, January 2015
Blue Flag 2014 National Jury Meeting , February 2014
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National FEE Committee Meeting, September 6, 2013
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In 2013 Ada Ciganlija-Sava Lake Beach in Belgrade deserved the second time this important international certification.
Activity on Blue Flag Beach in Serbia among the five continental winners of the 3rd IOC Sport and Environment Awards. This is recognition for outstanding initiatives in the field of environment and sustainable sport, in particular cleaning the bottom of the lake. See also FEE site.
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In the publication ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES HANDBOOK 2013, 3 pages are examples from Serbia: Serbia, p.18, Serbia, p.28 and Serbia, p.71
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2013 Blue Flag National Jury meeting held in February 2013.
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In 2012 only Ada Ciganlija-Sava Lake Beach in Belgrade deserved this important international certification. Nominated by National Jury to be awarded with Blue Flag in 2013 (noted in media )
More than 120 participants at EnE13 conference/ENV.net Roundtable: 10 June, 2013 in Belgrade
The main messages from this participatory ENV.net event are: environmental sector activities should be knowledge based, and education for environment and sustainable development should be priority. Capacities and continuity is very important for inclusion environment in other sectoral policies. Conference is institutionally supported by Ministry of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection and Ministry of Natural Resources, Mining and Spatial Planning, as well as National Commision for UNESCO. Draft Agenda ( Agenda FINAL on 06 06, strane 2-8 ) and CD Proceeding of Papers are published. This Conference is UNEP WED event.
At the opening session, Mrs. Prof. dr Zorana Mihajlović, Minister of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection of Republic of Serbia, Mr. Christoph Eichen, First Secretary Economic Cooperation, Embassy of Germany in Serbia, Mr Andrew Headey, EC Delegation in Serbia, Mr Jürg Staudenmann Deputy Resident Representative UNDP Serbia, SEIO Representative, European Integration Office, Government of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Prof dr. Ivica Radović, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, Mr Klaus Schmidt – Team Leader of IMPACT project – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Representative of Eptisa Regional Office for SEE, as well as Mr Dušan Stokic of Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, shared the views related environmental sector and EU Integration. Event is officially oppened by Mr. Goran Trivan, Secretary for Environmental Protection, City of Belgrade.
Municipal Infrastructure Support Programme (MISP), EU-IPA Project, EPTISA, is presented by Dragana Vasić, Deputy Team Leader. MFA, LCA and Cleaner Production as Analitical Tools in Environment are presented by , prof. dr Hristina Stevanović Čarapina, IMPACT project- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH representative.
The Importance of the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in Decision-Making Process is addressed by Milena Banović, Office for Cooperation with Civil Society, Government of the Republic of Serbia Representative .
Analysis of current status of EU Environmental Integration and ENV.net project is presented by Prof dr Nataša Žugić Drakulić, National Coordinator, ENV.net Project .
Coordinator for Conference is Doc dr Dunja Prokić. Conference chair person is Prof f dr Andjelka Mihajlov.
Conference is supported by: Eptisa Regional Office for SEE, Hemofarm fond i Coca Cola Hellenic.
Selected presentation: Dragana Vasić EnE13 -MISP for Serbia
More selected presentations in Serbian.
Minutes from event are posted in gallery.
Reported by ACUNS, UNEP, FEE.
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On behalf of Organizing Committee of the ninth Regional Conference “Environment to Europe-EnE13”, we want to inform you that the conference will be held on 10 June, 2013, presenting one of the events for World Environment Day (UNEP), as well as conference supporting EU accession process in sector Environment through project “Development of the ENV.net in West Balkans and Turkey: giving citizens a voice to influence the environmental process reforms for closer EU integration”. Serbian Ministry of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection acknowledged the importance of this Conference.
The theme for this year’s World Environment Day celebrations is Think.Eat.Save. Think.Eat.Save is an anti-food waste and food loss campaign that encourages you to reduce your foodprint.
Focus thematic issue this year is Local Environment. Each year EnE Conferences have different thematic focus.
