Green Serbia 2016

Creating a sustainable, clean and safe world by making wiser decisions and choices

2016

Thinking Green & Living Clean

Endorsed by the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection

CONTENTS

Thinking Green & Living Clean

8

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

40 WHERE SCIENCE MEETS ECONOMY SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY PARK BELGRADE

EDITOR Ana Novčić

SNEŽANA BOGOSAVLJEVIĆ BOŠKOVIĆ Ph.D., Minister of Agriculture & Environmental Protection

ART DIRECTOR Jasmina Laković j.lakovic@aim.rs PHOTOGRAPHY: Zoran Petrović

12 GEF GRANT TARGETS SERBIAN FORESTS ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT MANAGERS: Aleksandra Ebilji a.ebilji@aim.rs Ljiljana Knežević lj.knezevic@aim.rs

13 FAIR OF NEW IDEAS AND TECHNOLOGIES

Biljana Dević b.devic@aim.rs

POWER INDUSTRY OF SERBIA (EPS)

22 S TEPS TOWARDS A “GREEN” EUROPE

MARKO SLOKAR Executive Director of MS SVET Ltd. Slovenia 26 A IRPORT CITY BUSINESS OASIS BUSINESS PARK AIRPORT CITY BELGRADE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS IN SERBIA

42 M AJOR MILESTONES REACHED, NEW WORLD RECORD SET RENEWABLE ENERGY 46 W ISE WATER MANAGEMENT KEY

28 BREWING A BETTER WORLD HEINEKEN

Dragana Radović d.radovic@aim.rs Nataša Trifunović n.trifunovic@aim.rs

PROFESSOR ČEDO MAKSIMOVIĆ Imperial College, London, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

30 INVESTING IN YOUTH LEADS TO A HEALTHY SOCIETY

FINANCIAL DIRECTOR Dragana Skrobonja d.skrobonja@cma.rs

JELENA MARINKOVIĆ MSC. Executive Director responsible for Integrated Marketing Communications and member of the Executive Board of the Novi Sad Fair

PUBLICATION MANAGER Neda Lukić n.lukic@aim.rs EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR aim Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs

14 IMPROVE WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

GENERAL MANAGER Ivan Novčić i.novcic@cma.rs

50

JOVANA MLADENOVIĆ Communications Manager at Carlsberg Serbia 34 R ENEWABLES CHANGE GLOBAL POLITICS AND ECONOMICS

PRINT Rotografika d.o.o.

Segedinski put 72, Subotica Green Serbia 2016 is published by alliance international media, with the support of the Serbian Ministry of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection Makenzijeva 67, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia T +(381 11) 2450-508 F +(381 11) 2450 122 E-mail: office@aim.rs www. allianceinternationalmedia.com ISSN no: 1451-7833 All rights reserved alliance international media 2016

6

PROFESSOR ALEKSANDAR JOVOVIĆ Ph.D., University of Belgrade, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 18 OUTDOOR AND INDOOR POLLUTION EU: Environment and health 19 A MOVE TOWARD SYSTEMSLEVEL THINKING THE MOST IMPORTANT CSR TREND FOR 2016 Thinking Green & Living Clean

S TRONG OPERATIONAL CULTURE & TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTISE

PROFESSOR VLADIMIR JANKOVIĆ Ph.D., Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Manchester 38 E U STANDARDS THROUGH EPS INVESTMENTS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURES IN THE ELECTRIC

FRANÇOIS ALLAIN Director of SADE Serbia 51

INNOVATIVE ECOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS MARBO PRODUCT

52

IS EUROPE’S FRESHWATER USE SUSTAINABLE? WATER

56

B USINESSES AS ACTIVE PARTNERS IN NATURE CONSERVATION WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE

60 M Y (ORGANIC) GARDEN AGRICULTURE

INTERVIEW

SNEŽANA BOGOSAVLJEVIĆ BOŠKOVIĆ

PH.D., МINISTER OF AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Investing in the

FUTURE “T

he environment in Serbia was painted red, denoting that many things are done in a way that is not harmonised with European policy standards in this area. In the previous period a lot has been done in terms of the environment,” says Minister Bogosavljević Bošković

Investing in the environment represents an investment in the future, or, more precisely, investing in the future of those who will come in the years after us. Anyone who in the future acts irresponsibly and pollutes the environment, consciously or unconsciously, will have to be aware that they are impacting on their own health and that of their children

8

» What would you place in focus at the beginning of this conversation when it comes to the state of the environment in Serbia, considering the overall picture and what the world expects from us?

- First of all, we adopted a set of green laws, which form the basis for the further development of this area, while we also completed the screening for Chapter 27. What certainly constitutes one of the biggest challenges is the opening of Chapter 27, for which we have received indications that it will be without initial criteria, which will certainly represent a positive precedent.

In the period ahead we are awaited by the development of planned bylaws which will complete the transferring of legislation to that of the EU, the continued implementation of the EU regulations and the designing of specific plans for the implementation of the Directives, which requires major financial investments. Serbia, as a candidate country, has funds of the EU and

Thinking Green & Living Clean

the donor community at its disposal. However, the possibility to take advantage of these funds depends on the ability of the administration to adequately absorb the resources and opportunities for co-financing project activities, which is an essential condition for the approval of funds. » Serbia currently spends around 0.4% of GDP on the environment, which is almost ten times less than the European average. With this in kind, how realistic is it to expect that in the next ten years 10 billion euros will be invested in this area in order to meet the requirements of the European Union?

- The Ministry is working actively to establish a sustainable system of financing and investment planning in the environmental sector.

Strategic planning was raised to a higher level with the adoption of the post-screening document in September 2015, a preliminary estimate has been provided for the cost of financing “expensive” directives in the areas of water and waste management, which are also the most demanding.

Likewise, analysis has been carried out on the available financing sources, both national and international, and based on this analysis we have submitted a preliminary timeframe for the implementation of the requirements of the relevant directives, which, for example, include the Directive on waste water, which ends in 2041. This analysis implies that allocations for the environment will increase at the national level in the coming period, with a significant contribution expected primarily from EU pre-accession funds, and later cohesion and structural EU funds.

INVESTMENT

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

COMMUNICATION

The Ministry is working actively to establish a sustainable system of financing and investment planning in the environmental sector

A lot has been done in the previous period to improve the legal framework in the field of water protection

Creating a national communication is one of our obligations towards the international community, namely, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

» This year we also expect to see amendments to the Law bia. As the most important infrastructure projects, I can single out the project “Construction of a regional waste management on Environmental Protection and the establishment of the system in Subotica” and the project “Constructing of a system Green Fund. Is it possible to fully implement these regulafor wastewater treatment Raška”. tions, given the major investments required, and has the Green Fund been devised as a mechanism for sustainable » Given that the least has been done on the protection and funding of the environment? sustainable management of water – with less than 20 per cent - The law you mention was adopted in February this year. This law of waste water purified in Serbia, losses in the water supply led to the establishing of the Green Fund of the Republic of Sersystem measured in bia, as a dedicated budget fund. In the the millions of dinars coming period we have a lot of work is and as much as a third ahead of us in terms of developing the of water lost – do we bylaw framework, but also in implemenalso need, alongside ting tangible activities with the aim of financial help, techdeveloping a system of financing for the nical assistance from environment. In addition to this, we need developed countries? to improve strategic planning, not only - A lot has been done at the level of the environmental sector, in the previous period but also at the level of macro-finance, in to improve the legal terms of the further integration of enviframework in the field ronmental policy into the policy of the of water protection. government, as well as developing coWe are also awaited operation and coordination of planning by the harmonising of and the implementation of activities in this field between all stakeholders.

The basic aim of the establishment The basic aim of the establishment of the Green Fund is of the Green Fund is to finance the preparation, implementation and developto finance the preparation, implementation and ment of programmes, projects and other development of programmes, projects and other activities activities in the fields of conservation, in the fields of conservation, sustainable use, protection sustainable use, protection and advanand advancement of the environment cement of the environment. » Has the ministry already prepared a list of priority areas for which these funds will be earmarked?

- We have formed a unique list of priority projects for the sub-sectors of waste and wastewater, and on the basis of the Methodology for the selection and prioritisation of infrastructure projects in the field of the environment. This Methodology forms the basis for evaluating the strategic importance of projects, their compliance with EU policies, IPA priorities, the national strategic framework, sectoral strategies and EU directives. » A quarter of the funds that Serbia has received from EU preaccession funds in previous years, about 700 million euros, has been invested in the environment. What is the most important project so far financed using European funds?

