Belgrade, June 5, 2022 - As part of the activities surrounding EU Green Week 2022, the Donji Grad of the Kalemegdan Fortress became the venue for the entertainment and educational programme to mark World Environment Day. The event was organised by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, United Nations Development Programme, Embassy of Sweden, European Investment Bank, City of Belgrade Secretariat for Environmental Protection, Belgrade Fortress and Climate-KIC.

The World Environment Day celebration was officially launched by the Minister of Environmental Protection Irena Vujović, in the presence of the Ambassador of EU to Serbia H.E. Emanuele Giaufret, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlović, Minister for European Integration Jadranka Joksimović, as well as the representative of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Radman Šelmić and UNDP Serbia Resident Representative ad interim, Anas Qarman.

The Government of Serbia and the Ministry of Environmental Protection have set clear priorities regarding the environment, and we remain committed to all activities under the EU Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, which will lead to significant improvements in this area, said the Minister of Environmental Protection, Irena Vujović.

“Clean and healthy environment are essential for our future and Serbia’s strategic path is EU membership. With the opening of Cluster 4 and Chapter 27 – related to Environment and Climate Change - we have affirmed our commitment to full harmonisation with EU standards. Our priorities include improving air quality, waste and wastewater management, as well as tackling climate change. There are ongoing green projects in nearly all the local self-governments in Serbia and they include projects for proper waste water treatment as well as proper communal waste management. This will have a positive impact on the environment but also on the quality of life of our citizens”, Vujović said.

“The EU has the strongest and most complete environmental legislation in the world, and we hope to see Serbia, on its path to EU, to continue to transpose legislation, implement it, and why not, become even greener than other Member States? The Green Week concludes with the 5 June World Environment Day with the United Nations and Government representatives in the Kalemegdan fortress, because yes, we need to protect our environment and defend our European values. In November, COP26 gave us hope and confidence that we can provide a safe and prosperous space for humanity on this planet. We have only one planet Earth, there is no planet B”, said the EU Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Emanuele Giaufret.

“Because we understand the importance of a comprehensive approach to achieving Sustainable Development Goals and the Green Agenda, our 3E group within the Government of Serbia that includes the areas of Ecology, Energy and European Integration, maintains very close cooperation and coordinates the implementation of these goals. The tasks we have set for ourselves, and to which we remain fully committed, involve strategic planning and implementation of all activities in these areas, especially the ones related to the adoption and implementation of regulations, planning and management of budget earmarked for these purposes and particularly those activities geared towards encouraging the general public to understand why it is important for all of us for these policies to be implemented in synergy and for the benefit of all Serbian citizens”, said Minister for European Integration, Jadranka Joksimović.

“Environmental protection is not the job of just a handful of institutions but for all of us: the way we teach our children about nature, what we leave behind on a daily basis, do we use energy rationally or are we wasting it. Moreover, in all our future projects, in all our future strategies, energy and the environment will have to walk hand in hand. This is the best way for us as a country to be the winners of energy transition, to have sufficient clean and available energy and to live in a healthy environment”, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mining and Energy prof. dr Zorana Mihajlović.

“Climate change, biodiversity loss and environment pollution are indicators of the negative impact of human activities on the planet. In order to preserve nature, our health and the competitiveness of the economy, we need to accelerate the green transformation of our economy and society. I am very pleased that we have dedicated this day to the activities for children and young people, because it is their future that is at stake and it is important that we give them a chance to make their contribution to the protection of the environment”, said Anas Qarman, UNDP Serbia Resident Representative a.i.

The World Environment Day celebration was primarily geared towards families, children and young people. Various activities were organised on the topic of environmental protection such as performances, family games, eco treasure hunts, workshops for children and an eco-quiz. In addition, the organisers of Serbia Open 2022 ATP tournament received carbon-dioxide emission reduction certificates and the winners of the Serbian Explorers Association competition were announced. 

World Environment Day celebration was the last in the series of events within the EU Green Week 2022 in Serbia. Circular economy, zero pollution and protection of biodiversity were the topics of the activities organised around Europe, and the host country of this year’s EU Green Week was the Kingdom of Sweden. A number of events were organised in Serbia with the aim of informing the citizens about the activities undertaken by the Serbian Government and its partners towards achieving green transformation of its economy and of the entire society. 

The celebration of World Environment Day was organised with the support of the “EU Green Agenda in Serbia” initiative, implemented by the Government of Serbia and UNDP, in cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden and the European Investment Bank, and with the financial support of the European Union.

At the initiative of the UN General Assembly, World Environment Day has been celebrated every June 5, since 1973, with the aim of drawing attention and encouraging activities aimed at achieving a healthier environment.