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 (some of activities listed below):

Science and Research (for better Governance and regulation) – A circular economy for plastic

 

Participation in IPEN global plastics monitoring project 

EASD published research in scientific journal : Country in transition (Serbia) case: Circular economy starts from waste management, Environmental Research & Technology, Vol. 4 (1), pp. 83-88, 2021

EASD research presented at EurAsia Waste Management Symposium

EASD publication on circular economy acknowledged by European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform

Circular economy as part of the concept of sustainable development of society 

Infographic – ENV.net Documents on Circular Economy Developed by EASD 2020

Contributors to GUIDELINES ON CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR THE COUNTRIES OF THE WESTERN BALKANS AND TURKEY

2020 Spotlight Report on Circular Economy in Serbia

Circular Economy in Serbia , December 2019

Improve waste management for better Governance and Legislation

Revision of the local plan for the waste management for the City of Sombor

EASD e-awareness raising campaign: attention to environmentally and health friendly waste management in COVID 19 virus pandemic related situation

Education and learning against plastic pollution

Number of activities in Eco schools (coordinating and operating in Serbia by EASD)  related  sustainable products ( reusable mugs and bags, water bottles, food wraps, textile, plastic-free personal care products,…), reduction of  food and plastic waste through the right packaging and recycling (Tetra Pak, Al cans) , mapping recyclers and purchasers of secondary raw materials , etc.

          WSSP: Risk management in the water, sanitation, and microplastics sector in the Balkan region 

New EASD online course in English and Serbian – FOSTERING FEMALE LEADERSHIP: TRAINING WOMEN TO ADDRESS CHEMICALS AND WASTE IN THE PUBLIC SETTING

Promotion of sustainable travel against plastic pollution

By implementing  Green Key program in Serbia – Green Key is presently the largest global eco-label for accommodation and has a national administration center (in Serbia this is organisation “Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development”) in each participating country. International criteria reflect the various fields of tourism facilities (hotels, hostels, camp sites, conference and holiday centers) and specialized national criteria reflect each country’s legislation, infrastructure and culture. . In this context Green Key means Travel Sustainably: try to watch your single-use plastic intake, refuse miniature bottles in hotel rooms, take your own reusable drinking bottle and use reef-safe sunscreen, without microplastics.

Promotion of clean beach against plastic pollution

By implementing Blue Flag program in Serbia –  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.

 Processes towards global plastic treaty and EU accession, participation and monitoring

• Stop chemical pollution! (Bonn, September 2023) 
• Towards an international treaty on plastics pollution: reflections on selected issues
• For more ambition and more transparency …..
• Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, is about to start – EASD is participating
• Participated at webinar Priorities, needs, challenges and barriers to end plastic pollution at national level; and existing information that might assist policymakers
• 4th Meeting of the Intersessional Process for Considering SAICM and the Sound Management of Chemicals   and Waste Beyond 2020, Bucharest 2022
• EASD support a Call on governments related transparency requirements on chemicals in plastics to support the effectiveness of the (future) Plastic Treaty

In advance of UNEA 5.2: EASD participated in the International Consultation for Major Groups & Stakeholders

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)

Global Meeting & Forum on Chemicals and Waste, 2020

EASD is participating in Shaping the future beyond 2020

UN Environment : 4th Assembly (and pre- and side-events) – EASD in UNEP, Nairobi

2020 Annual Meeting – UN @ 75: The Future of Partnership and Multilateralism, we participate

Further on the road to UNEA 5.2, UNEP@50, and Stockholm+50

EASD is engaged with its preparatory process and exchange views with Major Groups towards UNEA5

Serbia and Agenda 2030 – Shadow Report to Voluntary National Report presented by EASD President in UN New York 

Establishment of the South East European Platform to Beat Pollution – SEEPP

Lesson learned is that it is time to change how we produce, consume and dispose of the plastic we use.

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 (Note: Cluster 4 – Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity, consists of four chapters: Chapter 14 – Transport Policy, Chapter 15 – Energy, Chapter 21 – Trans-European Networks and Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change). 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.  Action plan include:

• Within Circular Economy “to conclude and implement a regional agreement on the prevention of plastic pollution, including specifically addressing the priority issue of marine litter. In this sense, the development of River Basins Management Plans should be speeded up, while the identification of key pollution sources and work on the reduction of plastic and other litter, underwater noise and contaminants are essential for the region. There is also a need to step up joint efforts and strengthen regional cooperation to tackle marine litter and regulate discharges into the sea from ships”.