The “Green Chair” strengthens the voice of young people and women in environmental protection
The Green Chair Network has received support from the ECO-SYSTEM program for 2024. This program aims to improve environmental protection in Serbia and helps with the implementation of the negotiating platform for Chapter 27. The Environmental Ambassadors of Sustainable Development is a member organization of the “Green Chair” coordination team and a partner in the project.
In 2024, it is planned to carry out activities to achieve…
- Strengthening the voice of young people: Through research and public debate, the “Green Chair” Network will advocate for greater participation of young people in decision-making on environmental protection. The research will focus on the opinions and needs of young people, and the results will be used to advocate for their interests.
- Improving gender equality: The network will focus on empowering women and their more active involvement in all aspects of environmental protection, as well as fertilizing the work of network members. We want women to be leaders in environmental initiatives and the fight against climate change so that their voices are equally important in decision-making processes.
- Sustainability of the Green Bulletin: By digitizing and expanding distribution, the Green Chair will ensure that the voice of the network reaches even more people. The goal is to make information accessible to everyone and to increase awareness and community engagement.
The ECO-SYSTEM Empowerment Programme is the main component of the project ECO-SYSTEM: Support to Environmental Reforms implemented by the Young Researchers of Serbia with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The project started in January 2020 and will run for four years.
ECO-SYSTEM 2024: The “Green Chair” strengthens the voice of young people and women in environmental protection
The Green Chair Network has once again received support from the ECO-SYSTEM program for 2024. This program aims to improve environmental protection in Serbia and helps with the implementation of the negotiating platform for Chapter 27. The Environmental Ambassadors of Sustainable Development is a member organization of the “Green Chair” coordination team and a partner in the project.
The “Green Chair” Network of Organizations brings together 68 civil society organizations dedicated to environmental protection. The network is a key actor in the actions for a sustainable future of Serbia.
In 2023, the members of the network achieved significant results through their work and engagement:
- Education: More than 300 activists have been educated about environmental protection through various workshops and programs.
- Action: Initiatives have been launched to mitigate the effects of climate change in 5 local communities, by raising awareness of the importance of solving this urgent problem.
- Information: The Green Bulletin, the network’s bi-weekly newsletter, has reached a large audience, spreading information on environmental protection throughout Serbia.
In 2024, it is planned to carry out activities to achieve…
- Strengthening the voice of young people: Through research and public debate, the “Green Chair” Network will advocate for greater participation of young people in decision-making on environmental protection. The research will focus on the opinions and needs of young people, and the results will be used to advocate for their interests.
- Improving gender equality: The network will focus on empowering women and their more active involvement in all aspects of environmental protection, as well as fertilizing the work of network members. We want women to be leaders in environmental initiatives and the fight against climate change so that their voices are equally important in decision-making processes.
- Sustainability of the Green Bulletin: By digitizing and expanding distribution, the Green Chair will ensure that the voice of the network reaches even more people. The goal is to make information accessible to everyone and to increase awareness and community engagement.
The ECO-SYSTEM Empowerment Programme is the main component of the project ECO-SYSTEM: Support to Environmental Reforms implemented by the Young Researchers of Serbia with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The project started in January 2020 and will run for four years.
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
The second online webinar “ADVOCATING FOR SOLAR ENERGY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE WESTERN BALKANS “
The second online webinar “ADVOCATING FOR SOLAR ENERGY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE WESTERN BALKANS “ will be organized on June 16 2023, from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m., in the frame of the project “Solar energy for citizens in Western Balkan” financed by WBF.
The overall objective of the project is to promote and advocate the best practices of self-producers of solar energy, to facilitate the exchange of information and knowledge among stakeholders, and to raise awareness of the initiatives and innovative solutions on clean energy that must be adopted by policy and decision-makers, aiming to build partnership and common actions in WB for unlocking the great potential of solar energy and advancing the regional agenda of sustainable development.
This webinar will gather representatives of NGOs, universities, and business communities from several WB countries to be informed and discuss the policies, legislations, and regulations of the solar energy sector in North Macedonia and Serbia.
The agenda of the event: Agenda webinar June 16 2023 BWN
The invitation letter: invitation letter
Date and time: 16 June from 10-12 a.m (CET)
You may join us at the Webinar link:
Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89830383350?pwd=UWtHenhyc1hYZ1NoRkpLeE1INmJLQT09
Unstoppable conference in Tirana – Women overcoming barriers to success
- Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development participated in the Unstoppable conference dedicated to Women and Leadership
The multi-structured and empowering conference dedicated to Women and Leadership is organized in Tirana, from February 20th to 23rd, 2023. Organizer is the Western Balkan Fund (WBF), with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Visegrad Fund. Every February and March, the WBF with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan hosts an advocacy event by bringing in national, regional & international experts and creating a space of inspiration, connection, and rejuvenation. The purpose of #Unstoppable conference is to foster equal access to leadership in business, government, and non-profit organizations within the Western Balkans, Visegrad regions, and beyond. This event also promotes support and expands initiatives that promote equal access for women and men in development processes.
The conference includes a multitude of topics across the human rights spectrum, enhancing knowledge and strengthening the network of professionals coming from WB6 and V4 regions also unites diverse stakeholders, researchers, stories, and case studies from all over the region in parallel sessions while offering many networking opportunities.
The goal of the Unstoppable is to foster equal access to leadership in business, government, and non-profit organizations within the Western Balkan and V4 regions and beyond. WBF in close cooperation with V4 partners plans to gather around 120 participant’s men and women around both regions and beyond in Tirana since we believe that gender equality should be addressed by both sides, men and women.
ECO-SYSTEM AND “GREEN CHAIR”: PROJECT “CITIES READY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE”
Consultations and a workshop for the preparation of the proposal of the Strategic Plan of the “Green Chair” network were organized within the third cycle of the EKO-SYSTEM support program “Cities Ready for Climate Change”, in October 2023. The lead partner is the Centre for Modern Skills, and the partners are the Aarhus Centre Novi Sad, the BFPE Foundation for Responsible Society and the Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development. The project aimed to improve further the work and strengthen the “Green Chair” network. The topic of the project is adaptation to climate change at the local level.
During the implementation of the project, another activity was consultations held with representatives of local communities: Kruševac, Pirot, Požega, Sremska Mitrovica and Subotica, to encourage advocacy at the local level, related to climate change.
The representative of the Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development, Aleksandra Mladenovic, supported the preparation of a model of a local initiative for the city of Kruševac, which contains measures to mitigate climate change at the local level. As part of the mentoring work, two online thematic meetings were held, with the team for drafting a local initiative. It includes the concept of measures that will be proposed to the local self-government unit. The mentoring work resulted in greater cohesion of the local team, strengthening mutual communication and reaching an agreement on joint climate action at the local level.
Proposal of measures and recommendations for adaptation to climate change and mitigation of the impact of climate change, for local self-government units
General Measures
1. Include a set of measures and recommendations for adaptation to climate change in the development of spatial planning and strategic documents, Development Plans, and Local Environmental Action Plans.
2. Building, strengthening and improving capacities at the municipal level to a) adapt to climate change to introduce adequate measures into policies and decision-making processes at the local level, b) plan and implementation of climate policies, as well as modeling GHG emissions at the local level, and c) data collection, analysis and use (with a focus on the use of GIS), especially those related to river basins, flood maps, water source protection zones, erosion risk zones, etc.
3. Organizing trainings and seminars on available funds for the implementation of projects directly related to climate change (renewable sources, energy efficiency), joint training and seminars to strengthen institutional capacities and improve multisectoral cooperation.
4. Preparation of educational manuals to improve the understanding of the vulnerability of certain sectors to the impacts of climate change and to build resilience and adaptive capacity of the local community.
5. In cooperation with higher levels of government, strengthen the capacities (technical and human) of protection and rescue services at the local level to undertake organized and effective protection and rescue measures.
6. Establishment of an early warning system for the management of extreme climatic events (for all types of climate hazards: floods, droughts, landslides, forest fires, etc.).
7. Use of digital technologies to monitor extreme climatological situations (e.g. drone monitoring, real-time monitoring, etc.).
8. Establish a single database on droughts, floods and landslides and their damage.
9. Adapt Local Fire Protection Plans in the context of adaptation to climate change; ensure reserve amounts of water, by building or installing water tanks, etc. for effective fire protection (especially in open spaces).
Measures by sector
– Agriculture
1. To improve the knowledge of farmers about the impacts of climate change and to introduce them to examples of good practice from the countries of the European Union, but also from the surrounding countries.
2. In organized agricultural production, establish a hail protection system.
3. Improve irrigation infrastructure and ensure sufficient water for irrigation of arable land, in particular for agricultural production that takes place outdoors and is therefore exposed to weather conditions.
4. Receive and capsulate large waters when they exist and make them available in conditions of need through the construction of artificial reservoirs, which, in addition to the production of electricity, also create conditions for the development of tourism, provide flood protection of the downstream area and provides water for irrigation.
5. Implement measures to improve cooling in agriculture (construction of shelter from the sun, adequate accommodation, installation of fans and sprinklers).
6. Subsidize small agricultural producers, especially in the context of reduced incomes and agricultural yields during dry periods.
7. In agriculture, encourage the use of adequate varieties that are more tolerant to heat and drought, change crop patterns, target land management practices, farm structure, and adaptive capacity of farmers.
8. Application of measures aimed at preventing plant diseases, soil heating, etc.
9. Create the conditions and strengthen the awareness of farmers for adequate management of agricultural waste to reduce emissions from methane.
– Forestry
1. Maximize illegal logging control and implement forest health protection measures (occurrence of pathogenic fungi, occurrence of forest fires, define measures in response to snowstorms, wind gusts, frosts, etc.).
