On March 5, 2024, the Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute (RERI) presented the second Analysis of the Law on Climate Change of the Republic of Serbia in Belgrade. This event assembled experts in the field of energy and climate change, representatives of state institutions, academic institutions, international organizations and institutions, the diplomatic corps, as well as regional and local civil society organizations (CSOs).
The publication Analysis of the Law on Climate Change of the Republic of Serbia represents the second report on the implementation of the Law on Climate Change of the Republic of Serbia. In 2022, RERI published the first report on the implementation of the Law on Climate Change, exactly one year after that law was adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.
At this conference, Dr. Lučka Kajfež Bogataj, professor at the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana, member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), gave the opening lecture, while Dragana Radulović, head of the Climate Change Mitigation Group at the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia, Bojan Gajić, program director of the Platform for Energy Transition, Dr. Ivan Simić, assistant professor at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade, and Mirko Popović, program director of RERI, also participated in the panel.
Prof. Lučka Kajfež Bogataj, Ph.D., gave a lecture on the topic: “The contribution of Southeastern European countries to the achievement of the goals of the Paris Agreement – experiences and recommendations.” She warned about the inevitability and seriousness of climate change, emphasizing that it is tangible and dangerous today, with an evident tendency for further deterioration. She especially emphasized that solving the problem can no longer be postponed, and that it is worrying that many still do not even face the existence of the problem, let alone the solutions. Dr. Kaifež Bogataj pointed out that every year and every choice is essential at this moment, given that we are fast approaching the point of no return. Therefore, she emphasized the necessity of significantly increasing our ambitions. The awareness that carbon emissions have a price must be universal, and that every person and every sector must take their share of responsibility. Adaptation is now imperative, inevitable and necessary. Finally, she called for investment in innovation and research, and for the transformation of the economic model and the modernization of industrial policies in order to respond to the climate challenges.
Mirko Popović emphasized the crucial importance of timely reporting, stressing that delays in this process negatively affect policy developments, since outdated data does not provide for adequate planning. He indicated that the progress in establishing a normative framework for the implementation of the Law on Climate Change is visible, but he also underlined that the delay in the adoption of by-laws has implications on the implementation of the law. He pointed to the necessity of complementarity of policies instead of their sectoral separation, and emphasized the importance of connecting and including all relevant stakeholders in the processes of adoption and implementation of measures. He especially emphasized the need for the National Council for Climate Change to facilitate participation, to open and create space for the active participation of the interested public in the creation and monitoring of the implementation of climate policy.
Popović talked about the different levels at which CSOs can contribute, including raising awareness, organizing informal education and implementing innovative projects.
He also emphasized the need for an open consultative process that does not only involve participation in working groups and stressed the importance of ministries seeking the input of CSOs before the beginning of development of the documents, the need to abolish discriminatory criteria for participation in working groups and insisted on the application of equal standards for everyone. He pointed out that this would encourage relevant organizations and the academic community to get involved in the processes. He also criticized the frequent absence of responses from ministries to the received comments, stressing that a dialogue and an exchange of arguments are the key to achieving progress, as it is the task of CSOs to always seek higher and more ambitious goals. At the end, Popović thanked all the participants for their contribution and announced that RERI will next year again prepare an analysis of the implementation of the Law on Climate Change.
Dragana Radulović pointed out that everyone is on a joint mission, and that the Ministry of Environmental Protection is trying to include relevant stakeholders in the process of drafting both laws and strategies. She also added that the Ministry appreciates the efforts of CSOs, praising the comprehensive analysis that was developed with the best intentions, claiming that the employees of the Ministry are aware that the Law on Climate Change has its flaws. Mrs. Radulović emphasized that the law now exists as a basis that can be improved through joint efforts. When asked about the contribution of the CSOs, she underlined the key role that the CSOs play in raising the level of awareness, advocating more ambitious goals and control, as well as providing innovative proposals.
Bojan Gajić emphasized the necessity of raising the level of awareness of local self-governments, their active involvement in processes and familiarization with their obligations. As an illustration, he pointed out the example of the introduction of energy efficiency, when local communities were actively engaged after the control activities of the Ministry began. Mr. Gajić shared his belief that local communities will be engaged when the implementation of strategic documents begin, but he also emphasized the importance of gaining their trust, i.e. that it is important for citizens to believe that what was promised will be achieved, and that their contribution will be recognized. He also informed the participants that people at the local level are not familiar with all available sources of financing, as well as that they lack the capacity to design and implement projects financed from the EU funds. In the end, he concluded that we must be aware of the climate urgency, because we are already behind.
Dr. Ivan Simić pointed out the key aspects of progress in this area, stressing that it is necessary to harmonize regulations both temporally and hierarchically. He underlined the importance of adopting strategies in accordance with national and local requirements, emphasizing the need for a meta system for harmonizing strategic documents, such as a GIS system that effectively coordinates spatial and temporal aspects. Dr. Simić insisted on the necessity for cities to develop systematically, as well as to cease non-systemic actions. He also noted that it is important for projects to be transparent within the legal system, opposing the adoption of lex specialis for the needs of certain projects, as they undermine the system. As an example of good practice, he cited pilot projects in urban planning that can be the result of a participatory process, showing how changes can be implemented “from the bottom up”. He further emphasized the importance of controlling plans and implementation, in order to ensure that funds are adequately used.
The event was organized as part of the project of the Belgrade Open School and the Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute “Civil Society for Energy Transition”, which is implemented with the financial support of the British Embassy in Belgrade.