- IPA funds are of great significance and importance for Ser-

domestic legislation with the EU acquis, which will be completed by the end of 2018. The Draft Water Management Strategy of the Republic of Serbia also proposes the introduction of new institutional solutions.

In terms of wastewater treatment, in Serbian settlements with more than 2,000 inhabitants we have constructed just over 50 urban facilities, 32 of which are operational, while only eight are in accordance with project criteria, while other facilities operate with a level of efficiency that’s well below the projected level. With the support of various donors, planning and construction is underway on several facilities that are in line with EU standards. The biggest challenge in the field of water protection and management will certainly be in finding financial structures, while the experiences of countries that have already resolved the wastewater issue are certainly of great importance.

Thinking Green & Living Clean

9

» Serbia possesses several regional sanitary landfill sites which contain a lot of material that could be recycled. When it comes to the implementation of the Law on Packaging and Packaging Waste, does the government intend to include the authorities at all levels, citizens, operators, recyclers, collectors, and other utilities companies, thereby developing a new branch of indsutry?

- Eight regional sanitary landfill sites are currently constructed and in operation in the Republic of Serbia (Kikinda, Lapovo, Jagodina, Užice, Pirot, Leskovac, Sremska Mitrovica, Pančevo), while there are two sanitary landfill sites in Vranje and Gornji Milanovac that are not of a regional type. Four regional landfill sites are organised through public-private partnership (Kikinda, Lapovo, Jagodina and Leskovac).

A small percentage of waste – 19 per cent, or 420,000 tonnes – is currently disposed of at the landfill sites I mentioned. We expect the completion of another two regional landfill sites in Inđija and Subotica, which will increase the percentage of waste disposed of at sanitary landfill sites to 25-30 per cent.

The annual quantity of packaging waste in Serbia is estimated at about

tribute greatly to the reduction of global emissions. At the same time, participation in this global Agreement has great significance from the aspect of demonstrating our readiness to participate effectively in international flows and cooperation, but also to adapt the national economy to global standards and trends.

362,000 tonnes. It is estimated that packaging waste accounts for about 14.8% of all municipal waste. The aim of the adoption of the Law on Packaging Waste was to ensure the reuse and recycling of packaging waste in an economically efficient manner. All the national targets set have been met, with a level of recycling of packaging waste of 19.95% achieved.

In general, the system of separated collection and recycling of packaging waste represents one of the priorities, along with the preparing of citizens through educational campaigns.

It is planned to amend the Law on Packaging in 2017.

» The Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection has prepared a draft law on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Does this law oblige us to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 9.8% by 2030? Which industries most require a reduction in emissions and how much will that cost?

- The provisions of the law does not regulate a specific target when it comes to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases at the national level, but this Law is a “tool” in the reducing of emissions and, of course, monitoring the levels and changes in emissions at an annual level, including emissions from both power plants and industrial facilities.

The provisions of this law are designed in accordance with the requirements of the EU’s system of trade in emissions reduction units of greenhouse gases, defined by the EU acquis, which simultaneously prescribes sectors in which the reduction of emissions is regulated. According to the EU directive, these are the sectors of industry and energy and they regard activities related to the production of heat and electrical ener-

» An international meeting of the UN Convention on the Protection of the Climate was held in Paris late last year and resulted in the reaching of an international consensus. What are the main conclusions of this meeting?

- The agreement defines the obligations for all Member States, up to and including the period after 2020, through the concrete implementation of activities aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases that will ensure the growth of the global medium temperature is limited to well below two degrees Celsius, with a tendency to limit the increase in the global medium temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

In addition to reducing emissions, the Agreement also includes adjustment to altered climatic conditions and the financing of mitigation and adaptation in developing countries, as well as capacity building and the deThe biggest challenge in the field of water protection velopment and transfer of technology.

The need for financial assistance from and management will certainly be in finding financial developed countries to developing costructures, while the experiences of countries that have untries, in order to help them fulfil thealready resolved the wastewater issue are ir obligations and meet their goals, has also been clearly defined. certainly of great importance

» The Government of Serbia has shown a willingness to participate in the Global agreement on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in order to mitigate climate change. How much can Serbia contribute at the global level?

- The total emissions of the Republic of Serbia do not contribute significantly to the global total. Thus, reducing emissions at the national level, no matter how significant that may be, cannot con-

10

Thinking Green & Living Clean

» The environment is a very demanding sector, but also an investment in the future. How much should Serbia invest in ensuring a cleaner future, and what is realistic in that sense?

- Any investment in environmental protection will become eco» This year will also see the completion of the Second Nationnomically profitable, and that includes investments in recycling, renewable energy, waste management, utilities. al Communication. What do we gain from this document?

As a direct response to the global crisis in the structure of - Creating a national communication is one of our obligatisustainable development, the policies of “green growth” and ons towards the international community, namely, the UN the “green ecoFramework Connomy” have been vention on ClimaEight regional sanitary landfill sites are currently created in order to te Change. This constructed and in operation in the Republic of Serbia contribute to acdocument provihieving sustainades highlights on (Kikinda, Lapovo, Jagodina, Užice, Pirot, Leskovac, plans for the redu- Sremska Mitrovica, Pančevo), while there are two sanitary ble development and optimal maction of greenhoulandfill sites in Vranje and Gornji Milanovac that nagement of the se gas emissions, are not of a regional type environment and as well as options social equality. for adapting to The Green Economy refers to the wide use of renewable reshifting climatic conditions. It identifies opportunities for resources and energy sources, increasing energy efficiency, but ducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, improvements and also on the development and implementation of sustainable changes in technologies and practices that can lead to that, organic agriculture. All of this results in the creation of new influences of climate change on sectors such as water, agricul“green” jobs that are related directly to the environment and ture and forestry, and the measures that can be taken in order the launching of so-called overall “green” economic growth. « to turn negative influences into gains. gy, oil refining, the production of coal, iron and steel, the production and processing of metals, aluminium, tree pulp, tiles, bricks, building blocs, nitric acid, ammonia and so forth.

Thinking Green & Living Clean

11

ENVIRONMENT

GEF Grant Targets

SERBIAN FORESTS Serbia’s forests will benefit from a 3.2-million-dollar grant approved by the Council of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which will finance a four-year FAO project aimed at ensuring the long-term health of forests through sustainable management

F

orestry is important for Serbia. Almost a third of the country’s territory is covered by forests, and the sector accounts for 2.3 per cent of total gross domestic product. Yet, a national forest inventory in 2009 found forests overall to be in a poor condition, with unfavourable structures, poor health, and a lack of natural regeneration.

This FAO project will help Serbia revise its current development strategy and legislation concerning forests, incorporating sustainability objectives and modern principles of multifunctional forest management. Conserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change will also become important considerations in forestry.

To ensure the smooth implementation of these principles, some 120 experts – forest users and representatives of forestry administration and institutes – will receive FAO training on forest management, including carbon, forest restoration, methods for controlling forest degradation and related topics.

The first area to come under multifunctional forest management could be 80,000 hectares of land in the buffer zone of the Tara National Park. An integrated sustainable forest management plan, to be developed and tested there, should increase forest cover by five per cent, resulting in the sequestration of 954,200 metric

tonnes of CO2 equivalent. FAO will work in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Endorsement by the GEF Council clears the way for initial project activities to commence in the coming weeks. Initial activities will include a capacity needs assessment and development of the full-size project.

nal institutions, civil society organisations, and the private sector to address global environmental issues.

GEF’s 18 implementing partners are: the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the African Development Bank (AFDB), the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), Conservation International (CI), the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Foreign Economic Cooperation Office - Ministry of Environmental Protection of China (FECO), Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Fundo Brasileiro para a Biodiversidade (FUNBIO), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the West African Development Bank (BOAD), the World Bank Group (WBG), the World Wildlife Fund U.S. (WWF). «

The FAO project will help Serbia revise its current development strategy and legislation concerning forests, incorporating sustainability objectives and modern principles of multifunctional forest management

12

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems. Since then, GEF has provided $14.5 billion in grants and mobilised $75.4 billion in additional financing for almost 4,000 projects. GEF has become an international partnership of 183 countries, internatio-

Thinking Green & Living Clean

INTERVIEW

JELENA MARINKOVIĆ MSC., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS AND MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE NOVI SAD FAIR

Fair of New Ideas and

TECHNOLOGIES There is an ever increasing number of exhibitors at the Novi Sad Fair who are opting to produce and present organic products and equipment for the production of healthy food

T

he Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad has for decades represented a leader in the affirmation of technological achievements in agriculture, while each new event brings to Serbia the latest solutions from this important branch of industry. » The Agricultural Fair, which will be held this year in Novi Sad from 14th to 20th May, is certainly one of the most important events of its kind in the region. Have you noticed an increase in the number of exhibitors dedicated to preserving the environment?

