Building Climate Resilience and
Smart Energy Systems

We expect that Serbia will soon experience even more frequent and intense heat waves, like the ones we felt this summer. Moreover, these periods of heat waves will completely change the familiar weather patterns. Climate change is already affecting the well-being and health of people, and in the future, it will impact the functioning of the entire society and economy. This was one of the key messages conveyed by Dr. Vladimir Đurđević, a climatologist from the Faculty of Physics in Belgrade, at the workshop titled “Building Climate Resilience and Smart Energy Systems,” organized by Ecocivilisation from Slovenia, led by Dr. Violeta Bulc, and the Center for Environmental Improvement as the local partner, held in Belgrade on Thursday, September 19, 2024. Participants came from various sectors, but all are already facing the challenges of climate change in their work. Together, we discussed climate and energy, as well as the transfer of knowledge and experience from theory into practice.

Europe is warming at twice the rate of the global average, but in a world 1.5°C warmer, people in the Western Balkans must be prepared to live in a climate that is 3 degrees hotter. A report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that 2023 was the hottest year ever recorded, with a global average temperature 1.45°C above the pre-industrial era, climatologist Oleksandra Heraskina reminded us. Comparing climate risks and vulnerabilities between the Western Balkans and EU countries, Heraskina emphasized that heat waves are increasingly prevailing in this region, including Serbia, while local climatologist Vladimir Đurđević added that extended periods of heat waves will soon become more frequent.

However, climate change is also a driver for jointly addressing interconnected socio-economic security risks. Extreme weather events and groundwater depletion are leading to decreased labor productivity, social fragmentation, challenges regarding water, food, and energy security, and poverty, which is closely linked to the rising cost of living, further leading to political instability and violent conflicts, Heraskina stressed. Professor Đurđević pointed out that all ministries need their own climatologist to cover specific sectors and ensure that the institution’s work complies with both international and domestic legislation in this area.

During the workshop and discussion, led by Dr. Violeta Bulc, participants highlighted that deeper environmental education and raising awareness of climate change is a “necessity” for all generations. Now is the right time to establish a ministry for connecting communities and society, and, ultimately — it is time to truly commit to applying the latest knowledge and innovations to the development of sustainable and resilient local communities.

Additionally, a systemic approach is needed to address the challenges of climate change — a broader social dialogue in the country, empowering citizens to become constructive climate agents, addressing the mental health issues related to climate change, and ensuring a just energy transition by creating new jobs and professions aligned with the climate agenda. These were just some of the key reminders and conclusions drawn from the event dedicated to the theme “Building Climate Resilience and Smart Energy Systems” in Belgrade.