We are inviting you to active participate on the Conference Environment to Europe – EnE13, either by preparing and presenting your paper, or by contributing as an auditor and participant (f application form_EnE13, Gidelines for paper preparation EnE13) .
Invitation is also distributed through FEE and ACUNS.
Application forms (with or without paper) and abstracts-papers send using email contact: conference.ene13@
Important dates:
Deadline for submission of applications form (for participants wishing to participate with paper): April, 15th
Deadline for submission of abstracts: April, 25th
Abstract acceptance notification: May, 6th
Deadline for submission of paper (extended abstracts): May, 15th (3-6 pages, in English or in Serbian / other language from former Yugoslavian Republics with Abstract in English)
Paper acceptance notification: May, 27th
Early registration deadline: May, 27th
Late registration deadline: May, 31st
Deadline for submission of application form without paper: May, 31st
Conference: June, 10
Participation fee :
Registration fee paid by May, 23 is 55 €
Regular price registration fee is 100 €
Payment: for details / account, please contact organizers by Email
Students are exempt from paying the registration fee.
Conference (EnE conferences) contributes to: EU and Accession, Regional Cooperation, International Cooperation, UNEP promotion , represent Scientific and other Conferences, Educational Signals and Courses, Scientific Signals and Projects, Promotion of Science, as well as Environmental Experts’ Networking
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EDUCATION and ENVIRONMENT, among priorities for citizens: National consultation “The Serbia We Want”
On May 13, 2013, in Palace Serbia in Belgrade, the final discussion of preliminary results within National Consultation u process of National Consultation “The Serbia we Want” took place.
Discussion was moderated by prof. dr Slobodan Cvejić, followed by statements of prof. dr Mladen Lazić, prof. dr Mihail Arandarenko, prof. dr Anđelka Mihajlov, doc. dr Danilo Vuković and dr Svetlana Stanarević.
Concluded remarks contributed to UN process related to recommendation for Sustainable Developmet Goals – SDGs after 2015, to follow MDGs. UNDP launched an unprecedented global conversation through which people can help shape the future development agenda after 2015 when the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) expire.
Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE)
Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is a network of passionate young people educating for sustainable development by producing, engaging, creative, environmental journalism. Coordinated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
Aged between 11 and 21, young reporters investigate and highlight environmental issues and problems, wherever possible proposing solutions, via articles, photographs and videos.
The young reporters must: 1.Investigate a local environmental issue, 2.Submit an article, photographs, or video, 3. Share that work with a local audience
From 2019/20 project is not active in Serbia…..More information at https://www.yre.global/
…..we do have more information in Serbian.
Some selected information:
October 2018: YRE competition: apply before February 1, 2019.; Theme: Energy Efficiency
2018. Join us for June 5th: Conference Agenda is available
May 2017: Winners of the YRE 2017 national competition announced ; Draft Agenda for Environment to Europe EnE17 Conference (Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development), June 5, 2017, Belgrade
September 2016: Education for Sustainability
June 2016 – YRE Serbia have one 1st place – International Jury meeting for the 2016 ; WED Messages from Serbia: 12th Regional Conference “Environment to Europe”
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National FEE Committee Meeting, September 6, 2013
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ENV.net snapshots from CSOs responds to questionnaire
42 CSOs responded to ENV.net questionnaire (March-April 2013). 80% were NGOs (majority having interest in environmental issues “among the others”, and minority established as “environmental” NGOs ) while 20% belonged to other categories of the CSOs.
As one of the main interests, need for education is identified. Most of the CSOs agreed that teaching/learning about environmental issues, environmental problems and solutions throughout informal education for adults as for example are seminars, and semi-formal education as for example are implementation of international program Eco-Schools, might be the most fruitful way to improve status of their knowledge about environmental issues in our country. Most CSOs were interested to hear more about ENV.net project.
Regarding different segments of environmental acquis, most of the CSOs which answered ENV.net questionnaire were interested to waste management (i.e. recycling), nature protection, and public access to environmental information.