- With a long tradition and a confirmed high rating, the International Agricultural Fair ranks among the most important events in the field of agriculture in this part of Europe. This year it will feature exhibitors from 60 countries, as well as the most important local entrepreneurs operating in the field of agriculture and in economic sectors related to agriculture.

This year will see the considerably greater participation of exhibitors from China, ensuring our manufacturers and visitors will be presented with top products from that country, under the auspices of the exhibition “Premium brands from China”, while the joint appearance of over 30 companies from that Asian country will represent a kind of fair within the fair. Group exhibitions have also been announced for exhibitors from Italy, which is this year’s partner country, the Netherlands, Hungary, Austria, Bosnia’s Republika Srpska, Turkey, Czech Republic and, after a break of more than 10 years, exhibitors from Spain will also present their products.

Attractive appearances at the International Agricultural Fair have also been announced by two companies operating in the field of agriculture from the United Arab Emirates: Al

Dahra and Al Rawafed Holding LLC. With the financial support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, and the organisational support of the Serbia Organica National Association for the Development of Organic Production and the Futoški Kupus Association, the Agricultural Fair will also include an exhibition of organic products and products with protected designation of origin. This is a unique opportunity to present products with added value in one place. » This autumn you will organise the 24th Eco World Fair, dedicated to the conservation of the environment. Which sectors are expected to be represented the most?

- The preservation of the environment and the restoration of nature are the basic common traits of exhibitors at the Eco World Fair. This is where the latest technologies, ecological standards and innovation are presented, but also products of organic production, colle-

dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable development?

- The Eco World Fair is not the only event of the Novi Sad Fair that is thematically dedicated to environmental protection. In addition to this, we also organise the International Days of Energy and Investment, which deals with all of the most current topics in the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, construction and environmental protection.

In order for International Energy Day to promote the importance of energy efficiency as comprehensively as possible, this year we have introduced a civil engineering segment. This primarily relates to energy savings and securing sustainable construction by applying technical measures, standards and conditions for the planning, design, construction and use of structures. We are organising this event with the aim of encouraging business contacts and cooperation between all relevant actors in the field of energy and the sector of local development in Serbia and the region, enabling the familiarising of potential investors with investment projects and stimulating greater investment, to introduce advanced technology and forms of financing energy projects and to contribute to the activation of renewable energy sources and the environmentally conscious construction of buildings. «

Agricultural Fair ranks among the most important events in the field of agriculture in this part of Europe ctors and processors of medicinal herbs and honey producers, all of whom are advancing their relationship to environmental protection. The public’s interest in this fair is growing every year, while a special place is occupied by contents intended for participants organised in the framework of the “Ecological classroom”, as well as other educational gatherings that are organised during the fair. » What are the long-term plans of the Novi Sad Fair when it comes to organising events

Thinking Green & Living Clean

13

INTERVIEW

PROFESSOR ALEKSANDAR JOVOVIĆ

PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE, FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Improve Waste

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS W

The establishment of a waste recycling system and the formation of a collection network is currently in progress in Serbia, marking an important element in establishing and improving the waste management system and ensuring the employment of a significant number of people

14

aste is primarily a municipal and health problem, and only then a resource.

The service of collecting and disposing of waste is managed by public utility companies owned by municipalities or is organised through strategic partnerships. Waste collection services cover between 25 and 100 per cent of the territory of some local governments, and it is estimated that an average of around 70 per cent of municipal waste is collected in Serbia in an organised way, which is 10 per cent more than in 2010, when the Waste Management Strategy was developed. These are only estimates, however, because Serbia still has no accurate data on the amount of municipal waste generated.

“Collection is organised mainly in urban areas, while rural areas are covered significantly less. The largest number of local governments have inadequate mec-

Thinking Green & Living Clean

hanisation and refuse collection vehicles, while separate waste collection (separation at source) is not organised, except sporadically, with the exception of packaging waste. The separate collection of waste is mainly conducted through the informal economy. The current level of recycling and utilisation of waste is insufficient,” warns Aleksandar Jovović, an expert in this field and professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade. » What is being done at the moment to improve the situation?

- The establishment of a waste recycling system and the formation of a collection network is currently underway in Serbia, which is an important element in establishing and improving the waste management system and ensuring the employment of a significant number of people.

As described in the Strategies from 2003 and 2010, and in the proposal for a revised strategy that is still in operation, waste management is based on a regional integrated management system. This means that multiple local governments combine to form a single technical region,

building a common management centre that will cover the great treatment of more waste. Of the 26 regions for waste management envisaged by the Strategy, nine regions have yet to initiate activities on the preparation of planning and technical documentation, and there is also no regional waste management plan, while seven regions have planning documentation that has yet to be adopted.

Likewise, six regions still haven’t signed an inter-municipal agreement, and some municipalities have joined other regions in relations envisaged by the Strategy. A total of 19 per cent of waste, or 420,000 tonnes, is currently being disposed of in seven landfill sites constructed in accordance with EU regulations, while the rest is disposed of in non-sanitary landfills. The completion of another three regional landfill sites is expected, which will increase the percentage of waste disposed of in sanitary landfills from 25 to 30 per cent.

The remaining quantities of waste are disposed of in municipal non-sanitary landfills.

This shows that the disposal and treatment of municipal waste in landfills is, unfortunately, still the only treatment option.

cing illness and extending longevity. We should not forget that unregulated dumps are a hotbed of infection and disease, and igniting such sites is a source of the most toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic organic compounds, dioxins and furans, which represents a huge external cost to the state that is rarely taken into account in analyses.

About 2.5 million tonnes of municipal waste is currently generated in Serbia annually, or 340.7 kg per capita, or 0.93 kg daily. According to the morphological composition of waste in Serbia, on average almost half of municipal waste is biodegradable (1.68 million tonnes in 2014), that is to say

» How much time is needed, taking into consideration our financial possibilities, to bring waste management to a satisfactory level?

- Fulfilling these obligations requires between three and 17 years, and is dependent on the requirements of specific EU directives. Of course, the most complex and garden waste and waste from most demanding directives apply to the An historic project for this food processing and preparaentire waste management system and the tion. A significant proportion is rules governing waste disposal at landfill sicountry would be for all tes. In the accession negotiations stage, the- citizens to tour the EU’s waste comprised by plastic, with 12.3 se deadlines will be negotiated, i.e. to seek per cent, and paper and cardbomanagement systems, which ard, with a share of 9.6 per cent.

EU approval to harmonise our system with would show them that waste Other fractions, such as glathat of the EU within this period. Implementing requirements set in the EU accession ss, metal, textiles, leather and can be managed properly process in the waste sector is aligned in the the like, are represented from National Programme for the Adoption of the EU Acquis from 1.5 to 4 per cent. Quantities of packaging waste are estimated at about 350 thousand tonnes.

2014 to 2018, as well as in several national strategic documents, such as the Waste Management Strategy for the If we take as an example the City of Belgrade, which generates approximately 1,500 tonnes of waste per day, then 2010-2019 period, the National Strategy for Approximation in the Field of Environmental Protection, the Strategy it can be estimated that about a third of waste consists of for Approximation in the Field of Waste Management from recyclable components, another third is a material that can 2012 and the National Plan for Implementation of the Stocbe processed into fuel by an appropriate treatment, while kholm Convention. a third of the waste, or even less would be disposed of in landfill sites, all of which certainly creates significant economic benefit. » What is Serbia’s potential revenue if part of municipal waste is recycled and part is used as an energy source? » What is the EU’s policy today, given that waste manage- The biggest gain from a regulated waste management ment systems are changing constantly? system is a significant improvement in quality of life, reduThinking Green & Living Clean

15

- The EU’s approach is based on hierarchical waste management, which sets certain priorities and promotes the reducing of waste generation, which thereby reduces the problem of waste at source. The principle of waste reduction encompasses initiatives for the introduction of cleaner technology and comprehensive campaigns to raise public awareness among the general population, and primarily in schools. The EU’s Thematic Strategy on Waste aims to prevent the generation of waste and promote the use of waste as a resource, primarily to obtain secondary raw materials and energy. Although the waste management system is continuously improving in the EU, the European economy is

- It is actually irresponsible behaviour in managing municipal and construction waste that is one of the major causes of flooding in many places, as was the case recently and two years ago. In such instances, the problem spreads to the inappropriate storage of hazardous waste, which threatens to leak and cause a real environmental disaster. We have these illegal dumps because we have become careless and irresponsible in every aspect of life.