2. Intensify afforestation in landslide-prone areas and land erosion to reduce the risk of new landslides.
3. Establish comprehensive monitoring of areas at risk of erosion and landslides, with the preparation of plans and maps and action plans for prevention and control over their implementation.
– Civil engineering
1. To reduce the risk of landslides, establish continuous monitoring and documentation of illegal and unplanned construction of residential and other buildings and consistently implement regulations governing construction conditions.
– Water management
1. Plan the construction of a system for connection to the sewage network and wastewater treatment plants
2. Provide for continued investment in preventive protection and rescue measures, as well as full coordination with all actors having an impact on floods.
3. Procurement of adequate material and technical means and equipment is important for the provision and organization of all measures that affect the degree of vulnerability of people and material goods from floods.
4. To ensure timely and complete information to citizens about all measures and actions taken by the municipality to reduce the risk of floods, as well as to raise awareness of citizens about the possible consequences of floods.
5. Establishment of uniform inter-municipal and regional flood protection measures and a unified system of warning and notifying the competent structures of the upcoming danger, as well as the need to build a common (single) management system for hydropower facilities that have a regional character.
– Nature protection
1. Application of Nature Based Solutions, such as the maintenance and restoration of natural aquatic ecosystems (e.g. rivers, connecting river channels and meanders), afforestation, restoration and maintenance of grasslands, buffer zones, adequate land management, etc., because nature-based measures are more effective than technical infrastructure for flood protection (embankments, canals, etc.), both in environmental and economic terms.
– Waste management
1. Implement measures to reduce the waste that is deposited and adequate collection of municipal waste (collection networks in rural areas, construction of recycling yards, procurement of specialized equipment for waste collection, as well as activities to educate and raise awareness among the local population about the importance of this topic).
-Gender equality and human rights
1. At the local level, work on linking gender equality and climate change, as well as the realization of equal rights for all, especially vulnerable groups (e.g., youth, Roma, women, persons with special needs…), by implementing climate change mitigation measures.
Solar energy for citizens in Western Balkans
The project Solar energy for citizens in Western Balkans started in January 2023, supported by Western Balkan Fund and co-financed by EU, with the aim to promote the best practices regarding the possibility to use solar energy by citizens, informing, engaging and mobilizing citizens to be active participants in neutrality transition. During the project implementation, the WB-Solar Net web platform will be established in order to help CSOs in raising awareness on the great potential of solar energy for advancing the regional agenda for a green and sustainable economy, using innovative solutions on clean energy, and following EU Directives.
Nine partners from Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia will work together to enhance the capacities of CSOs in WB in addressing the poverty energy of marginalized groups, and to advocate for improving the legislation, simplifying and shortening the administrative procedures for delivering permissions to the citizens of WB to install photovoltaic panels. It is also expected that the capacities of CSOs will be improved, in order to strengthen the cross-border dialogue for environmental protection. In addition, through the project, CSOs will gather knowledge and improve their skills in raising the awareness for quick actions for the alignment of WBC policies with the recent European directives and initiatives.
At the end of the project, a network of CSOs and other stakeholders named “Western Balkans Solar Net/Solar4WB” will be established and become functional, to serve as a hub for best practices of self-consumers of solar energy. This will help citizens to be better informed about opportunities and possibilities, and to address the needs of marginalized groups of energy poverty. The network will provide initial recommendations on how to improve legislation, policies, and administrative procedures for potential solar energy users. The activities will be organized to update and consult the National Plans of Energy and Climate of Western Balkan countries.
The online website platform will be developed to become a future hub for CSOs, where will be presented different examples regarding the situation in the field of solar energy. Two webinars will be organized to present the situation of the solar sector, the opportunities, and the barriers. Advocacy efforts will be meetings with representatives of public institutions, TV discussions, articles in the newspapers, posts on social media, etc. The Western Balkans Solar Net, (Solar4WB) as a functional platform with data of members and stakeholders, legislation, procedures, and information on related subjects will be established and presented during the Final Conference at the end of the project.
The second online webinar “ADVOCATING FOR SOLAR ENERGY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE WESTERN BALKANS “
Study visit to Grenoble – the Green Capital of Europe
Within the project “Pulse of Europe – EU media visits“, funded by the European Union in Serbia, the President of the Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development, Aleksandra Mladenović, had the opportunity to participate in a study visit with a group of journalists from Serbia. They had opportunity to find why Grenoble is the Green Capital of Europe in 2022.
The Green Capital of Europe Award has been given since 2008 to cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants committed to sustainable urban development. Awarded cities provide an example to other cities to encourage them to use resources on sustainable way, and to preserve the environment for all. So far, 13 cities have received the award, including, from region, Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, which was awarded in 2016.
During the visit to the mayor of Grenoble, special emphasis was placed on sustainable development – the city administration is committed to sustainable development, equally observing and respecting all three pillars: the environment, economic opportunities and social conditions. They provide great support to companies that base their development on the sustainable use of resources, but assistance is also given to residents who decide to become more energy efficient, or switch to using one of the available types of renewable energy sources.
Grenoble has several “Eco-districts”, which is a national label for parts of the city that are developing on the principles of sustainable development. Thus, in the “Cambridge Eco-district” there are two ABC (“autonomous” and self-sustainable) buildings with 42 apartments that receive energy from their solar and high voltage panels. Water is recycled from rainwater, residents make compost, they have an artificial lake available for relaxation and entertainment, but also a red light in the shower as a warning if they use it for too long. This “Eco-district” is being developed in harmony with the mountainous environment of Grenoble, using geothermal energy for the irrigation system. Both older and young people who are living in ABC buildings say they are very happy and satisfied to be volunteers who will live in these buildings for five years, as in some kind of experiment. At the end of this experimental period, the degree of sustainability of this way of life and use of resources will be evaluated.
“Eco-District Flaubert”, for example, has three hectares of parks, which are a trademark of the city, and buildings are built of natural materials (woods, for example). Residents have opportunity to participate in planning the look of buildings (this is the case with future schools, for which students and teachers were interviewed and who gave suggestions on what kind of school they would like to get). Such buildings have gardens on the roofs, which are taken care of by the residents, who grow a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Grenoble also has companies dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable use of resources. Thus, the building in which Schneider Electric operates is a “net zero energy building” – they produce energy as much as they need, by solar panels and wind farms. Also, the Local Energy and Climate Agency in the city of Saint-Martin-d’Heres, located near Grenoble (both cities, together with 47 other “cities” make up the Grenoble-Alps region) helps citizens to participate in the insulation of buildings in which they live, allowing them to pay smaller heating bills.
Through the “Wall-Wall” program, the insulation of 202 residential buildings (almost 10,000 apartments) has been done since 2010. Homeowners are offered favorable loans for up to 20 years of repayment. Citizens of Grenoble can also get involved in initiatives that support the production of energy from renewable sources, such as Énerg’Y Citoyennes. This company enables the production of electricity from solar panels in 10 municipalities in the Grenoble area, and among 364 interested parties, the largest number are citizens.
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.
“Citizen science” – definition in 2021 UNECE Document
Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development (Environmental Ambassadors, EASD) is a non-for-profit professional association focusing, among other, work on research and science (professional and participant science/citizen science) promotion. EASD is the member of European Citizen Science Association.
With interest we are following the seventh session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) taking place in Palais des Nations, Geneva from 18 to 21 October 2021. A number of substantive decisions are expected to be adopted at the session that will guide the activities of the Convention in the next intersessional period.
Among documents is document ECE/MP.PP/2021/20/Add.1. There, a number of definitions took our attention; some of them are:
- “Citizen science”, means a form of open collaboration in which members of the public participate voluntarily in the scientific process, engineering research or environmental monitoring in various ways;
- “Citizen science observatories”, refers to community-based environmental monitoring and information systems that invite individuals to share observations, typically via mobile telephone or the web;
- “Research data”, means documents in a digital form, other than scientific publications, which are collected or produced in the course of scientific research activities and are used as evidence in the research process, or are commonly accepted in the research community as necessary to validate research findings and results;
- “Citizen science data”, means data collected by members of the public, often in collaboration with or under the direction of professional scientists, nongovernmental organizations and scientific institutions;
- “Citizen-generated data”, which means data produced through citizen sensing, citizen science and other forms of civic monitoring that share the common denominator that the data collection process is primarily carried out by volunteer individuals actively joining the initiative;
In advance of UNEA 5.2: EASD participated in the International Consultation for Major Groups & Stakeholders
International Consultation for Major Groups & Stakeholders, in advance of UNEA 5.2, Stockholm+50 and UNEP@50 was held from September 7th to 9th online. The objective of the consultation is to advance the development of strategies around specific initiatives such as resolutions, declarations, decisions tabled for UNEA 5.2, to further develop core messages and positions, and to prepare input from the Major Groups to the 155th meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives and the 8th Annual Subcommittee meeting of the CPR.
Each Major Group had the opportunity to make a short statement, so reflections are presented under Agenda item related to Preparations for the resumed session of UNEA-5, in the form of the summary statement from this international consultation. Also, under Agenda item regarding Preparations for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of UNEP, the UNEP@50 task force presented a statement.
The consultation is expected to advance the development of MGS’ statements and positions, in particular around the thematic clusters and task forces set up to prepare for UNEA 5.2. The participants had opportunity to contribute in particular on the following topics:
1.The UNEP We Want / UNEP @50
2. Environmental governance / Resolution 73/333 including Escazu Agreement, environmental defenders, Stockholm+49
3.Marine litter and plastics treaty
4.Stockholm+50
5.Nature for Climate
6.Nature for Poverty Eradication, Jobs and Economic Prosperity
7.Food systems
8.Chemicals, Waste, Mercury
9.Nature for Health
During the second day following documents started to be prepared under the parallel sessions, and all participants had possibility to contribute in oven capacities:
Draft Joint Statement The UNEP We Want
Draft Joint Statement of Support Draft Resolution Plastics Treaty
Draft Position Nature for Health Cluster
Joint Statement Environmental Governance Cluster
Draft recommendations Chemicals, Waste & Mercury
Input for the CPR and Annual Subcommittee Meeting
The overall impression is that Major Groups & Stakeholders had enough knowledge and experience, as well as willingness, to cooperate in the best way, in order to demonstrate importance of joint actions towards climate change and to contribute to the protection of the environment at the global level.