Participation at UNEP Global Major Groups and Stakeholder Forum, Global Ministerial Environment Forum and High-Level Gender Forum
Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development participated at the “Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF-14)”, and “The First Universal Session of the Governing Council/ Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC-27/GMEF),” Nairobi, 16-22 February 2013. Ministers meeting for the first time under universal membership of 193 member states- again as a result of the decisions taken and adopted last year at Rio+20 and the UN General Assembly later in the year- adopted a welter of other decisions relating to the way UNEP will operate and work as the global platform for environmental policy-making and action over the coming years and decades. Governments called for the transformation of the existing Governing Council into a UN Environment Assembly of UNEP and to build stronger links between UNEP’s science-based Global Environment Outlook process and its ministerial meetings – further implementing the call by member states at Rio + 20to strengthen the science-policy interface.
Among the wealth of other decisions taken at the first Universal Membership of the UNEP Governing Council were: 1. A UNEP-led consortium will host and coordinate the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) which will be the implementing arm of the Technology Mechanism of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 2. The CTCN will work on leap-frogging the technical and financial hurdles to the even greater take-up of clean and renewable energies to low carbon tranportation and energy efficient buildings, 3. Full operationalization of a decade-long initiative to decouple economic growth from unsustainable use of natural resources and pollution generation-the 10 Year Framework of Programmes for Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP for SCP), 4. The UNEP-hosted initiative will assist countries in areas from sustainable public procurement, lifestyles and education to sustainable buildings and construction and sustainable tourism, including ecotourism – again bringing from outcome to implementation other key aspects of the Rio+20 Future We Want, 5. Governments also decided to convene in October this year an intergovernmental diplomatic conference to formally adopt the Minamata Convention on Mercury that was agreed in January in Geneva under a UNEP-facilitated negotiation-again a further implementation of the Rio+20 outcome document.
Over 1300 participants from 147 countries, including 80 ministers, representatives of UN agencies, international organizations, academia, NGOs, business and industry, and women and youth organizations attended the first Universal Session of the GC following the decision of the United Nations General Assembly to strengthen and upgrade UNEP, as called for in the Rio+20 outcome document. Delegates adopted 13 decisions, on inter alia:
– the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES);
– coordination across the UN system, including the Environment Management Group (EMG);
– oceans;
– sustainable consumption and production;
– the green economy in the context of sustainable development;
– advancing justice, governance and law;
– state of the environment; and
– chemicals and wastes.
The GC adopted a decision on institutional arrangements that, inter alia, invites the UN General Assembly to rename UNEP’s governing body “UN Environment Assembly,” and provides that the body “will ensure” the active participation of all relevant stakeholders and explore new mechanisms to promote transparency and effective engagement of civil society in its work and that of its subsidiary bodies, inter alia, by: developing by 2014 a process for stakeholder accreditation and participation that builds on the existing rules of procedure and takes into account the inclusive modalities of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and other relevant UN bodies.
The day before the Governing Council got underway, the Network of Women Ministers and Leaders for the Environment (NWMLE) and UNEP hosted the second High-Level Gender Forum. Prof Andjelka Mihajlov participates, by invitation to “Gender Forum” as a member of the “Network of Environmental Women Ministers and Leaders”, as the former Minister for Protection of Natural Resources and Environment. The forum participants called upon ministers and environmental leaders to have dedicated officials for coordination of related gender and environment programmes and agreed to send a consolidated proposal on gender actions to be forwarded for consideration by UN Secretary General’s High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post 2015 Development Agenda. The women ministers also requested nations to support the ratification of the Minamata convention on Mercury, which opens for signing in October.
More about meetings at www.unep.org . Moments from EASD participation are in Galleries of pictures. These activities are foreseen as the important international cooperation activities.
Prior to this, organisation participate at Rio+20 Conference.
BLUE FLAG: INTERNATIONAL ECO-CERTIFICATION FOR BEACHES AND MARINAS
National Jury Session was held on February 8, 2013, in premises of Tourist Organisation of Serbia.
Ada Ciganlija- Sava lake Beach was approved to be nominated for Blue Flag in 2013.
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An interested should contact the national for Serbia fee.serbia@gmail.com.
In 2012 only Ada Ciganlija-Sava Lake Beach in Belgrade deserved this important international certification.