However, if the political will to solve the problem exists at all levels, then there will be a solution. The countries that are now our role models didn’t always behave properly, nor did we differ from them significantly thirty years ago. An historic project for this country would be for all citizens to tour the EU’s waste management systems, which would show them that waste can be managed properly.

» Are there any grounds for the fear among citizens that factories for processing hazardous waste will pollute their environment?

- The basic measure of the trust of citizens with regard to any government, and especially local government, would be better measured in the attitude towards projects in the field of waste treatment than in local elections. And that is not our speciality.

Statements like “not in my backyard” and “not during my term” were not invented here, but rather in the cradle of waste management systems, in the UK. However, the trust of citizens in that and other such countries has been built up over time, while still losing significant amounts in our country and other similar ones it has of potential secondary raw ma- It is estimated that an average terials, such as metals, wood, collapsed. Today there is almost none, reof around 70 per cent of gardless of which political structure we are paper, glass, artificial materials municipal waste is collected talking about. Citizens are afraid and don’t and the like.

Of the approximately 2.5 in Serbia in an organised way, want any form of waste treatment in the billion tonnes of waste gewith about 2.5 million tonnes vicinity. The latest example is Gornji Milanerated in the EU during the novac and none acceptance of the construof municipal waste generated ction of a glass recycling centre. course of 2010, about 36 per annually, or 340.7 kg per capita The fear of citizens has also led to cent was recycled, while the the withdrawing of secured funds twice rest was used for combustion for the construction of a plant for the treatment of hazaror was dumped. However, it is estimated that approximately dous waste in Serbia. Citizens are less afraid of the faci600 million tonnes of that waste could be reused or recycled. The percentage of waste that is recycled in individual lities themselves, but more afraid of its future management, irresponsibility and the risks that may arise due to European countries moves from 10 to 65 per cent, while the irresponsible management. However, the experience we percentage of waste dumped in landfill sites ranges from 10 have working in the very complex chemical-technological to 90 per cent. Turning waste back into a resource is one of systems that existed in Serbia during the 1970s and ‘80s, the key elements of the circular economy. coupled with the restoration of some school programmes » Do the four thousand or so illegal dumps in Serbia reand greater and more serious control of the operation of flect neglect or an inefficient waste management system; such facilities, almost certainly provide for reliable operations. After all, the ban on exports of hazardous waste, and how does the EU deal with this problem?

16

Thinking Green & Living Clean

which will soon come into force in the EU, will force us to solve this problem ourselves.

in major cities: Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš. All of these measures actually represent potential projects and investments in the waste sector in the future.

» Serbia has great potential in the production of energy » Improving the waste management system is a major infrom renewable sources - biomass. What are the prerequisites for increasing its use? vestment and one of the knock-on effects is an increase in - The government and relevant ministries in several manutility costs. How can this increase in household costs be dates, as well as local governments, have done a lot to suexplained to citizens? pport programmes in the use of biomass for energy produ- When it comes to improving the waste management ction, biofuels and bioliquids. The Republic of Serbia has system, as well as harmonising that system with the requirements of the EU, we shouldn’t overset targets for the use of renewable look the fact that the expected inveenergy sources by 2020, developed It should be noted that the stment costs for the implementation sector-based strategies in the fields waste sector is a relatively of the most important directives in of energy, agriculture, forestry and environment, adopted numerous re- small source of GHG emissions this sector amount to approximately gulations, prescribed incentives and a billion euros. The expected invescompared to other sectors, for the City of Belgrade alone exemptions, and simplified procedubut it represents significant tment res in the fields of planning and conis estimated at over €200 million. potential in terms of reducing struction. And, again, the results are Here it should be considered that modest. So, something is missing. the current tariffs/prices, which are emissions One of the reasons is that productibelow an economical level, don’t on is still expensive, even with the incentives, while a seallow public utility companies to cover their costs. As such, cond reason is the lack of a biomass supply chain and the they are unable to carry out investments in the construction of new facilities. On the basis of calculations of required third reason is the continued forcing, at least unofficially, investments, operating costs and the potential income geof fossil fuels. Implementation of the commitments obliged by the signing of the Treaty on the Establishing of the nerated by the new system, we will form the future price of Energy community will certainly accelerate the process of services, but we must also consider the experiences of many increasing biomass use. cities around the world, which indicate that it is possible to implement an improved waste management system. It is necessary to ensure that the project is justified and sustainable, » You’re part of the team that worked on the Second provided that the price of services is in line with household National Report and the First updated report of the Republic of Serbia according to the UN Framework Convenincome, which in the framework of the OECD is 1.7 per cent.« tion on Climate Change. Which measures for mitigating climate change in the waste sector have emerged from those documents?

- It should be noted that the waste sector is a relatively small source of GHG emissions compared to other sectors, but it represents significant potential in terms of reducing emissions. Projections of total emissions and GHG emissions for all GHG sectors, including the waste sector, were made through three scenarios: a basic scenario that doesn’t lead to improvement of the system, a scenario “with measures” and one “with additional measures”. Projections up to 2030 were ma, with cross-sections in 2015, 2020 and 2025, using the key sector-based strategic documents.

With the aim of reducing emissions and mitigating climate change in the sector, the scenario with measures envisages the improvement of waste management practices, including the reduction of biodegradable components of waste deposited in landfills and an increase in recycling.

The especially important and ambitious scenario “with additional measures” includes increasing the amount of municipal waste subjected to biological treatment. The thermal treatment of waste for heating purposes is envisaged only Thinking Green & Living Clean

17

FEATURE

EU: ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

Outdoor and Indoor

POLLUTION A clean environment is essential for human health and wellbeing. However, the interactions between the environment and human health are highly complex and difficult to assess

to mixtures of chemicals at low levels and for long periods over our lifetime, in particular during early childhood and pregnancy.

Persistent chemicals with long-term effects, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and those used in long-life strupremature deaths per year due to expoThis makes the use of the prectures — for example construction masure to fine particles. At this level of cautionary principle particularly terials — may present risks even after exposure, average life expectancy is reuseful. The best-known health their production has been phased out. duced by approximately one year. impacts are related to ambient air polluMany pollutants known to affect huThe EU Green Paper on noise expotion, poor water quality and insufficient man health are gradually coming under sure states that around 20 % of EU’s posanitation. Much less is known about the regulatory control. However, there are pulation suffer from noise levels that hehealth impacts of hazardous chemicals. emerging issues for which environmenalth experts consider to be unacceptable, Noise is an emerging environment and tal pathways and effects on health are as i.e. which can lead to annoyance, sleep health issue. Climate change, depletion yet poorly understood. Examples are of stratospheric ozone, loss of bioelectromagnetic fields (EMF), phardiversity, and land degradation can Many pollutants known to affect also affect human health. human health are gradually coming maceuticals in the environment and some infectious diseases (the spreIn Europe, the major environunder regulatory control. However, ading of which may be affected by ment-related health concerns are related to outdoor and indoor air po- there are emerging issues for which climate change). The development of ‘early warning’ systems should llution, poor water quality, poor sanienvironmental pathways be encouraged to shorten the time tation and hazardous chemicals. The and effects on health are as yet between detection of a potential related health impacts include respipoorly understood hazard and a policy action or interratory and cardiovascular diseases, vention. cancer, asthma and allergies, as well Human health has always been disturbance and adverse health effects. as reproductive and neurodevelopmenthreatened by natural hazards such as Transport, especially in urban areas, tal disorders. storms, floods, fires, landslides and drois one of the key contributors to human Fine particulate matter and grouughts. Their consequences are being exposure to air pollution and noise. nd-level ozone are the main threats to worsened by a lack of preparedness and Much less is known about the health human health from air pollution. The by human actions such as deforestation, impacts of chemicals. There is growing EU’s Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) proclimate change and biodiversity loss. « concern about the effects of exposure gramme estimated a total of 348 000

A

18

Thinking Green & Living Clean

FEATURE

THE MOST IMPORTANT CSR TREND FOR 2016:

A Move Toward Systems-Level

THINKING The year 2015 was the warmest year on record, and people, governments and even businesses are paying the price. And it’s a big price that will eventually halt and downturn all economies

A

In 1965, scientist James Lovelock shared that, by the year 2000, “[Climate change will be] worsening then to such an extent that it will seriously affect their business.” Unfortunately, he’s right.

