Climate change and 2030 Agenda, GIZ press release:
In order to raise awareness of the importance of this global problem, every year in November World Climate Change Day is celebrated. This year's celebration of this day is especially important, because the European Union's service for monitoring climate change, Copernicus, recently announced that the average temperatures last summer in Europe were the highest ever measured. Also, the 26th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26) was held in Glasgow, at which the countries of the world agreed on how to cope with the global climate crisis and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
"The topic of climate change is complex therefore, often provokes conflicting opinions, but when this problem is viewed from the angle of everyday life of citizens and their quality of life, there is a clear need for urgent action, because we are already suffering the consequences of climate change. In the past period, we have witnessed an increased amount of precipitation that threatens to cause floods again throughout the region. During the summer, we had severe droughts and long-lasting heat waves. Consequently, such changes affect the economy due to reduced food production and energy production from hydro potentials. Changed climatic conditions often lead to an increase in air pollution, given that temperature inversions are created and there is no natural ventilation, especially in cities whose residents increasingly breathe the most polluted air in Europe, "said Nina Cvetanovic from the Belgrade Open School (BOS). In cooperation with the BFPE Foundation for Responsible Society, BOS implements activities related to environmental protection within the Platform "Sustainable Development for All", which is implemented by GIZ with the support of the governments of Switzerland and Germany, within the project "Public Finance Reform – 2030 Agenda".
The 2030 Agenda, adopted by the UN in 2015, defines global activities to fight climate change under Sustainable Development Goal 13 - Climate Action. In addition, the 2015 Paris Agreement provides guidelines and goals to be achieved in order to avoid the catastrophic consequences of climate change that science predicts if we do not undertake urgent and decisive steps.
However, climate action cannot be achieved independently of other Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, in particular Goal 7 - Affordable and clean energy. This goal envisages a significant increase in the share of renewable energy in global energy production and consumption by the end of 2030, doubling the energy efficiency rate and the provision of affordable, modern and reliable energy services to all.
"Strategic and legislative framework in Serbia regarding Goal number 7 exist, but some of the public policies, such as the current Energy Sector Development Strategy, are outdated and should be changed, while some new regulations have just been adopted and are in the initial phase of implementation, so it is still unclear what effect it will have. In agreement with the Energy Community, the goal was set for 27% of primary energy in Serbia to come from renewable sources by 2020, but that goal has not been met, "says Cvetanovic, adding:" On the other hand, the strategic and legal framework for climate change that should contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal number 13, is almost non-existent. Serbia adopted the Law on Climate Change at the beginning of 2021, but it does not contain provisions that should lead to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We have developed a strategy to combat climate change, but we have never adopted it. The national plan for adaptation to climate change, which is extremely important for Serbia as a country that is very exposed to the consequences of climate change, is being prepared."
In order to familiarize citizens with climate change and activities that should be undertaken in this regard, BOS project team, within the Platform "Sustainable Development for All", has prepared a publication “A Few Words About Sustainable Development”, which in a simple and understandable way, explains the content of the six Goals of the 2030 Agenda that relate to different topics within the framework of environmental protection. Also, in order to encourage the active participation of each individual in the fight against climate change and mitigation of its consequences, within this component of the Platform, a report "Engaging the local community in the fight against the consequences of climate change" was prepared.
"Climate change does not know state borders, but within the borders of individual states, mobilization and raising awareness is needed in order to mitigate climate change and contribute to mitigation of its consequences. Also, climate change does not concern only the state, but every citizen and every local community, so the global effort to preserve the climate must be complemented by the so-called bottom-up approach, i.e., action at the municipal and city level, "said Stefan Vladisavljev, author of this report.
Within the Platform "Sustainable Development for All", throughout Serbia, a series of trainings for young people, round tables and public dialogues on this topic were organized. Moreover, the initiatives for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in the health and environmental sector in Bor, Sombor, Pozega, Knjazevac and Pirot, have started. These activities are supported by the Fund for Sustainable Local Development, which is launched within the project.
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