This program is within FEE – Foundation for Environmental Education scientific signals and projects.
ECO-SCHOOLS: CALL FOR SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE
In 2012/13 one elementary school and 2 pre-schools applied and Eco-Schools Program is in the process to be applied in these schools.
Schools interesting to participate should contact National Operator by Email: fee.serbia@gmail.com
This program is within FEE – Foundation for Environmental Education educational signals and courses.
Summer schools , organized by EASD are good examples of education for sustainable development.
Consumers eco-protection
”Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development” representative, participated on TAIEX Workshop “Green voluntary mechanisms – EMAS and Eco Labels” (29-30 May, 2012)
Organization “Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development”, by the partner organization “Association of Consumer Serbia – APOS” is involved in the implementation of the project ” Responsible consumer for the sustainable future.” “Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development” representative Danko Aleksic participated in the Round table on 29 March 2012. in Novi Sad. On this occasion, he gave a presentation on “Ecological footprint from the perspective of consumers.” This activity is within thematic areas: EU and Accession, Educational Signals and Courses, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Production and Consumption
Summer Eco-School
“Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development”, in cooperation with City of Sombor administration – Department of Public Services and Utilities organised Summer Eco-School in UNESCO Biosphere Reservate Golija (MAB – UNESCO) – Studenica (27-31 August 2012). Participated students from Sombor attending different faculties. Lectures and educative workshops include concept of protection of natural and cultural heritage within biosphere reservate, biodiversity and sustainable use of plant resources, Sustainable tourism and possibilities for development of rural areas, Ecological footprint, as well as walking tours (“Learning by Walking”). Ecological footprint is developed through support by UNESCO, and represents educational signal and courses.
Environmental Education for students from Sombor
“Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development”, in cooperation with City of Sombor administration – Department of Public Services and Utilities organised Summer Eco-School “2012 Golija Summer Eco-School” in UNESCO Biosphere Reservate Golija – Studenica (27-31 August 2012). Participated students from Sombor atending diferent faculties. Lectures and educative workshops include concept of protection of natural and cultural heratage within biosphere reservate, biodiversity and sustainable use of plant resources, Sustainable tourism and possibilities for development of rural areas, Ecologycal footprint, as well as walking tours (“Learning by Walking”).
In December 2013, 3 workshops were held for preschool children in Sombor.
Regional Environmental Cohesion
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL COHESION, from Initiative to Process
Initiative – Environmental Cohesion Initiative as the strategic concept is visionary perspective, promoting “environment as the no-borders concept” and “environmental soft diplomacy” tool for regional cooperation. Initiated in Western Balkan in 2003 by at that time Serbian Minister for the Protection of Natural Resources and Environment, through different Project implementation, become Process.
Our projects implemented (2005-2011)
Project | Partners | Snapshots | |
2005/2006 |
Building a common ‘green’ future in Europe (Regional Initiative for cohesion in the field of environment), project supported by Open society Fund |
Environmental Ambassadors-Serbia,Biosfera – Macedonia,Most – Montenegro,Konak-Kosovo territory,Center for Energy Efficiency – Bosnia and Herzegovina,Sun of Liquenas – Albania |
The platform SEE Regional Delaration on Environmental Cohesion as the tool to EU integration and Sustainable Development is approved in 2006 (on Regional FORUM EfE07 Preparatory Meeting in Belgrade, June 5th). Further, Declaration is presented at UNECE Committee on Environment Policy, Ad Hoc Preparatory Working Group of Senior Officials “Environment for Europe”, Second meeting, Geneva, 29-30 June 2006, with request to include it in Belgrade 2007 Conference. |
2007/2008 |
RENCO – Regional Environmental Cohesion: Towards sustainable development strategy for urban South-East Europe, project supported by Sida and Serbian Ministry of Environment |