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.
EASD publication on circular economy acknowledged by European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform
European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform , a joint initiative by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee, in “Knowledge Hub” – Knowledge, acknowledged EASD publication on circular economy, as study/report/presentation/position paper….. submitted by stakeholders.
As noted, publication “Circular economy in Serbia – process started” sets out the state of play of the circular economy concept in Serbia and identifies the main obstacles that may hamper the shift to the circular economy paradigm. It also includes circular economy initiatives in Serbia and an analysis of linkages between the circular economy concept and the Sustainable Development Goals. Addressing the circular economy only through waste management shows that the circular economy concept is still in its infancy in Serbia. According to the conclusions, the circular economy goes beyond.
Key words: waste management, SDG12 and the environmental sector.
#CEstakeholderEU
Sustainable Development Goal 13 – Climate Action; Combating climate change and its impact in local communities
The project aims to involve representatives of the network of the international Eco-Schools program in Serbia to be more actively involved in strengthening the initiative in combating climate change, especially in local communities to which they belong, using previous experience and examples of good practice.
The project includes:
- Analysis of the current situation related to Sustainable Development Goal 13 – Climate Action, in relation to targets, with reference to the situation in Serbia
- Publications for extracurricular activities adapted to the age of primary school
- Poster on climate change, age-appropriate for secondary schools .
The project is supported by the Serbian Ministry of Environment in 2020.
(Our) Berlin Declaration have the quotation in the European Commissions Report
In the Final report on Assessment of the feasibility of phasing-out dental amalgam, on page 32, used Berlin Declaration as the reference, more precisely:
*2017: Berlin Declaration: After a gathering at a two-day Pan-European Summit to plan the end of amalgam, environmental and consumer NGOs, dental associations, Members of the national parliaments and the European Parliament, academics, and industry issued the “Berlin Declaration to End Amalgam Use in Europe in 2020, available at: https://www.ig-umwelt-
Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development expert participated in Berlin Declaration development! EASD lead Initiative in Serbia.
In 2020 the European Commission recommends the phase out of amalgam. In concluding that the end of amalgam is “technically and economically feasible,” the Commission explains in its report (mentioned above) to Parliament and Council.
· The alternatives are fully acceptable, and dentists fully trained to put them in, quoting: “Mercury free materials are nowadays of good quality, effective restoration methods are widely available and dental schools are increasingly teaching the necessary skills”.
· The risk from BPA (present in some but not all composite) is “negligible’;
· The price differential has shrunk so much such that neither patients nor dentists, will be adversely affected by the phase out;
· 95% of amalgam manufacturers also make alternatives hence they are fully prepared to switch;
Therefore the European Commission will propose a legislation in 2022 for a phase out on a date specific, earlier than 2030.
The report of the Commission focuses equally on the international challenge to end amalgam by promising to turn its attention in 2021 to (a) an amendment of the Minamata Convention and (b) international trade rules to stop amalgam trade.
____________________________
November 2020: Our letter to Commissioner (the European Commission and Commissioner for the Green Deal) Frans Timmermans was well-received
Letter, sent at October 26, 2020 :
Dear Commissioner Timmermans,
European civil society salutes you for your landmark decision to recommend the phase out of dental amalgam to the Parliament and the Council.
Dank u wel!
Your decision makes sense for five solid, incontrovertible reasons:
1. Environment: Dental amalgam is the single largest use of mercury in Europe – and unnecessarily so. The European Union’s science committee SCHER calls amalgam a “secondary poison” because its mercury methylates in fish that children then eat.
2. Technology: Over the past decade the alternative materials have surpassed amalgam in effectiveness – and unlike amalgam, they are minimally-invasive and tooth-friendly.
3. Economics: The prototype is here, because in 2018 amalgam was banned for children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women, and simple changes in insurance and government programs made the transition seamlessly. The same can now be done for the general population. Moldova, the poorest nation in Europe, banned all amalgam use last year.
4. Preparedness: (1) Manufacturers are ready: virtually all of them make the alternatives, so no jobs will be lost. (2) Dentists are ready: all know how to place the alternatives to amalgam and probably half of them have stopped using amalgam altogether. (3) Consumers are ready: in the European Commission’s internet poll before the Mercury Regulation was enacted, 88% voted in favor of an amalgam ban. (4) Member States are ready: 89% of the Member States (24 of 27), encompassing fully 88% of the population, either have phased out amalgam, have announced a phase-out date, or have low to moderate amalgam use already.
5. Synergies with other EU goals: Whether the goal is specific, such as clean water, or general, such as the Green New Deal with the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability , the route to a toxic-free Europe must include the end of dental amalgam, a primitive device that pre-dates the Franco-Prussian War and can lead to cracked teeth.
We wish to single out and thank your team at the Commission who laboriously and competently shepherded this issue to the end point of recommending the demise of amalgam for Europe: Aneta Willems, Christopher Allen, David Grimeaud, and Jenny-Johanna Green.
We wish to continue to work with the Commission as you craft legislation for Parliament and the Council to phase out amalgam, and we urge you to set a phase-out date of 2025 or sooner.
Good health to you.
Florian Schulze, European Center for Environmental Medicine (Europe), IG Umwelt-Zahnmedizin (Deutschland)
Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, European Environmental Bureau (Europe)
Dr. Claudia Castell-Exner, President of EurEau – European Federation of Water Services (Europe)
Génon K. Jensen – Health and Environment Alliance (Europe)
Laurette Casal & Antoine Lecuyer, Non Au Mercure (France)
Hanna Schudy, EKO-UNIA (Polska)
Sascha Gabizon, Women Engage for a Common Future (Nederland)
Trine Jørgensen, Foreningen mod Skadeligt Dentalmateriale (Danmark)
Andjelka Mihajlov, Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development (Србија)
Ann-Marie Lidmark, Tandhälsoförbundet (Sverige)
Dr. Hanns Moshammer, ÄrztInnen für eine gesunde Umwelt (Aegu) (Österreich)
Dr. Elena Manvelyan, Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (Hayastan)
Monika Frielinghaus, SHV für Umweltgeschädigte e.V. (Deutschland)
Dr. Stefan Dietsche, European Academy for Environmental Medicine (Deutschland)
Lutz Höhne, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Umwelt-ZahnMedizin e.V. (Deutschland)
Susana Fonseca, ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável (Portugal)
Reinhard Lauer, Bundesverband der Beratungsstellen für Umweltgifte, insbesondere Amalgam, Schwermetalle und Holzschutzmittel e.V. (Deutschland)
Julia Tudare, Intoxication Métaux Nouvelle-Calédonie (Nouvelle-Calédonie)
Graeme Munro-Hall, World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry (United Kingdom)
Dr. David Harvie-Austin, British Society for Mercury Free Dentistry (United Kingdom)
Leticia Baselga, Ecologistas en Acción (España)
Branislav Moňok, Friends of the Earth – SPZ (Slovenská republika)
Dr. Mihaela Cuțui, Timiș College of Dentists (România)
Dr. Claudia Bottino, Metallica_mente (Italia)
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).
____________________________________
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
____________________________________
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
________________________________________________
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.
________________________________________________________________________________
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 .
__________________________________
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.
**************************************
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
_______________________________________________________________
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 ).
____________________________________________________
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.
____________________________
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.
________________________________________
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
___________________________________________________________________
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.
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.
Global Meeting & Forum on Chemicals and Waste, 2020
EASD participated at IPEN Global Meeting and Forum on Chemicals and Waste, among 93 environmental and health leaders; international health and science experts; and government and UN agency representatives from 51 countries.
EASD Honorable President presented ” Initiatives towards MIA – Minamata Initial Assessment implementation: in coal combustion, application, use and disposal of dental amalgam fillings and management of waste with mercury”. Objectives of the Meeting & Forum is to:
• Strengthen the Toxics-Free Future Global Movement
• Learn from Each Other and Share Skills
• Promote Organizational Capacity-Building & Development
• Celebrate Achievements
• Reflect on the Evolving Global and National Policy Landscapes
• Strategize around IPEN’s 2030 Goals & Program
• Elevate the Profile of Chemicals & Waste Issues
Meeting was held @ Kuriftu Resort, Lake Bishoftu@ Ethiopia – The Land of Origins (coffee is great!), a symbol of African freedom, with more than 100 million people and 86+ languages.
Establishment of the South East European Platform to Beat Pollution – SEEPP
Sub-Regional Consultation Meeting on the Establishment of the South East European Platform to Beat Pollution – SEEPP was held on June 24-25, 2019, at the premises of Vienna International Center. The meeting was organised by UN Environment – Vienna Programme Office in the framework of the project “Regional Cooperation in South Eastern Europe to Beat Pollution”, funded by the Directorate for Sustainable Development, Environmental Damage, European Union and International Affairs of the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea. This meeting is continuation of the process started in December 2019, during the Ministerial conference held in Belgrade, and side event, organized in margins of UNEA4, in March 2019, at the premises of UN Headquarter in Nairobi.
The countries of South East Europe and specifically countries from the Western Balkans, should stronger address crucial reforms and complete political, economic and social transformation, in order to fulfill requirements on their respective European paths. This is strong connected with complying with the EU Environmental acquis, what means opening of negotiations on Chapter 27 on Environment and Climate Change, which has not realized yet for some countries. At the global level, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is going to shape national development plans over the next more than 10 years. Progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals targets can be obtained by tackling pollution through existing agreements and synergies with different international initiatives.