Beyond the cost to business caused by climate change, there are social issues affecting businesses, too. The fact that billions still live in poverty means that the true market potential of most businesses is not anywhere close to being fully realized. Beyond sales, businesses also struggle from a lack of access to talent, a result of faltering education systems around the world.

Meanwhile, some businesses are beginning to see market rewards for being more socially and environmentally responsible. In fact, there are at least 7 research-backed reasons as to why companies will continue to become more sustainable in 2016 (and beyond). As The Guardian has reported, “the benefits far outweigh the costs.”

However, despite the urgency that many talk about the need for change, corporations have been very tactical in their approaches to corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSR).

A standard company might launch a giving campaign during the holidays, pilot a “day of volunteering” program during a slower time of year that does more harm than good, and/or initiate a busine-

ss-greening initiative in one of its units.

While all of these might be a step in the right direction, none are especially sustainable or impactful. But if we want to right our wrongs and save our global economy, and more importantly, our planet, it’s time to take much bigger steps.

Pressure on business to become more responsible is increasing. Not only from consumers and employees, but now from governments and global institutions like Climate Action and the United Nations.

The United Nations has called for busine-

siness Review’s report on top CEOs. Leading CSR professionals, like Kathy Pickus at Abbott and Tim Mohin at AMD, are also paving the way. These professionals have transformed their CSR positions to not just lead some “give back” projects, but to actually work across their entire company to help it do less harm and more good by integrating sustainability efforts and reporting into all layers of their business and supply chain. At the 2015 Corporate Citizenship Conference, Kathy Pickus shared that “Corporate citi-

How to integrate corporate responsibility throughout your entire business 1. Figure out where your business is; 2. Have leadership set a goal; 3. Measure where you are, and where you are going; 4. Pilot more initiatives aligned with core business outcomes; 5. Engage external stakeholders; 6. Making the most of 2016; So as you step in 2016, think bigger, move faster, and partner with as many people as possible – the world is counting on you. sses to partner in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals, and businesses are also foundational partners in the new COP21 Climate Agreement.

Independent nonprofits and monitoring institutions – like SustainAlytics measurement of Environmental, Social and Governance factors – are also adding pressure as their reports are being utilized in rankings like the Harvard Bu-

zenship is not about giving more money and more product, it is about transforming businesses to operate responsibly.”

As AMD demonstrated this past year with its 20th Anniversary of Sustainability Report, improved measurement across its entire business has enabled it to put change into action. In doing so, AMD has earned a place on the list of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens. «

Thinking Green & Living Clean

19

RECYCLING

World’s Largest Recycled Box Plant

» The $260 million, 23,225-square-meters paper mill is the largest investment Pratt Industries has ever made in the U.S. Pratt Industries, headquartered in Conyers, Georgia, U.S., has unveiled its fourth 100% recycled paper mill in the United States, with a grand opening celebration end of March at the Valparaiso, Indiana, facility.

The $260 million, 23,225-square-meters paper mill is adjacent to the company’s existing corrugated box factory. Pratt Industries says the recycled box plant is the largest box plant in the world, while the new paper mill is “the most modern in the world,” said Pratt Chairman Anthony Pratt, during ceremony in Valparaiso for the mill’s grand opening.

The company has spent half a billion dollars on the Valparaiso site since 2000, Pratt said.

How Coffee Can Light up Your Barbecue » While the distinctive smell of a barbecue may herald the first sign of summer, it is not often associated with energy efficiency. That may be about to change with the launch of a new type of barbecue coal called Hot Coffees, which hails from waste coffee grounds. The bags of coals, expected to go on sale later this year in petrol station forecourts and homeware stores, are just the latest product from Bio-bean, a young London-based company which produces biofuels from coffee grounds. The coals are produced at a 1,860 square meters production plant in Cambridgeshire,UK that takes in tonnes of waste coffee from the UK’s cafes and factories.

The fuels produced are the culmination of an idea by Bio-bean founder Arthur Kay (25). While studying architecture at university he started to focus on where the UK’s 500,000 tonnes a year of waste coffee ended up. In his research he found that oil could be extracted from waste coffee and turned into biodiesel with the leftover grounds turned into biomass pellets for use in boilers.

“Coffee has a higher calorific value than wood for instance, so there is more energy contained in it than wood,” says Kay.

Miss Scotland Shows Off ‘‘Zero Waste’’ Couture » Former Miss Scotland Nicola Mimnagh recently modelled custom ‘Zero Waste’ fashion collections in the Salvation Army Trading Company’s flagship store in Glasgow. Scottish designers Aimee Kent and Black Cherry Studio completely restyled unwanted clothing donated to the charity to challenge consumers’ antiquated perceptions of textile waste. The ‘updated’ pieces in various styles were sourced from the 30 000 tonnes of textiles donated across the UK and are now said to be worth at least an €5,100 each. This happens to be the average worth of wardrobes owned by Scottish households. In the UK, clothing has an estimated life span of roughly two years, claims project partner Zero Waste Scotland. The group stresses that only 70% of garments is worn every year.

The collections was sold with proceeds shared between the designers and the Salvation Army Trading Company.

Apple Creates iRobot to Tackle Unwanted Phones

» Apple has unveiled a robotic system called Liam to take apart post-consumer iPhones and recover valuable materials like silver and tun-

gsten for recycling, Reuters has reported. The innovation has been interpreted as an attempt to dispel criticism that the products by the electronics heavyweight are notoriously difficult to dismantle or refurbish.

Liam is the result of an elaborate research and development project, which was started over three years ago as an answer to the growing iPhone 6 waste stream. Apple has stated that the robotic system will be updated so

that it can handle other phone types and devices as well.

The Liam system consists of 29 robotic modules on a single site near Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. The robot started to operate at full capacity end of March 2016 and can take apart one iPhone 6 every 11 seconds.

This means Liam can process only a small fraction of the more than 231 million phones Apple sold last year, industry sources have urged.

Fully Recyclable’ Solar Battery System » Australian battery manufacturer Redflow has launched a home solar battery storage system that is said to rival products from major brands like Panasonic and Tesla because it is ‘fully recyclable’. It is able to charge and discharge every day with no degradation to the system and is better suited to high temperatures.

The new ZCell battery is ‘unique’ as it does not use lithium – it is based on a zinc-bromide solution – and can store 10kWh of electricity. The battery is capable of powering a household for two days and is roughly the size of an air conditioning unit, which can be installed either inside or outside a residence. Though no official price has been announced yet, industry specialists put it at around €6,500.

An estimated 8000 tonnes worth of lithium-ion batteries are thrown away every year in Australia. It expects figures will surge to 150 000 tonnes by 2035.

20

Thinking Green & Living Clean

Alternative Textiles Potential in Scandinavia » Nordic pulp makers are developing clean ways to turn birch and pine trees into clothes or sofa covers, Reuters has reported. The move is hoped to revive their industry and meet demand from both fashion and furniture firms for alternative textiles to cotton.

There has been no Nordic production of viscose, the main textile fibre from timber, since the last manufacturer stopped nearly a decade ago, while the 2011 spike in cotton prices contributed to increased global demand for viscose as well as pulp-derived lyocell. Global output of pulp for textiles is expected to grow 30% by 2020 from 4.4 million tonnes in 2015, according to Oliver Lansdell at forest products industry consultancy Hawkins Wright.

Three Nordic mills export dissolving pulp, the product that can be turned into textile fibre. The industry would like to see textile fibre factories set up at home that will meet environmental rules and appeal to local brands like IKEA and H&M. Anticipating the rise in demand, in 2011 Sodra, the Swedish association of 50 000 small forest owners, converted a paper pulp machine so they could make textile pulp.

Bottled Water Ass. Funds Curbside Recycling Effort » The International Bottled Water Association will help fund the Recycling Partnership, an effort to boost curbside recycling throughout the country.

“The bottled water industry is actively working to build partnerships that will help increase recycling efforts, and the reliable, scalable results that the Recycling Partnership delivers are hitting the mark for us,” said Chris Hogan, IBWA vice president of communications, in a statement.

