The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans is the growth strategy for the region that aims to tackle the challenges of climate change and green transition and assist the Western Balkan (WB) countries to align environmental regulations with the European acquis. The Green Agenda for the WB is based on the European Green Deal and the related Economic and Investment Plan for the WB.

The project "EU for Green Agenda in Serbia", with the technical and financial support of the European Union and in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, is implemented by UNDP in cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden and the European Investment Bank (EIB), with additional funding from the Governments of Sweden, Switzerland and Serbia.

The EU donation amounts to 7.2 million euros. During 2022, the Government of Switzerland provided an additional 7.1 million dollars, the Government of Sweden 1.58 million dollars, and the Government of the Republic of Serbia 0.8 million dollars for this initiative.

An important area of the Green Agenda is that the transition to climate-neutrality must be socially just and inclusive in order to be a success. Therefore, the project activities are designed to ensure that the costs and benefits of the green transformation and decarbonization are evenly distributed across society.

The project will use the “Innovation Challenge” approach to engage different parts of society. This is a proven methodology to source innovative and cost-efficient ideas, technologies, and business models that will lead to improving social, economic and environmental conditions for all citizens in Serbia as foreseen by the Green Agenda.

GOAL:

To contribute to the efficient, inclusive and sustainable implementation of the Green Agenda in Serbia by:

• improving the strategic and legislative framework,

• co-financing implementation of innovative pilot projects and

• mobilizing additional financing for scale-up investments.

In this way, the project will contribute to the green transformation of economy and society in Serbia.

FOCUS:

Contributing to the decarbonisation of the economy and achievement of the Paris Agreement goals, reducing environmental pollution (air, soil and water) and supporting the alignment of Serbia’s regulatory framework with the EU acquis in following 5 pillars of the Green Agenda:

1. Climate action, decarbonization, energy efficiency and green industries,

2. Circular economy for resource efficiency and industrial symbiosis,

3. Depollution of the environment with strong focus on air quality,

4. Protecting and investing in biodiversity and ecosystems,

5. Sustainable food systems for sustainable rural livelihood.

PROJECT RESULTS

Complete lists of all selected solutions from all four areas of the Green Agenda covered by previous public calls:

1. Innovations for Improving Air Quality

2. Innovative Solutions for Decarbonization of the Economy and Depollution of the Environment

3. Innovative Solutions - Forests and Green infrastructure for improving natural capital and resilience to climate change

4. Innovative Solutions in the Field of Circular Economy