Taking into account need for urgent action to beat pollution at all levels, supported by all sectors and involving all relevant stakeholders, South East European Platform to Beat Pollution – SEEPP should be established, with participation not only respective SEE countries, but also with all other actors having interest in this region.
During the Sub-Regional Consultation Meeting, civil society role in the future Platform was discussed among representatives of governments, CSOs and UN bodies. Possible roles of CSOs might be following:
Civil society contribution to the thematic clusters
Preparation of an assessment of possible civil society partners
Platform membership (including Taskforces when relevant)
Using CSOs Networks to communicate the work of the platform and to reach out to citizens
Regarding the last mentioned, Env.net network was presented as good and stable regional network, that can have high impact in future Platform. Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development, together with Env.net partners from EEB and Co-plan, presented current state of the progress during seven years of existing of the Env.net. The main discussion, which is still opened, is regarding the self-designation of civil society organisations and a role within the Taskforce of the Platform. In the next period, it is expected that this and other crucial issues will be clarified, with active participation and contribution of CSOs representatives from the SEE region.
Zlatibor Mona hotel – the only hotel in Serbia outside of Belgrade with international ecocertification “Green Key”
The Zlatibor Mona hotel has always been renowned as a business dedicated to upholding the tenets of social responsibility. This has recently been officially recognized with our having satisfied the requirements for the Green Key, the reception of which marks a new epoch in the social awareness of our business operation. Through numerous activities, we continue to contribute to environment protection, raising ecological awareness of staff and guests alike, as well as local community development. We strive to continue to advance in the sphere of sustainable business and to implement all the measures possible toward the realization of the Green Key aims. We proudly point out that we are the first Serbian hotel brand, as well as the only hotel in Serbia outside of Belgrade to receive this prestigious certificate.
“It is with great pleasure that I can say we received the “Green Key” certificate thanks to the dedication of our entire team and that all our employees have recognized the importance of the initiative and came on board of this global environmental movement. With regard to the fulfillment of the certificate requirements, many were completed already in 2007, with the renovation of the hotel, and our operation now accommodates all the criteria, including water consumption control, electrical energy expenditure, and the exclusive use of environmentally friendly chemical products.”
Ivan Vitorović, Chief Executive Officer of Mona Hotel Management
Save the date: June 4, 2019 – EnE19 Conference/Round table AIR QUALITY IN SERBIA, YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW – CLEAN AIR – HEALTHY FUTURE
EnE19: Round table “AIR QUALITY IN SERBIA, YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW – CLEAN AIR – HEALTHY FUTURE “, will be held on June 4, 2019 in Belgrade in the premises of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Belgrade, Resavska 13-15, from 10h to 14h.
On the World Environment Day in the European sustainable development week, traditionally, this event is organized by “Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development” and Serbian Chamber of Commerce – “Environment towards Europe – EnE19”.
This year, the focus will be on “AIR QUALITY IN SERBIA, YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW – CLEAN AIR – HEALTHY FUTURE “. Round table will be held on June 4, 2019 in Belgrade in the premises of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Belgrade, Resavska 13-15, from 10h to 14h. Conference is 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’’.
Round table date is – June 4, 2019, (in Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia 13-15 Resavska Street 11000 Belgrade, at 10 a.m. to 14 p.m.). The openings are usually held at 10 a.m. (on June 4), Opening session is usually from 10:00 to 11:00/11:30.
The conferences “Regional Conference Environment to Europe” we held earlier had a great success and they gained credibility at the national and international level.
China will host the global World Environment Day celebrations on 5 June 2019 with a theme of air pollution.
World Environment Day is a UN Environment-led global event, which takes place on June 5 every year and is celebrated by thousands of communities worldwide.
Since it began in 1972, it has grown to become the single largest celebration of our environment each year.
Air Pollution facts:
- 92 per cent of people worldwide do not breathe clean air
- Air pollution costs the global economy $5 trillion every year in welfare costs
- Ground-level ozone pollution is expected to reduce staple crop yields by 26 per cent by 2030
Ambient air pollution accounts for an estimated 4.2 million deaths per year due to stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. Around 91% of the world’s population lives in places where air quality levels exceed WHO limits. While ambient air pollution affects developed and developing countries alike, low- and middle-income countries experience the highest burden. Policies and investments supporting cleaner transport, energy-efficient housing, power generation, industry and better municipal waste management can effectively reduce key sources of ambient air pollution.
Round Table “Environment to Europe” – EnE19 is an official UN event marking the European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW) in the Republic of Serbia. The ESDW initiative is spread across European countries that stimulates and makes visible activities, projects and events that promote Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is held every year from May 30 to June 5, with the aim of raising awareness of Agenda 2030 in Europe and the importance of local stakeholders in achieving 17 goals of a sustainable development and sustainability in general.
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.
ENV.net Initiative: to update National Strategy on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Goods, by applying Circular Economy concept
EASD and CEKOR organised on October 12, 2018 Meeting of National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) Working Group for Chapter 27.
ENV.net Thematic Advisor Prof dr Andjelka Mihajlov presented ENV.net research related Circular Economy (Complexity).
ENV.net Serbia National Coordinator Aleksandra Mladenovic presented ENV.net Initiative to update National Strategy on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Goods by applying Circular Economy concept. The Initiative is acknowledged , and will be send to Ministry competent for Environment.
In media:
In EU a ban on the use of mercury in the dental fillings of children and pregnant women comes into effect on July 1, 2018
In 2017 EASD become the part of Initiative: End mercury use in dentistry by 2022, civil society challenge European Union.
|
|
Join us for June 5th: Conference Agenda is available
Pictures from the event:
Otvaranje / Opening
Panel o zastiti prirode / Panel on Nature Protection
UNEP nagrade / UNEP@WED
YRE awwards/ Nagrade Mladih ekoreportera & https://www.facebook.com/mladiekoreporteri/
Prezentacija radova / Presentations
The Fourteenth Regional Conference – EnE18
Environment to Europe
Belgrade, Serbia, June 5, 2018
Nature protection – Nature-Responsive Development
Conference Agenda, draft, as on 22/05/2018
Conference “Environment to Europe” – EnE18 is an official event that marks the UN World Environment Day (WED) in the Republic of Serbia and region. Since its beginning in 1974, World Environment Day has developed into a global platform for raising awareness and taking action on urgent issues from marine pollution and global warming to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime. “Beat Plastic Pollution”, the theme for World Environment Day 2018, is a call to action for all of us to come together to combat one of the great environmental challenges of our time. Chosen by this year’s host, India, the theme of World Environment Day 2018 (If you can’t reuse it, refuse it) invites us all to consider how we can make changes in our everyday lives to reduce the heavy burden of plastic pollution on our natural places, our wildlife – and our own health. In recent years, millions of people have taken part in thousands of registered activities worldwide.
Conference “Environment to Europe” – EnE18 is an official event that marks the European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW) in the Republic of Serbia. The ESDW is a European-wide initiative to stimulate and make visible activities, projects and events that promote sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It takes place every year from 30 May until 5 June. The ESDW aims to raise awareness for the 2030 Agenda in Europe and calls upon local stakeholders to actively engage with sustainable development, in general, and the SDGs, in particular.
The Fourteenth Regional Conference EnE18 is thematically focused on Nature protection – Nature-Responsive Development (2018). Since 2005, when we established the Conference, we have around 2.500 participants from 15 countries and presented about 350 research and scientific papers. This year is also fourteen years of partnership between “Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development“ with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia“.
Conference Agenda
as on 22/05/2018; possible changes of Agenda when confirmation received
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 Registracija učesnika / Registration
10:00 – 10:50 Uvodna obraćanja / Opening remarks
Moderator: dr Uroš Rakić, on behalf of organisators
- H.E. Ratko Vlajkov, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Republic of Serbia – The Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the EU / Ambasador, Ambasada Republike Bugarske u Republici Srbiji
- H.E. Lazar Mirkić, Ambassador, Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Republic of Serbia / Ambasador, Ambasada Bosne i Hercegovine u Republici Srbiji
- Robert Nygård, The First Secretary Responsible for Environmental Issues, Swedish Embassy in the Republic of Serbia / Prvi sekretar odgovoran za pitanja životne sredine, Ambasada Švedske u Republici Srbiji
- Delegation of EU in Serbia, representative / Delegacija EU u Srbiji, predstavnik/ (potvrđeno/confirmed, representative tbd)
- Minister for Environment / Ministar za zaštitu životne sredine (invited/pozvan)
- Stanojla Mandić, Deputy Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection of the Republic of Serbia / Zamenica poverenika za informacije od javnog značaja i zaštitu podataka o ličnosti Republike Srbije
- Dr Deni Porej, Director of WWF Adria, WWF Mediterranean Programme Office / Direktor WWF Adria, WWF Regionalna kancelarija
- Aleksandra Šiljić Tomić, Project Coordination Specialist, UN Environment Republic of Serbia / Koordinator projekta, Kancelarija UN za životnu sredinu, Republika Srbija
- dr Nenad Sekulić, Head of Department for Biodiversity and Ecological Network, Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia / Načelnik odeljenja za biodiverzitet i ekološke mreže, Zavod za zaštitu prirode Srbije
- Goran Krnčević, Assistant Director of the Sector for Legal, Financial and Administrative Affairs, Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province / Pomoćnik direktora za pravne, finansijske i opšte poslove, Pokrajinski zavod za zaštitu prirode
- Ljubica Naumović, Environment Executive, Tetra Pak Production / referent za zaštitu životne sredine, Tetra Pak Production
- Dušan Stokić, Co-organizer of the EnE18 Conference, Head of the Department for Environment, Technical Regulation, Quality and Social Responsibility, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia / suorganizator EnE18 Konferencije, Rukovodilac Službe za životnu sredinu, tehničke propise, kvalitet i društvenu odgovornost, Privredna komora Srbije
- prof. dr Dunja Prokić, the EnE18 Conference Chair person, Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development / predsedavajuća EnE18 Konferencije, Ambasadorka održivog razvoja i životne sredine
10:50 – 11:00 Aleksandra Mladenović, Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development President/ Predsednica Ambasadora održivog razvoja i životne sredine, Plenary, Panel Theme and Panelists / Predstavljanje plenarnog izlaganja, panela i panelista
11:00 – 11:20 Plenary lecture / Plenarno predavanje
Begona Matilla Soloaga, Human Dynamics, Team leader, TA for strengthening the National Nature Protection System for implementation of Natura 2000 requirements / Human Dynamics, tim lider, NATURA 2000 Turska. Focus : NATURA 2000 in Turkey – project outputs / NATURA 2000 u Turskoj – rezultati projekta.