Northern Ireland introduces Food Waste Law » Food waste-producing businesses in Northern Ireland are required to present their food waste separately for collection from 1st April 2016 under changes to the law.

The new duty, a part of the Food Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) applies to those involved in the processing, distribution, preparation, or sale of food and who regularly produce more than 50kg of food waste per week.

Businesses affected by the new legislation include shops and pubs serving food, restaurants and cafes, food courts, hotels, supermarkets, schools, prisons and nursing homes.

Exempt from the new rules are those producing less than 5kg of food waste per week and those dealing with catering waste from international transport.

Smaller producers and Health and Social Care trusts who regularly produce between 5kg and 50kg of food waste per week must also comply with the new rules by 1st April 2017. Mirroring similar law changes brought into effect in Scotland in 2014, it is hoped that compulsory measures to force companies to present food waste separately for collection will stimulate the food waste treatment industry in the country.

Recovery of Energy Lost in Industrial Processes » Each year, energy that equates to billions of barrels of oil is wasted as heat lost from machines and industrial processes. Recovering this energy could reduce energy costs. Scientists from Australia and Malaysia have developed a novel system that is designed to maximize such recovery.

Heat can be converted to electricity by devices called thermoelectric power generators (TEGs), which are made of thermoelectric materials that generate electricity when heat passes through them. Previous studies have attempted to use TEGs to recover energy from the heat generated by, for example, car engines, woodstoves and refrigerators. However, TEGs can only convert a small amount of the heat supplied to them, and the rest is emitted as heat from their “cold” side.

The team built a small-scale version of their system to test in the lab before larger scale versions are made for real-world applications. The researchers measured the amount of electricity produced by the TEGs and the amount of energy recovered from their cold side. When two kilowatts of energy were supplied under normal circumstances to the novel system, they recovered approximately 1.35 kilowatts of heat: over 67% of the energy supplied. In addition, the TEGs generated 10.39 watts of electricity during the heat recovery process.

“The recycling rate for single-serve PET plastic bottled water containers has more than doubled in the last 10 years and they are the most frequently recycled PET beverage containers in curbside recycling programmes. As an industry, we are always looking for ways to strengthen existing programs and help to expand recycling efforts ever further,” he continued.

The Recycling Partnership last year leveraged $11 million in new recycling infrastructure, the group said. That includes deployment of 165,000 recycling carts.

“It’s a pretty simple equation. More funding partners equals more resources, which directly equates to the recovery of more high quality recyclable material,” said Keefe Harrison, executive director of the Recycling Partnership, in a statement.

The partnership also recently awarded a grant to Santa Fe., N.M., for the purchase of new recycling carts. The group also will help the city with education and support to help deliver the carts to 29,000 households.

Santa Fe expects to roll out the carts this fall.

Thinking Green & Living Clean

21

INTERVIEW

MARKO SLOKAR

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MS SVET LTD. SLOVENIA

Steps Towards a

“GREEN” EUROPE Despite the economic crisis, “green” projects have been the fastest growing investments in the EU during the last few years, which is followed by growth in the number people employed in the “green” economy. It is realistic to expect such a trend, although perhaps with certain delays, to also be transfer to Serbia, provided the country takes tangible steps within the framework of the “green” economy

A

ccession to the EU, in the field of the environment, consisting of the approximation process, in which a state needs to harmonise its legal framework fully with the EU acquis, which, according to Marko Slokar, Executive Director of MS SVET Slovenia and former Slovenian Secretary of State for the Environment, is the toughest “homework assignment” for every country.

The second process is that of negotiation. When negotiations will be opened on the individual chapters, such as Chapter 27 - environment and climate change, “depends on the assessment of the European Commission on the extent to which candidate countries have undertaken all prepara-

22

Thinking Green & Living Clean

tions necessary for the start of negotiations,” says Slokar. » You were Secretary of State for the Environment in Slovenia during the negotiations with the EU on the environment. In your opinion, was the most difficult task at that time?

- Slovenia had launched the process of approximation of the environment at least six years earlier. At the time of the opening of negotiations on this chapter and preparations of the first document on the negotiating positions, at the end of July 1999, a significant part of the “homework assignment” had already been done and thus the country

had created a relatively good starting position for itself in the negotiations. This was probably also one of the reasons why, out of all ten of the then candidate countries, Slovenia was the first to successfully close this chapter by the end of March 2001.

The most difficult task, and an almost impossible one, was to defend Slovenia’s negotiating position in individual sub-sectors of the environment, in which, according to the assessment of the other side, possible transitional deadlines or demanded permanent derogations for the full implementation of regulations, led to a significant infringement on competition within the common market of the EU, endangering the health and safety of citizens significantly, or jeopardising certain strictly protected species of animals and plants. Those were primarily regulations related to environmental impact assessments, industrial emissions, fuel quality, chemicals, waste management and nature conservation.

Of course, those negotiations, which lasted a little less than two years, were not at all easy, especially if we consider that the chapter on the environment represents over a third of the total EU acquis and that it is primarily necessary to secure very high financial resources.

» Given that you are familiar with the state of the environment in Serbia, how do you evaluate our position ahead of the opening of Chapter 27?

- It may sound paradoxical, but the most important element for a true assessment of the position in which Serbia finds itself prior to the opening of Chapter 27 is not knowledge of the current state of the environment in Serbia. What is very important at this point is that the candidate country is sufficiently well prepared for negotiations. First of all, that it has trained negotiators and a clear long-term vision for the development of environmental policy in line with European policy.

» It seems that it is during negotiations on Chapter 27 that securing financial mechanisms is the most Every candidate country should start establishing domestic complicated for a candidate couneconomic and financial mechanisms, under the auspices try. How did Slovenia secure the of its own capabilities, from the moment it signs the necessary funding?

- Every candidate country should Stabilisation and Association Agreement start establishing domestic economic and financial mechanisms, under the auspices of its own capabilities, from the moment As far as I know, Serbia has so far succeeded in establishing the necessary negotiation structures, has a developed it signs the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Slovenia started with the formation of the first financial instrategy and action plan for approximation in the areas of strument very early on, and by 1993 it had already establithe environment and climate change. What are lacking are shed the revolving fund for environmental protection. Otsome key implementation plans of individual directives, her economic instruments were also introduced later, such which require high investments and which provide a basis as taxes, charges, subsidies and tax incentive measures upon which Serbia could seek transitional deadlines for in the fields of water quality and air quality, management their full implementation during negotiations. of municipal waste and special waste streams, in the area The European Commission stated in its 2015 progress of climate change etc. In this way, Slovenia ensured that report on Serbia that, in the field of environmental protection and climate change, Serbia is still “in the early stages – already during its EU accession period – in addition to of preparation” and that so far it has achieved “only some maximum utilisation of all available grants from EU funds progress” in the further harmonisation of policies and reguand loans from international financial institutions, it also lations with the EU acquis. Such an assessment by the Eumanaged to secure a significant share of domestic funding ropean Commission does not represent a very good starting for the financing of environmental protection.

Thinking Green & Living Clean

23

position for Serbia ahead of the opening of negotiations, and indicates that the negotiations on Chapter 27 are likely to be tough and long-running. » Candidate countries simply must accept the EU acquis in the field of the environment. So, what is actually being negotiated?

are justified reasons for that. This usually relates to directives requiring high investments and for which a candidate country must draft and submit specific implementation plans to the European Commission. As I mentioned earlier, it is expressly highlighted that transitional deadlines for full implementation cannot be sought if it would lead to a significant infringement of competition within the EU’s common market. Transitional deadlines in the field of nature protection are also not possible.

Real negotiations are also conducted regarding the so-called “financial package” of the negotiation process, which relates to European funds earmarked for financing projects in the fields of the environment and climate change within EU Member States. » What role does civil society play during these negotiations?

- Negotiating is the exclusive responsibility of the executive authorities – the government of the candidate country, which bears full responsibility for the outcome of the negotiations. Based on the positive experiences of previous enlargements, it is recommended that a constructive dialogue is established with civil society during negotiations, as well as with other interested parties, in order to achieve the broadest possible compliance of the negotiating positions of a candidate country through the consultation process.

» The start of the 21st century has been marked by the birth of a new economic model, the “green” economy.

From today’s perspective, how would you assess the success of this model in Europe and the world?

