Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme an in co-operation with the Embassy of France in Serbia, is organizing the Conference “Serbia’s climate talks – on the way to Paris – Forging climate-smart partnerships” on 5 and 6 October 2015 in Hotel Metropol Palace, 69 Kralj Aleksandar Blvd., Belgrade.
The conference is organized with the financial support of the Global Environmental Fund.
Climate change represents one of the greatest global challenges of today. This year at the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC – COP21), held in Paris from the 30 November to 11 December, a historical agreement is expected which will replace the Kyoto Protocol and apply from 2020 onwards. The basis of the negotiations on the questions of obligations for the period post-2020 are focused on: the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptions to changes in climate conditions, funding, strengthening capacities and technology transfers, but also the legal nature of the document. This document which will, in a way, be the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol, should be legally binding. At the same time, certain countries are ready to reduce emissions post-2020 on a voluntary basis.
The conference “Serbia’s climate talks – on the way to Paris – Forging climate-smart partnerships” will present initiatives in the Republic of Serbia in this particular area, with special emphasis on the importance of such international and domestic measures for the Serbian economy, legislature and the environment. The aim of this conference is also to point out the importance of participation of all interested parties both in defining, but also in applying policies and measures to combat climate change, which will undoubtedly be needed after the Conference in Paris.
The conference will offer all interested parties the option, within the roundtable discussion format, to get better acquainted with the contents of the Republic of Serbia’s Second National Communication and First Biennial Update Report according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In answering questions on the extent that we as a society are ready for climate change and the realistic possibilities of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the participants will also have the opportunity to discuss the aspects of planning the future development of key economic sectors. Also, there will be an opportunity to examine policies on climate change in the context of fulfilling international obligations stemming from the EU ascension process. Our intention is to present the conclusions and recommendations from this conference at the forthcoming Conference on Climate Change in Paris (UNFCCC – COP21), in order to give all interested parties the chance to express their views on the expected new global agreement.
In the opening session the conference will be addressed by:
Snežana Bogosavljević-Bošković, Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection
Christine Moro, Ambassador of the Republic of France in Serbia
Irena Vojáčková-Sollorano, UNDP Resident Representative in Serbia
Michael Davenport, Ambassador, EU Delegation to Serbia
During the presentations and discussions, the participants will be addressed by experts in the areas of climate change, sustainable development, public policy, from governmental as well as EU institutions, and the international community. During the conference the publication “Climate Change: What this Means for Agriculture in Serbia” will be launched.