11:20 – 13:30 Panel on Nature Protection and Nature – Responsive Development / Panel na temu Zaštita prirode i razvoj odgovoran prema prirodi
Moderator: Milica Momčilović, journalist, Vice President of World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) / novinar, potpredsednica Svetske federacije naučnih novinara
Panelists (Plenary Session) / Učesnici Panela (Plenarna sesija) :
dr Deni Porej, Director of WWF Adria, WWF Mediterranean Programme Office / Direktor WWF Adria, WWF Regionalna kancelarija. Focus : WWF and Nature Protection, Nature – Responsive Development / WWF i zaštita prirode, razvoj odgovoran prema prirodi.
prof. dr Predrag Simonović, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade / Biološki fakultet, Univerzitet u Beogradu . Focus: An invasive species of fish and links between fisheries management and aquaculture in Serbia in the process of EU accession / Invazivne vrste riba i veza između ribolovnog upravljanja i akvakulture u Srbiji u procesu pristupanja EU
mr. Danko Jović, Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia / Zavoda za zaštitu prirode Srbije. Focus: State in the Republic of Serbia in respect of nature and oblidations of Serbia in the process of accession to the EU in this area / Stanje u Republici Srbiji u vezi zaštite prirode i obavezama Srbije u procesu pristupanja EU u ovoj oblasti.
Klara Sabadoš, Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province / Pokrajinski zavod za zaštitu prirode. Focus: The situation regarding nature protection and the NATURA 2000 network in Serbia / Situacija oko zaštite prirode i mreže NATURA 2000 u Srbiji.
Nikola Stanojević, Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia / Društvo za zaštitu i proučavanje ptica: Protection of birds and obligations of the Republic of Serbia in the process of EU accession in this area / Zaštita ptica i obaveze Republike Srbije u procesu pristupanja EU u ovoj oblasti.
13:30 – 13:40 Technical Break / Tehnička pauza
13:40 -14:00 Awards for the winners of the competition „Beat plastic pollution! If you can’t reuse it, refuse it!“ organized among elementary school classes by UN Environment and partners: Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development and Forestry and Environmental Action for celebration of the World Environment Day 2018 in Serbia / Dodela nagrada timovima iz osnovnih škola u Srbiji, pobednicima na konkursu „U koštac sa plastikom!“ tj. „Pobedi zagađenje plastikom! Ako ne možeš da je ponovo upotrebiš, ne koristi je!“ koji je Agencija Ujedinjenih nacija za životnu sredinu organizovala zajedno sa partnerima: Ambasadori održivog razvoja i zaštite životne sredine i Inicijativa za šumarstvo i životnu sredinu – fea povodom obeležavanja Svetskog dana zaštite životne sredine 2018. u Srbiji.
Obraćanje: Aleksandra Šiljić Tomić, specijalista za koordinaciju projekata Agencije Ujedinjenih nacija za životnu sredinu (UN Environment)
Awarded / Nagrađeni radovi:
1. mesto – rad „Žutoplovac“, OŠ „Sveti Georgije“, Uzdin; Nagradu prima mentor Tatjana Romanov, profesor razredne nastave
2. mesto – rad „Eko brodić – Drugarstvo“, OŠ „Rade Dodić“, Milutovac, izdvojeno odeljenje Poljna; Nagradu prima mentor Suzana Jovanović –Stanisavljević
3. mesto – rad „Brod prijateljstva“, OŠ „Petefi brigada“, Kula; Nagradu prima mentor Marijana Kolarić
Photo exhibition – slideshow of vessels (ships, sailboats, etc.) of all elementary school classes participated in the competition is presented in the front of the Main Hall.
14:00 – 14:20 Awards for the best Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) in 2018: “Energy Efficiency of the Eyes of Young Reporters for the Environment” / Dodela nagrada najboljim Mladim Eko-reporetima u 2018. godini: “Energetska efikasnost očima Mladih Eko-reportera”
Obraćanje: Dijana Šarac, koordinator Programa Mladi Eko-reporteri
Awarded/ Nagrađeni radovi:
Uzrasna kategorija od 11 do 14 godina
– U kategoriji članaka:
- mesto David Bradić iz OŠ „Rade Dodić“, Milutovac, naziv članka: Sunce i ti
- mesto Lena Veličić, Dunja Milijanović iz OŠ „Sveti Sava“, Čačak, naziv članka: Štednja energije
- mesto Milica Đurić, Teodora Nikša, Milica Popović, Živojin Mišić, Marko Kuleško iz OŠ „Marija Trandafilović“, Veternik, naziv članka: Udaljenost Kejptauna je relativna stvar
– U kategoriji fotografija:
- mesto Milan Pavlović iz OŠ Stojan Novaković, Blace, naziv fotografije: Energetska efikasnost saradnjom svih nas
- mesto Jovana Dimitrijević iz OŠ Sveti Sava, Pirot, naziv fotografije: Moj grad vodi računa o energetskoj efikasnosti
- mesto Ilija Radojković iz OŠ Ratko Mitrović, Čačak, naziv fotografije: Sunce na našem krovu
– U kategoriji videa:
- mesto Đina Ranđelović, Iva Ignjatović iz OŠ „Sveti Sava“ Pirot, naziv videa: Unutrašnji bazen u Pirotu
- mesto Nikola Dragić, Ognjen Kostić, Aleksa Vacić, Dimitrije Stanković iz OŠ „Sveti Sava“, Pirot, naziv videa: Vodenica
- mesto Strahinja Marseni, Anja Lazović, Vladimir Konstantinovića, Andreja Đurkovića, Teodora Radivojević iz OŠ Drinka Pavlović, Beograd, naziv videa: Energetska efikasnost
Uzrasna kategorija od 15 do 18 godina
– U kategoriji članaka:
- mesto Jefimija Najdić iz Gimnazija Vranje, naziv članaka: Dozvolite plućima naše planete da dišu
- mesto Marija Dibrani iz MTŠ „14 oktobar“, Kraljevo, naziv članka: Zelena energija i zdrav život
- mesto Stefan Zeremski, Bojan Zakonović, Vasilije Radović iz ETŠ „Rade Končar“, Beograd. Naziv članka: Sekcija za energetsku efikasnost
– U kategoriji fotografija:
- mesto Olga Đurović iz Gimnazije „Takovski ustanak“, Gornji Milanovac, naziv fotografije: Krov
- mesto Vladana Stanković iz Prehrambeno-hemijske škole, Niš, naziv fotografije: Nova rasveta u Doljevcu
– U kategoriji videa:
- mesto Anja Aranđelović, Milica Jovanović, Gordan Mišić iz Tehničke škole, Paraćin, naziv videa: Menjamo navike da ne bude panike
- mesto Natalija Stanković iz Savremene gimnazije, Beograd, naziv videa: Energetska efikasnost
- mesto 14 učenika iz Medicinske škole, Vranje, naziv videa: Odakle dolazi električna energija
– Uzrasna kategorija od 19 do 21 godine
U kategoriji fotografija:
- mesto Tijana Krnjaić sa Fakulteta Političkih nauka, naziv fotografije: Toplotna pumpa
– U kategoriji videa:
1.mesto Anđela Stošić sa Fakulteta Političkih nauka, naziv videa: Solarni paneli
14:20-15:00 Break / Pauza
15:00-18:00 Presentations / Usmena izlaganja radova
Moderatori: prof. dr Hristina Stevanović Čarapina, prof. dr Nataša Žugić Drakulić, prof. dr Dunja Prokić, dr Uroš Rakić
Plenary lecture / Uvodno predavanje
Uticaj Sporazuma iz Pariza o promeni klime na razvoj ekološkog acquis-a i prenošenje pravnih standarda zaštite biodiverziteta i očuvanja šuma u pravni sistem Srbije, MIRJANA DRENOVAK IVANOVIĆ, PRAVNI FAKULTET, UNIVERZITET U BEOGRADU
Oral presentations / Usmena izlaganja
GEOGRAPHIC MONITORING OF FOREST BIODIVERSITY IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, ADI OPERTA, Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mujo Hasanović, Irma Mahmutović-Dizdarević, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
KREIRANJE GIS BAZE O STANJU REČNOG TOKA U FUNKCIJI DIZAJNA ADEKVATNIH REŠENJA OČUVANJA PRIRODE, SLAĐANA ĐORĐEVIĆ, POLJOPRIVREDNI FAKULTET, UNIVERZITET U BEOGRADU, MILOŠ NINKOVIĆ, GEOGRAFSKI FAKULTET, UNIVERZITET U BEOGRADU, DUŠICA PEJIĆ, FAKULTET BEZBEDNOSTI, UNIVERZITET U BEOGRADU, BORIS KATIĆ, OPŠTINA MALI ZVORNIK, SLOBODAN MILOŠEVIĆ, FAKULTET ZA PRIMENJENU EKOLOGIJU FUTURA, UNIVERZITET SINGIDUNUM
CLADOCERANS SEASONAL DYNAMICS AT SNR ”CARSKA BARA”, Martina Mezei, Aleksandra Petrović, Vojislava Bursić, Tijana Stojanović, Jasna Grabić, Branka Ljevnaić-Mašić, FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE, UNIVERSITY OF NOVI SAD, SERBIA