- The situation with the new economic model of the “green” economy is The EU has, through key strategic and planning similar to the principle of sustainable documents up to 2020, committed itself to the “green development, in that it is still present economy”, which should be crucial for the EU’s global more in theory than in practice. This applies to the European Union and the competitiveness, sustainable development and rest of the world. The European Union inclusive economic growth has, through key strategic and planning documents up to 2020, committed itself to the “green economy”, which should be crucial for the - A candidate country must, significantly prior to the date of EU’s global competitiveness, sustainable development and its entry into the EU, harmonise its domestic legal framework inclusive economic growth. However, in practice the EU is fully with the EU acquis in the fields of the environment and still in the initial stages of transitioning towards a green, low climate change, translate the complete acquis communautaire in their own language, establish an adequate organisation carbon, and energy and resource efficient economy. The and the adequate administrative capacities of institutions “green economy” is today still only desirable, but in the longer term it will become essential. Long-term “green” invesresponsible for the implementation and oversight of the implementation of regulations, establish the necessary adminitments bring less immediate short-term benefits, but their strative procedures, provide systems and the necessary inlong-term benefits are greater. frastructure for monitoring the environment and reporting in » Can you say today that the introduction of the “green” line with EU requirements. This is its “homework assignment”, economy to Slovenia has had a positive impact on the about which there will be no negotiating. country’s economic and social development?

They can only negotiate on transitional deadlines for the - I would not dare claim that the introduction of the “green” full implementation of individual directives, provided there

24

Thinking Green & Living Clean

economy to Slovenia has been of vital importance, but it is undeniable that the introduction of certain elements of the “green” economy have provided a visible contribution to the country’s overall economic and social development over the past few years.

in delay, provided the country is really committed to taking specific steps in the “green” economy.

» The EU is committed to replacing the linear economy with a circular economy, which is based on reducing the amount of waste dump and the amount of resources used. How » In your opinion, does the adoption and implementation does this model enable developing countries to skip certain of the EU’s resteps in estabquirements guarlishing a “green” The European Commission stated in its 2015 progress antee the 100% economy? success of a can- I’m not sure that report on Serbia that, in the field of environmental didate country in protection and climate change, Serbia is still “in the early any country, especially a developing the “green” econstages of preparation” and that so far it has achieved omy? one, can simply “only some progress” in the further harmonisation of - No, not at all; skip certain steps that would be like in the establishing policies and regulations with the EU acquis saying that playing of a “green” economy, because it is football according forced to undo the negative effects of the linear economy in to all the rules would guarantee 100% that you will become parallel. Replacing a linear economy with a circular one is only world champions. Accepting and implementing the requirements of the EU only represents a solid starting point and crepossible through a certain period of transition, during which ates realistic opportunities to significantly improve the state it is necessary to make high investments in order to establish of the environment and the development of the “green” ecoa closed system for increasing the share of consumption of nomy. It depends on a particular candidate country the extent renewable and recyclable raw materials and reducing the consumption of primary raw materials and energy. « to which they will take advantage of this, and how they will apply it in practice. » Economists base the “green” economy on six fundamental sectors (renewable energy, green construction, cleaner transportation, sustainable water management, waste management and spatial management).

In which of these sectors do you think Serbia has the greatest potential?

- In every other country, including in Serbia, potential always exists in all of these sectors. Still, I suppose Serbia’s greatest potential is in sustainable waste management, renewable energy sources and increasing the energy efficiency of buildings. » The green economy creates green work and new “green” jobs. How realistic are expectations in Serbia that the establishing of a sustainable management system will lead to the reducing of unemployment?

- A certain disorder is always created during periods of transition and economic crisis, in which there is no guarantee that it will be possible to create new jobs in parallel with the loss of jobs through the establishment of a sustainable management system and thereby reduce unemployment significantly.

However, given that “green” works have been the fastest growing works in the EU in the last few years, despite the economic crisis, which creates the fastest-growing number of “green” jobs, it is realistic to expect that this will also happen in Serbia, though perhaps with a certaThinking Green & Living Clean

25

CORPORATE

BUSINESS PARK AIRPORT CITY BELGRADE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS IN SERBIA

Airport City BUSINESS

OASIS

Never at the expense of safety: Airport City CEO Adir El Al has built the reputation of an investor who builds quickly and efficiently, while insisting on the application of the highest quality construction, but primarily an investor who takes absolute care of the standards of safety for the people who build these facilities

T

he largest greenfield investment to date, not only in Serbia but in the region as a whole, has grown to become a unique business city, built on the site of the old airport in New Belgrade. Among new, modern and smart buildings, constructed according to ecological regulations and energy efficiency procedures, proudly stands the old hangar, which was designed by famous Serbian scientist Milutin Milanković, now reconstructed, and also a monument that recalls the time when this area was occupied by numerous taxiing aircraft. Also serving as a reminder of that time is our “Orao” fighter jet, which is fixed in a vertical descent at the very entrance to Airport City and was leased from the Aviation Museum as part of ACB’s efforts to preserve the memory of the location and highlight the importance of the first Belgrade airport.

Airport City will represent a total investment, when the final, fifth phase is completed, of around 200 million euros, and will comprise a total of 186 thousand square metres. The fourth phase of construction is now underway and will add about 50,000

26

square metres to the 100,000 that is already in use. The existing buildings named after flowers, which, as noted, comprise 100,000 square metres of office space, are fully leased to some of the hundred international and domestic companies that have settled here. Investors AFI Europe and Tidhar are particularly proud of the steady growth and development of ACB as a brand in Serbia.

These investor companies are renowned international Israeli companies that operate in our region, but also worldwide.

This business venue places an emphasis on comfort, while the space has the ability to be adapted to meet the specific needs of each client, with exceptional functionality, all of which combines to form the most efficient environment for modern business operations.

However, in the context of the contemporary green approach to business, ACB is known primarily for the fact that all buildings are constructed according to the high quality standards in construction

Thinking Green & Living Clean

and other materials that exist elsewhere in the world, and according to the latest technology and working methods, which enable high energy savings. Modern construction technology, coupled with stringent procedures and knowhow, have allowed the ACB management to construct the complex much quicker than the average for construction in our country, while simultaneously providing absolute security for subcontractors during construction and, later, for users of this space.

Thanks to this approach and adopted procedures related to workplace safety, no inci-

dents occurred on construction sites or later in the buildings that use the infrastructure of Airport City.

Every centimetre of this complex was built from the highest quality materials, while the investors paid special attention to energy efficiency and energy savings.

Thanks to the special sensor systems installed in all buildings, annual energy savings are greater than 30 per cent compared to buildings that do not use these procedures and standards. In other words, companies that operate in the business zone of this complex do not feel increases in energy prices. Built-in sensors respond at any given moment if there is an increase or decrease in the optimally determined temperature. And this is very important because at the unique Airport City around 7,000 mainly young and educated people work, many of whom will say that working here makes them feel like they work in London or New York. In that sense, the buildings of this business park can be considered smart buildings.

Taking special care of Airport City, and the construction which is underway, is the team led by CEO Adir El Al, who does not hide his pride at the fact that, thanks to this business park, the investors confirmed their prestigious reputation and that they don’t only build quickly and insist on the application of the highest quality construction, but rather, above all, they take care of the safety standards for the people who build, maintain and work in these facilities.

These companies construct buildings in Belgrade in the same modern way they build elsewhere in the world. Thus, they primarily respect the safety of people, environmental standards, the energy efficiency policies of each building, both at ACB and in the city centre, on the site of the Central Garden residential complex, which is also a project of AFI Europe.

At the start of the construction of Airport City, in 2006, i.e. five years before there was applicable legislation and associated obligations for investors, here the concept of protection via the position of first coordinator was introduced. Respecting and introducing certain standards before others, and before they were required by law, demonstrates an

awareness of the need to apply the same high standards wherever the investor works.

Likewise, this kind of conduct and the personal example of the investors influences the environment and inspires the competition to do the same. Regulations under Article 19 of the Law on Health and Safety in the Workplace came into force in 2011. However, all contractors at Airport City note that here there is a principle of safety first, and only then working dynamics. Such an approach – in which the investors first demand the highest safety standards of themselves, and then of all others – shows a high degree of professional ethics.

Europe and Tidhar, foster positive corporate values, but their implementation in international projects, such as projects in Serbia, primarily depends on the engagement of management on the ground.

What is certainly specific, and distinguishes Airport City from similar business oases, is certainly the so-called “City within a city” concept, which – after ten years of its existence – shows its full superiority, explains ACB Communications Advisor Marina Deleon.