I. Čarapina, N. Azemovski, S. Stevović, M. Apostolovski, M. Šarić, L. Bratić, A. Jovanović, T. Knez-Milojković, Z. Moravčević, A. Knez-Milojković, A.Mihajlov, REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL COHESION: TOWARDS SEE URBAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (RENCO), Sustainable Spatial Development of Towns and Cities, Thematic Conference Proceedings, Volume 1 (M. Vujošević, ed.), Institute or Architecture and Urban&Spatial Planning of Serbia, ISBN: 978-86-80329-51-2, Belgrade, 2007, pp.279-296 ( In Serbian rad ICarapina i dr RENCO-final) |
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2009-2011 |
Regional environmental advocacy and cohesion of the Western Balkans (abbreviation: REA), Project supported by the the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. |
„ Urban Research Institute (URI)“ (Tirana),„Center for ecology i energy“ (Tuzla),„Advocacy Training and Resource Center“ (Pristina),„4x4x4 Balkan Bridges“ (Skopje),„Green Home“ (Podgorica),„Center for modern skills“ (Beograd)„Environmental Ambassadors“ from Belgrade, as the Regional coordinator. |
SnapshotsBells movementNeeds for Tailored Knowledge and Skill-Based Education for Sustainable Development: Balkan Environment Life Leadership Standards Courses |
Process, since 2003
From 2003, when initiated, though project implemented, Regional Environmental Cohesion toward EU integration and Sustainable Development become Process, having different paths of implementation in years 2012+.
With our activities in years 2013+, Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development, is further supporting this strategic mission, through project implementation (like ENV.net, Environment to Europe)
Projects 2004-2011
- Sustainable Development and Environment towards EU: “EnE – Environment to Europe” Conferences 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, in cooperation with Serbian Chamber of Commerce
- E-communication standards , 2011, supported by Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning
- “Support to the Department of Planning, Programming, Monitoring and Reporting on EU Funds and development assistance to the Office for European Integration of Serbia, for establishing a partnership to promote the use of international assistance “, participant as the member of leading SEKO Consortium for Environment and Energy, 2011 ,
- Ecological footprint: analysis and training, project supported by UNESCO, 2011
- Possible aspects of environmental protection and natural resource management for Rural Development, supported as advisory project in the “Project on Transitional Agriculture Reform,” World Bank , 2011, 2011/2012, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia
- Environment Forum , project supported by EC (DG Environment)
- Analytical study of the impact of air pollution on the population in selected urban locations (Pancevo, Vrsac, Bor), (participation in the project with the questioning of citizens in selected locations on the subject), a project supported by the ministries responsible for the environment and for science
- Hazardous Waste Management, TAIEX DG Enlargement INFRA 32384 project, 2009
- Say Yes to Palilula , project supported by City of Belgrade Municipality Palilula
- Modify habits – keep Belgrade clean!, the project supported by the Secretariat of Environment of Belgrade
- Hit the right tone by use environmentally friendly rules , project supported by City of Belgrade Municipality Vracar
- Regional environmental advocacy and cohesion of the Western Balkans (abbreviation: REA), Project supported by the Embassy of Nederland (2009-2011) , REA Project Snapshots , Courses
- Children – the guardians of municipality, project supported by City of Belgrade Municipality Vozdovac
- Local Environmental Security (abbreviation: LES), project supported by OSCE in Serbia, LES Brochure
- Keep it healthy, keep it green, keep it European , project supported by NDI
- Involvement of NGOs in Serbia in the research of renewable energy sources, a project supported by the EU
- My Belgrade – My Environment , the project supported by the Secretariat of Environment of Belgrade
- Local strategic planning , project supported by City of Belgrade Municipality Stari Grad
- Technology Transfer Partnerships, project supported by CIDA
- Sustainable development and environmental leaders for tomorrow, 2006/2007, MATRA
- Building a common ‘green’ future in Europe (Regional Initiative for cohesion in the field of environment), project supported by Open society Fund
- RENCO – Regional Environmental Cohesion: Towards sustainable development strategy for urban South-East Europe, project supported by Sida and Ministry of Environment
- Women as the Voice for Sustainable Development and Environment , project supported by CIDA, WAVE_Report_2007-draft
- Education courses for provincial and local authorities on public participation in decision-making related to the Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Impact Assessment , Project supported by Ministry of Environment