PREGLED VRSTA PRIORITETNIH ZA NATURU 2000 U FAUNI ZASAVICE, MIHAJLO STANKOVIĆ, pOKRET GORANA SREMSKA MITROVICA
PRILOG FAUNI KIČMENJAKA N.P. KOZARA – MEĐUNARODNO ZNAČAJNE VRSTE, Mihajlo Stanković, Pokret gorana Sremska Mitrovica, Dragan Romčević, NACIONALNI PARK KOZARA
ZAŠTITA PRIRODE U GRADU BEOGRADU, MILAN MARTINOVIĆ, GEOGRAFSKI FAKULTET, UNIVERZITET U BEOGRADU
INFLUENCE OF DROUGHT ON WATER QUALITY AT SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE “CARSKA BARA”, Radoš Zemunac, Jasna Grabić, Vojislava Bursić, Aleksandra Petrović, Martina Mezei, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Ildiko Grnya, Special Nature Reserve “Carska bara”, Branka Ljevnaić-Mašić, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad
ŠUME HRASTA LUŽNJAKA (Quercus Robur Lat.) – INDIKATOR KLIMATSKIH PROMENA NA PODRUČJU ŠUMADIJE, SEVERIN ŠIKANJA, FAKULTET ZA PRIMENJENU EKOLOGIJU – FUTURA, UNIVERZITET SINGIDUNUM
MERE ZAŠTITE U SPOMENIKU PRIRODE ”PARK BUKOVIČKE BANJE”, STEFAN dABIŽLJEVIĆ, ALEKSANDAR ĐORĐEVIĆ, MILOŠ TOMOVIĆ, VISOKA ŠKOLA STRUKOVNIH STUDIJA ARANĐELOVAC
ZAŠTITA PRIRODE U TEHNOLOŠKIM GRADOVIMA, MILAN MARTINOVIĆ, GEOGRAFSKI FAKULTET, UNIVERZITET U BEOGRADU
INVESTIGATION OF MACRO- AND MICROELEMENTS IN SOIL, GRAPEVINE AND AIR IN ORGANIC VINEYARD: BIOMONITORING, ECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS AND HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT, TIJANA Milićević, Mira Aničić Urošević, INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS BELGRADE, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE, Dubravka Relić, fACULTY OF CHEMISTRY, UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE, Gordana Vuković, INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS BELGRADE, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE, Sandra Škrivanj, AlekSANDAR POPOVIĆ, UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE, FACULTY OF CHEMISTRY
PRIMENA LCA MODELA ZA DONOŠENJE ODLUKA U OBLASTI ZAŠTITE ŽIVOTNE SREDINE, jASNA STEPANOV, DUNJA PROKIĆ, FAKULTET ZAŠTITE ŽIVOTNE SREDINE, UNIVERZITET EDUKONS, SREMSKA KAMENICA
AIR POLLUTION TAKEN BY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS – CALL FOR PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS AND TANGIBLE CITY LEVEL POLICY CHANGES TO CUT POLLUTION LEVELS, VLATKA MATKOVIĆ PULJIĆ, Srđan kukolj, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT ALLIANCE (HEAL), BRUSSELS, Marija jevtić, UNIVERSITY OF NOVI SAD, FACULTY OF MEDICINE, INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH OF VOJVODINA, UNIVERSITÉ LIBRE DE BRUXELLES (ULB), SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, BRUXELLES, CATHERINE BOULAND, UNIVERSITÉ LIBRE DE BRUXELLES (ULB), SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, BRUXELLES, ALEXANDER SIMIDCHIEV, DEPARTMENT OF PULMONOLOGY, UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL LOZENETS, SOFIA
OSIGURANJE KAO FINANSIJSKI INSTRUMENT ODRŽIVOG RAZVOJA, TANJA NOVAKOVIĆ, FAKULTET TEHNIČKIH NAUKA, UNIVERZITET U NOVOM SADU, Marija jevtić, Medicinski fakultet, UNIVERZITET U NOVOM SADU, Institut za javno zdravlje Vojvodine, tatjana tamaš, MEDICINSKI FAKULTET, UNIVERZITET U NOVOM SADU, Institut za onkologiju vojvodine, Đorđe Ćosić , Ljiljana Popović, Mirjana Laban, FAKULTET TEHNIČKIH NAUKA, UNIVERZITET U NOVOM SADU
ELEMENTI MALOLETNIČKOG KRIMINALITETA U KRIVIČNIM DELIMA PROTIV ŽIVOTNE SREDINE U REPUBLICI SRBIJI, Aleksandar Luković, KORIDORI SRBIJE, Brankica Luković, Ljilana Plećević, Vahid Ibrulj, Visoka škola strukovnih studija-Aranđelovac
ZAŠTITA VAZDUHA OD ZAGAĐENJA I ”EURO 3” STANDARD MOTORNIH VOZILA, bRANISLAVA MARKOVIĆ, pRAVNI FAKULTET, UNIVERZITET U BEOGRADU
SRBIJA BEZ FOSILNIH GORIVA, DEJAN DOLJAK, STEVAN GLIGOROVIĆ, MILICA LAZOVIĆ,ĐURĐIJA MARKOVIĆ, ANA MILEUSNIĆ, MIRKO MILIĆEVIĆ, NEMANJA NIKOLIĆ, SINIŠA OBRENIĆ, DANIJELA PAVIĆEVIĆ, ĐORĐE SAMARDŽIJA, JEDAN STEPEN SRBIJA
UTICAJ TURIZMA NA VODNE RESURSE, SNEŽANA ŠTETIĆ, VISOKA TURISTIČKA ŠKOLA STRUKOVNIH STUDIJA BEOGRAD, IGOR TRIŠIĆ, Fakultet za hotelijerstvo i turizam, Univerzitet u Kragujevcu, Fakultet za hotelijerstvo i turizam u Vrnjačkoj BanjI
Značaj planova za sigurno vodosnabdevanje i Bonske povelje, mILKICA Kovačević
KREMIRANJE I ZAŠTITA ŽIVOTNE SREDINE, OSVRT NA SRBIJU I ”OGANJ”, SLOBODAN STOJANOVIĆ, BRANISLAV MATIJAS, MAJA NIKOLIĆ, UDRUŽENJE KREMATISTA ”OGANJ”
Poređenje ekološke svesti učenika osnovnih škola u Nemačkoj i Bosni i Hercegovini, TEA POŽAR, Institute of Geography, University of Bamberg, dIJANA ĐURIĆ, Građevinski fakultet Subotica, Univerzitet u Novom Sadu, LOLA MARKOVIĆ, GEOGRAFSKI FAKULTET, UNIVERZITET U BEOGRADU
Radovi u formi apstrakta
OČUVANJE STANIŠTA VELIKE DROPLJE, MIROSLAVA KRNIĆ, LJILJANA MILEKIĆ, gRADSKA UPRAVA, GRAD KIKINDA
Biodiversity of epiphytic Lichens and Mosses from Pčinja District and Bioindication of heavy Metal Pollution by using Evernia prunastri and Hypnum cupressiforme, SNEŽANA MILOŠEVIĆ, OPŠTINSKA UPRAVA, KLER, OPŠTINA BUJANOVAC, SLAVIŠA STAMENKOVIĆ, PRIRODNO MATEMATIČKI FAKULTET
18:00 Zatvaranje konferencije / Conference closing
Obraćanje: Aleksandra Mladenović, predsednica Ambasadora održivog razvoja i životne sredine
I ove godine Ambasadori održivog razvoja i životne sredine (AOR) nastavljaju sa promovisanjem aktivnosti koje imaju minimalan negativan uticaj na životnu sredinu, te je EnE18 Konferencija prepoznata kao ekološki prijateljska i izbegnuto je bespotrebno štampanje materijala i publikovanje Zbornika radova u štampanom izdanju. Takođe, AOR preporučuju dolazak učesnika na Konferenciju sredstvima javnog prevoza.
Četrnaesta regionalna konferencija EnE18
The Fourteenth Regional Conference EnE18
Životna sredina ka Evropi
Environment to Europe
ORGANIZACIONI I NAUČNO – RECENZENTSKI ODBOR:
ORGANISATION AND SCIENTIFIC – ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
dr Christos Vlachokostas, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, Greece
Prof. dr Anđelka Mihajlov, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
MSc Ljupco Avramovski, Skopje, FYR Macedonia
Prof dr Predrag Simonović, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Prof. dr Nataša Žugić Drakulić
Filip Jovanović MSc
dr Uroš Rakić
Prof. dr Hristina Stevanović Čarapina
MSc Aleksandra Mladenović
mr Dušan Stokić, ko-predsedavajući Konferencije, Conference co-Chair
prof. dr Dunja Prokić, glavna koordinatorka Konferencije, Main Conference Coordinator
Jezik Konferencije
Engleski i srpski (i/ili jezici bivših jugoslovenskih republika); simultano prevođenje je obezbeđeno zaključno sa 13:30h.
Conference language
English and Serbian (and/or languages of former Yugoslav Republics); simultaneous translation will be provided up to 13:30.
Zbornik radova
On-line Zbornik radova objavljenih u celini predstavlja radove koji su recenzirani, razvrstani i dostavljeni u predviđenom roku; autori radova su odgovorni za sadržaj radova i prevod na engleski jezik. Zbornik radova se može preuzeti sa: http://ambassadors-env.com/ene18-zbornik-radova-book-of-proceedings/
Book of Proceedings
Book of Proceedings, with all accepted papers, is available online. Authors are responsible for content and English translation of their papers. Available at: http://ambassadors-env.com/ene18-zbornik-radova-book-of-proceedings/
Recenzentski odbor je, na bazi tematske usmerenosti i načina prezentovanja, razvrstavao radove za Zbornik po kategorijama: radovi u celini i apstrakti radova. Papers are grouped in two categories: full papers and abstracts.
Kontakt: “Ambasadori održvog razvoja i životne sredine”, www.ambassadors-env.com; Email: eneconference@feeserbia.com, cc: office@ambassadors-env.com
Contact: „Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development“, www.ambassadors-env.com; Email: eneconference@feeserbia.com, cc: office@ambassadors-env.com
ENV.net 3 : ENV-net factoring the environmental portfolio for Western Balkans and Turkey in the EU Policy Agenda
We are happy to announce the beginning of the third phase of ENV-net.
After 5 years of activity, the ENV-net today, counts for a member in each Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance country, this includes two newly joined organisations from Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina which co-operate with the network since 2016. The network is supported by partners in Italy – punto.sud and Belgium – European Environmental Bureau – EEB, both bringing to the network experience and best practices from two EU member states, as well as the possibility to align with similar ongoing initiatives within the EU.
Why ENV-net factoring the environmental portfolio for Western Balkans and Turkey in the EU Policy Agenda?
Recent natural occurrences such as repeated massive floods, and the EU accession obligations the Western Balkans and Turkey region must fulfil, highlight the immediacy of action required in the field of climate change and environmental protection.
For it to be effective, such action requires a solid pan-regional commitment in monitoring, advocating and awareness raising in home countries and engagement in policy- discussions at EU level. It also requires well-established and qualified civil society and media actors to generate positive pressure on the relevant institutions, and keep the citizens informed in a way that is accessible and actionable.
Studies show that, despite efforts made in this regard, the Western Balkan and Turkey region faces a number of challenges impeding progress, such as: limited local buy-in of the reforms, conflicting legislation, lack of a critical mass that can monitor developments and exert pressure on policy-makers, weak dialogue with institutions, poor understanding and coverage of climate change and environmental news, and very sparse resonance with current EU environment-related discussions such as circular economy aspects.
In response to these needs, ENV-net, as a proven regional network and advocacy actor, in the forthcoming three years will work on improving evidence-based policy-making and policy-influencing on climate change and environmental legislation in each of the ENV.net partner countries.
The network focus will be to generate region-representative evidence-supported input to contribute to EU discussions on matters of climate change and environment, and to explore and introduce to the region new inter-related aspects such as circular economy.
In the process, the network foresees to also technically and financially support civil society organisations and media in each of the network partner countries, to better understand and work on these issues.
The action is supported by the European Commission through the programme for Consolidating Regional Thematic Networks of Civil Society Organisations
ENV.net team is inviting you to follow and join efforts. Stay tuned!
The 2018 Vienna UN Conference
The 2018 Vienna UN Conference was organised by ACUNS in January 2018 for the diplomatic community, civil society, NGOs, academics, business leaders and media representatives to discuss actions, potentials, and challenges linked to SDG 5: ‘Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.’
EASD Honorable President participated on January 10, 2018, at Opening Session and Session on Empowering Female Leaders. She is ACUNS Expert; EASD is Institutional ACUNS member.
Participants share best practices and explore potential future collaborations in this multi-stakeholder forum, while spotlighting the International Gender Champions – Vienna initiative.
In the spirit of SDG 17 (specifically, Target 17.17: ‘Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships’) an intriguing mix of international stakeholders participated in the 2018 Vienna UN Conference.
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
Initiative: End mercury use in dentistry by 2022, civil society challenge European Union
Berlin, Brussels, Munich, Washington, supported from Belgrade, 4 December 2017
A call to phase out mercury use in dentistry by 2022 in the European Union has been made by health and environmental NGOs.
Mercury is currently used in dental amalgam in fillings and is easily replaceable. Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin which can damage the nervous, renal and cardiovascular systems.
Given that dental amalgam is 50 per cent mercury, the Minamata Convention on Mercury requires each participating nation to reduce its use.
In 2017, the European Union adopted an amalgam ban for children under the age of 15 and for pregnant and breastfeeding women from July 2018. The new rule requires also each Member State to set out a national plan to phasing down amalgam use and requires the European Commission to make a recommendation in 2020 on whether to phase out amalgam entirely.
The call to set a date to end all use in dentistry in the European Union was made as part of the Berlin Declaration to End Amalgam Use in Europe by 2022 at a two day civil society summit on 21-22 November, in Berlin.
Stefan Eck, German MEP, who shepherded the partial amalgam ban through the European Parliament, praised the Berlin Declaration:
“It was important to participate in this summit in Berlin. I will try my best to work with civil societies to accomplish the goal of an amalgam-free dentistry in Europe.”
Charlie Brown of World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, who organized the summit, said:
“The Berlin Declaration parallels similar civil society goals for Africa and Asia: the Abuja Declaration (2014) and the Dhaka Declaration (2015) respectively.”
Elena Lymberidi-Settimo of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), which hosted the first European conference to end amalgam a decade ago, said:
“The Berlin Declaration highlights a ten-year campaign by the EEB to bring mercury-free dentistry to this entire continent. It’s now time Member States roll up their sleeves and pave the way.”
Florian Schulze of IG Umwelt Zahn Medizin, which hosted the Summit and launched a national campaign, said:
“Germany can end amalgam sooner, in 2019. Amalgam use is now very low, and dentists are ready for the switch. All we must do is make changes in the insurance system that are fair to dentists and fair to consumers.”
Philippe Vandendaele of Health Care Without Harm-Europe, said:
“We co-led the campaign to end mercury in the other two medical devices, thermometers and sphygmomanometers, and now Europe needs to tackle the job on the third one, dental amalgam.”
Dr Silvia Pleschka of Women Engage for a Common Future, said:
“The protection enshrined for children, pregnant women and breastfeeding women needs to be extended across the board, in the EU and beyond.”
Notes to the editor:
Berlin Declaration, https://mercuryfreedentistry.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/berlin-declaration-to-end-amalgam-use-in-europe-by-2022.pdf
EU Mercury regulation 2017, http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/PE-4-2017-REV-1/en/pdf
EEB-WAMFD-Memo on Technical advantages of mercury free dentistry, May 2016
Abuja Declaration, https://mercuryfreedentistry.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/abuja-declaration-for-mercury-free-dentistry-for-africa.pdf
Dhaka Declaration, http://cephed.org.np/pdf/31421052006.pdf
National German Campaign launched: #OpenYourMouthAgainstAmalgam http://ig-umwelt-zahnmedizin.de/mund-auf-gegen-amalgam/
For more information contact:
Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, Project Manager ‘Zero Mercury Campaign’, European Environmental Bureau, 0032 (0)2 289 1301, elena.lymberidi@eeb.org
Ian Carey, Communications Manager, European Environmental Bureau, 0032 (0)2 289 1309, ian.carey@eeb.org
Philippe Vandendaele, Chemicals Policy Advisor, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Europe, 0032 (0) 2503 0481, philippe.vandendaele@hcwh.org
Aidan Long, Press & Communications Officer, HCWH Europe, 0032 (0) 2503 0481 / 0032 (0)465 100 940, aidan.long@hcwh.org
Johanna Hausmann, Project Management Chemicals and Health, Women Engage for a Common Future, tel +49 173 8010040, Johanna.hausmann@wecf.org,
Florian Schulze, Project Manager, IG Umwelt Zahn Medizin, 0049(0)1781812729 or 0049(0)3055232755, florian.schulze@ig-umwelt-zahnmedizin.de
Charlie Brown, World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, Attorney and President, Washington, USA, [1] 202 544 6333,
Andjelka Mihajlov, Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development, Honorable President, Serbia; office@ambassadors-env.com
EASD become the Member of the Western Balkans Youth Cooperation Platform!
EASD become the Member of the Western Balkans Youth Cooperation Platform! (WB YCP)
The platform is an initiative of Cooperation and Development Institute and is supported by Hanns Seidel Foundation. The main aim of the platform is to offer organisations – youth organizations, CSO-s, informal movements, groups, or young individuals – targeting youngsters, initially from Albania and Serbia and then from all the Western Balkans, a resource center where to find partners for joint activities, exchange initiatives, youth projects, discuss cooperation ideas, build up joint activities, get advice, and implement those projects together.
WB YCP also offers a wide array of existing initiatives, national, regional and EU-supported that aim youth and cover the Western Balkans.
The platform will initially provide the functions of:
- Youth Organizations Repository: Youth organizations, movements, informal groups, young researchers, etc. can register their profile and promote their activities;
- Partner Search: all beneficiaries of the platform that need to find contacts in one of the countries for their next project, can use the filters to search the appropriate partner for their idea.
- Information resource centre regarding the RYCO upcoming activities.
Civil Society Forum in Trieste, 11-12 July 2017 – we (EASD) participate
Civil Society Forum in Trieste, 11-12 July 2017 is organised linked to the 4th intergovernmental Summit of Western Balkans and EU countries and it bring together representatives of civil society organisations with the objective of providing a platform for their impact on the so-called Berlin Process.
The Forum consider the topics high on the agenda of the political Summit: youth cooperation, rule of law and anti-corruption, enterprise development and innovation potentials, regional cooperation and bilateral issues; also, it will initiate debates on questions as environment, energy and climate change (EASD participation is focused to environment and climate change issues, as well as innovation, youth and regional cooperation), migrations, media freedoms, the issue of Brexit in relevance to the Western Balkans and the possible role of civil society in increasing the efficiency of the Berlin Process through communications.
The outcomes of the Civil Society Forum meeting (EnvEnCC MESSAGES) in Trieste will be communicated to the intergovernmental Summit in several ways: at a policy event attended by a number of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and a number of representatives of civil society of the Western Balkans, on July 12; at a press conference organised by the Civil Society Forum; in form of recommendations which will be presented to the Summit organisers and through the follow-up advocacy process. The goal of the Civil Society Forum meeting in Trieste is to support regional cooperation and “Europeanisation” of the Balkans through more active civil society participation in the decision-making process.
The Civil Society Forum Trieste is organised under the umbrella of the Civil Society Forum of the Western Balkans Summit Series, as a joint initiative of the European Fund for the Balkans (EFB), ERSTE Foundation and the Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung, in partnership with the Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF), and in close cooperation with the Central European Initiative (CEI), Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), Centro Studi Politica Internazionale (CESPI) and Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso.
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.
EASD and ECOSOC signals: Achieving sustainable development through infrastructure
Infrastructure is a pre-requisite for advances across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including for reducing poverty, promoting economic growth, addressing inequality and ensuring environmental sustainability. Infrastructure is addressed directly through SDG 9, which commits the international community to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. Moreover, “investments in sustainable infrastructure are recognized as a major cross-cutting driver that can contribute to achieving all the SDGs”, as stated by Under-Secretary-General for UN DESA, Wu Hongbo, at the 2015 Global Forum on Development. Resilient infrastructure is essential for ensuring sustainable development for all. “If we are to achieve our goals, and leave no one behind, we must address large infrastructure gaps in developing countries,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the inaugural Global Infrastructure Forum in April 2016.
“Developing countries, particularly the most vulnerable, need international support to bridge existing infrastructure gaps,” emphasized Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the Global Infrastructure Forum. Infrastructure gaps pose major challenges to the implementation of the SDGs. The financing gap for infrastructure in developing countries, for example, is estimated to be 1 to 1.5 trillion dollars annually. Through the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA), the international community has committed to support resilient, sustainable infrastructure and to provide a comprehensive framework for mobilising the means to finance it.
Infrastructure that enables countries to adapt to and mitigate climate change is needed to support the Paris Climate Change Agreement. New and resilient infrastructure is also needed to support sustainable urbanization, as the number of people living in cities in emerging economies is expected to double by 2030. Resilient infrastructure is needed, moreover, to cope with the increasing incidence and magnitude of natural disasters.
In recent years there have been several new global, regional and national initiatives aimed at increasing investment in infrastructure. In Africa, for example, infrastructure is a priority element for realizing the vision of Africa’s Agenda 2063. At the global level, the international community committed to support the realisation of resilient, sustainable infrastructure through the AAAA, and created a new Global Infrastructure Forum—which held its inaugural meeting in April—to facilitate access to financing and technical expertise.
The global discussion on infrastructure will continue on 21 July 2016 at UN Headquarters as part of ECOSOC’s 2016 thematic discussion on “Infrastructure for sustainable development for all”. The thematic discussion, part of ECOSOC’s High-level Segment, will engage a broad range of voices in a global dialogue on infrastructure for sustainable development that is inclusive and leaves no one behind. It will offer policy recommendations and inform the Inter-agency Task Force report on Financing for Development, as well as the 2017 Global Infrastructure Forum. For more information: UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
EASD already is addressing the issue of environmental infrastructure as the condition for sustainable development ( 1 , 2 , 3….), as well as by research and promotion ( A, B, C , …)
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.
Chapter 27: CSOs participation
As a part of the ENV.net project, “Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development” organized the training session: “CSO Participation in Accession Process”. The course was attended by over 20 participants. On the subject of strengthening the role of CSOs invited speakers were: Andjelka Mihajlov, representative of the Negotiating Team 27, Jelena Pajovic van Reenen, representative of the Office for Cooperation with Civil Society, Natasa Djereg, CEKOR, National Convention on the EU, Mirko Popovic, Belgrade Open School: Coalition 27, and Hristina Stevanovic-Carapina, Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development. The main conclusions of the meeting were that the environment is not a priority for the Republic of Serbia and therefore the environmental civil society organizations face a problem of providing funds for their activities, and that stronger civil society can be achieved through more intense sharing of opinions and initiatives ( for example, initiatives related Post-screening document implementation).
EASD participated at the First High Level Ministerial Panel on Responding to Climate and Environmental Challenges in South East Europe
01.04.2016: Climate change and environment – Crucial issues for SEE
Sarajevo/Podgorica – The First High Level Ministerial Panel on Responding to Climate and Environmental Challenges in South East Europe (SEE) took place today in Podgorica. The meeting was opened by the Montenegrin Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Branimir Gvozdenovic; the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic; the Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Center (REC), Marta Bonifert; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Director, Jan Dusik and the German Ambassador to Montenegro, Gudrun Elisabeth Steinacker.
Speaking for the RCC, Secretary General Goran Svilanovic warned that SEE is vulnerable to climate change and that its water, energy, food and security of critical infrastructure is threatened by an increase in extreme events such as the catastrophic floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia in 2014. Svilanovic said that “the RCC is focused on providing a concerted regional approach towards climate resilient growth that ensures greater security and economic gains, than isolated unilateral interventions at the national level”. He emphasized that “one of the most important global events last year was the Paris Climate Conference and our task in the region is to make sure we implement the decisions from Paris and the RCC is fully committed to that goal.
The ministers, together with other international partners and representatives of the civil society organisations (with EASD representative participated at event) discussed the state of climate and environment in SEE and reviewed the state of ongoing regional cooperation in this field. The focus was on the advantages and shortcomings of the current initiatives. In a joint declaration titled “The Podgorica Initiative”, adopted at the meeting, the ministers supported a regional approach to environmental and climate change issues and commended the cooperation with the RCC which has supported the establishment of the Regional Working Group on Environment. The chairing of the Working group was passed on from Montenegro to Serbia today. The Ministers also asked the host country of this meeting to convey the declaration to the Paris Western Balkans Summit in the summer of this year.
National jury and Committee for FEE programs in Serbia
January 26, 2016:
– supported beach “Ada Ciganlija-Savsko jezero” for 2016 Blue Flag
– Noted that 2 hotels in Serbia have Green Key
– initiative to revise renewal fee for Eco-Schools supported
See more
Post Rio+20 busy July 2015
29 June 2015, UN Headquarters, New York, HLPF Stakeholder Consultation: This event present the results of an international stakeholder consultation on the mandate and means of stakeholder engagement in the HLPF.The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is proposed as the institutional “home” for follow-up and review of the post-2015 development agenda; and therefore presents a critical entry-point to ensure delivery of the post-2015 agenda and sustainable development more broadly.
26 June – 8 July 2015, UN Headquarters, New York, High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (The 2015 meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)): The theme of the meeting is “Strengthening integration, implementation and review – the HLPF after 2015.” The first part of the meeting consist of moderated dialogues on a variety of issues, including how to move from vision to transformative action, the role of the private sector in implementation, how the HLPF can support national action, involvement of scientific communities in implementation, regional support for national implementation, small island developing states (SIDS) and investment in sustainable development. The second part of the meeting comprise a ministerial segment, which is expected to include dialogues on developing a transformative integrated agenda, emerging issues for the future, communicating and implementing a universal agenda, shaping the HLPF for the next 15 years, reviewing and monitoring progress, realizing the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and transitioning from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the SDGs.
EASD is pleased to share with you document: Towards an Integrated and Inclusive Follow-up and Review of Natural Resources. Two recommendations aim to ensure that the effective follow-up and review of natural resources in the post-2015 development agenda is aligned with the principles of integration, participation and inclusion: 1) Thematic reviews of natural resources as a crosscutting issue, from tenure to their use, should be carried out under the HLPF; 2) National multi-stakeholder and rights-holder initiatives for follow-up and review, within the context of a renewed global partnership for development, should be established or strengthened.
20-22 July 2015, Economic and Social Council Meeting: Will consider and take action on the Committee’s recommendation at its Coordination and Management Meeting. The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations at its 2015 Resumed Session, held from 26 May to 3 June 2015, decided to recommend Special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council to our organization EASD – Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development.
We participate!
- -The highly anticipated Zero draft of the outcome document for the UN Summit to adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda is available for Stakeholder feedback . EASD teams carefully read document. The programme for the sixth session of the intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda, to be held from 22-25 June, has been posted online .
- – In preparing the MTS 2018-21 and Programme of Work (PoW) for 2018-19, UNEP wishes to consult with Major Groups and Stakeholders to solicit views and ideas on what is expected from UNEP in the future, where UNEP should direct its efforts to serve best interests of all stakeholders and the environment, and which challenges UNEP should be well prepared to meet. EASD is preparing respond.
- – EASD acknowledge Initiatives by Non-State Actors to Curb Emissions Can Help Win the Fight against Climate Change – New UN Report The full report may be downloaded here.
- – The 2015 Resumed Session of the Committee on NGOs took place from 26 May to 3 June (and will adopt its report on 12 June), reviewing a total of 388 applications (including 176 applications that had been deferred from previous sessions), 7 reclassifications and 215 quadrennial reports. A total of 160 applications were recommended for consultative status with ECOSOC. The Committee closed, without prejudice, the consideration of 27 applications. Pending receipt of answers to questions posed by the members, the Committee deferred a total of 200 applications to its next session. EASD is looking forward to the decision related our application – expected to be taken up by ECOSOC at its next Coordination and Management Meeting, between 20-22 July 2015.
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!
Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition (age 15-30) – submit ideas by June 30, 2014
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.
__________________________
Blue Flag NOM 2024 October 15-18, Tobago
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
__________________________
National FEE Committee Meeting, September 6, 2013
__________________________
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.
__________________________
In the publication ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES HANDBOOK 2013, 3 pages are examples from Serbia: Serbia, p.18, Serbia, p.28 and Serbia, p.71
__________________________
2013 Blue Flag National Jury meeting held in February 2013.
_________________________
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 )
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.
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) |
|
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