Our interlocutor also reveals that during the past ten years the Airport City business park has become a space that is always present in many other aspects, at the forefront

of CSR projects, raising awareness of the wider community regarding issues of common interest, such as ecology, recycling, energy efficiency etc. In addition to the humane green environment that is carefully nurtured at the Airport City, the park’s central Avenue stands out as the place where daily life unfolds and where the tenants gather. All of this, together with the unique composition of the tenants of this business oasis, has created a place with a special atmosphere: an environment of successful people who share similar standards, business practices and the organisational needs of their environment.

Many companies are eagerly awaiting the completion of the buildings comprising the fourth phase of construction, in order for them to be able to seek larger or additional office space so they can continue their operations at ACB. A large number of them express their interest in future office space even during construction. «

Among new, modern and smart buildings, constructed according to ecological regulations and energy efficiency procedures, proudly stands the old hangar, which was designed by famous Serbian scientist Milutin Milanković The same principle applies when selecting building materials. Every company that collaborates with ACB and provides materials for installation in ACB’s buildings, as well as their suppliers, must comply with the strictest environmental rules and procedures in order to do any work in this business park.

On the other hand, the consistent implementation of high standards in the protection of each individual means the investor raises levels generally in this area, which is extremely important for Serbia, and we believe it is important to verify the contributions of those who are leading the way in this area, like Airport City, headed by its CEO Adir El Al. Airport City’s investors, AFI

Thinking Green & Living Clean

27

CORPORATE

Brewing a

BETTER WORLD Gerard Adriaan Heineken founded our Company in 1864.

From day one he was driven by a desire to create a business that was both successful and sustainable. His focus was on creating a high-quality beer that tasted the same wherever it was enjoyed, as well as conducting business in a way that would have a lasting and positive impact on society

is the world’s most widespread international brewer and the leading developer and marketer of premium beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken® brand, the company has a powerful portfolio of more than 250 international, regional, local and speciality beers and ciders.

Heineken Srbija d.o.o. Zaječar actively operates in two breweries, in Zaječar and in Novi Sad. The Company’s core business is the

28

production, distribution and sale of beer. The portfolio of brands comprises Heineken, Amstel Premium Pilsener, Kapuziner Weissbier, Krušovice Imperial, Newcastle Brown Ale, Sol, Strongbow, Zaječarsko, Zaječarsko Crno, Laško Zlatorog, Weifert, PilsPlus and Master Beer.

Brewing a Better World is the motto of our long-term approach for creating shared, sustainable value for our business and our stakeholders.

Over the last few years we have ta-

Thinking Green & Living Clean

ken some important steps towards making sustainability a business imperative and today it is one of our six key business priorities.

Brewing a Better World focuses on six key areas where we and our stakeholders believe we can make the biggest difference: protecting water resources, reducing CO2 emissions, sourcing sustainably, advocating responsible consumption, promoting health and safety, and growing with communities.

HEINEKEN Serbia is committed to leading by example in all efforts for Brewing a Better World. This is not just a matter of a temporary business priority, but rather a strong part of our HEINEKEN culture.

We grow year after year with a clear focus on consumer needs and sustainable business practices. We invest in our people, our breweries and the local community, and we build skills for the future.

By prioritising local sourcing, a great majority of our raw materials and suppliers are from Serbia. We ensure the balanced consumption of water and reduce energy consumption by building an even greener and better world.

We constantly and vigorously spread our message about a responsible approach to the enjoyment of our products. Our efforts to promote responsible consumption through a partnership with the Public Transport Company had a direct impact on more than 120,000 people during the three years of its implementation. The simple tag line ‘Guys, who drives home?’ is used to raise awareness of the importance of safe and

responsible behaviour while drinking alcohol. Another important element of the campaign is promotion of the use of public transport as a safe alternative when consuming alcohol.

The partnership with the Public Transport Company received an accreditation of excellence and was highlighted as the best promotion of the Belgrade Beer Fest by the Belgrade Culture Network in 2013. In 2015, Auto Bild magazine announced the campaign as the best CSR action and it was also awarded by the Association of Serbian Market Communications (UEPS) as the best CSR PR campaign and the best CSR PR campaign in the profit sector in 2015.

HEINEKEN has a long history of encouraging responsible alcohol consumption and we take this role seriously. For us, the goal is to aspire to moderate, responsible consumption.

By doing all of this, we build businesses that grow with the local communities in which we operate and which have a positive impact on the local economy.

The main pillars of all of our initiatives related to sustainability and responsibility, as well as the heart of our pro-

By prioritising local sourcing, a great majority of our raw materials and suppliers are from Serbia. We ensure the balanced consumption of water and reduce energy consumption by building an even greener and better world gress, are driven by the commitment and passion of our people, who are always ready to go the extra mile in order to make the difference.

As part of our commitment to transparency in reporting, HEINEKEN Serbia publishes an Annual Sustainability Report on our progress and achievements in the field of sustainability. All the information in the report is based on internal reporting systems and can therefore be considered factual and trustworthy.

Sustainability is both a strategic priority and a business imperative for our Company. Today around 73,000 HEINEKEN employees worldwide, as well as hundreds of thousands of our suppliers and business partners, are making it their responsibility to do business in the right way.

If the communities and societies where we operate and where we sell our products are strong, then our business has a chance to grow. « Thinking Green & Living Clean

29

INTERVIEW

JOVANA MLADENOVIĆ

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER AT CARLSBERG SERBIA

Investing in Youth Leads to a

HEALTHY SOCIETY Corporate social responsibility at Carlsberg is defined at the global level and transferred to the local governments in the areas where Carlsberg has its own breweries

I

nvesting in the education of young people, which Carlberg particularly insists on in its cooperation with local communities, leads to better understanding of the importance of socially responsible behaviour, both in the workplace and in the community in which they live. » How important is it for a company to show corporate social responsibility?

- CSR of every company towards the environment in which it operates should be a given.

We are part of the community in which we operate and by contributing to its development we contribute indirectly to our own long-term prosperity. Contributing to one’s community is regulated in the EU, in a certain number of countries like France or The Netherlands. This is not the case in Serbia, but I am glad to see that awareness of the importance of investing back into the society through the provision of support to its different segments is growing and that ever more companies have included CSR in their everyday business operations. When it comes to Carlsberg, CSR is regulated through the company’s global principles and ever since we came to Serbia in 2003 we have been independently conducting CSR activities, or have supported projects that are important both for the society and the environment.

Čelarevo, where our brewery is located. This relationship has been developing for years and is today enhanced through mutual communication and, even more importantly, through transparent relations. If you really want to be a partner to the local community, you have to listen intently to its needs, recognise the opportunities for its development and try to give your contribution to all of that.

In the last few years, Carlsberg has assisted in a substantial number of infrastructure projects in Čelarevo, including construction of the sewage and new wells, and has donated money towards purchasing a production facility which today employs several dozen people. We do understand that unemployment and the brain drain are problems that our environment has been facing, thus we are

students of Belgrade and Novi Sad universities, via which we provided the best students with an opportunity to work and experience various segments of Carlsberg Serbia – sales, marketing, administration, production and general business operations – as well as managing important projects under the guidance of our employees in various sectors. So far, over ten talented young people have become members of our team.

Furthermore, we have been trying to implement a partnership project every year in collaboration with the faculties of the University of Belgrade.

Last year we sponsored a competition for the students of the Faculty of Economics called Ekof Arena – Case Study. Our Carlsberg and Dunđerski Foundation has provided scholarships for students from the University of Novi Sad’s faculties of law, economics and technology for the second consecutive year.

Our internal strategy obliges every single one of us to work in accordance with the company's CSR policies

» In which way does Carlsberg Serbia realise its partnership with the local community?

- Our company has strategic partnership relations with the authorities of Bačka Palanka and

30

trying to help our immediate environment to continue living and thriving through support for education, sports and culture. This partnership is mutual and we have always enjoyed great support from our community. » Supporting education is one of the segments in the focus of your CSR activities. How does Carlsberg contribute to youth development in Serbia?

- Investing in young people contributes to solidifying foundations for a future healthy society and probably the most valuable thing you can give someone is to help them enhance their knowledge and skills. In 2012, Carlsberg Serbia launched the Future Leaders Programme for the

Thinking Green & Living Clean

» In which way are Carlsberg Serbia’s employees involved in the company’s CSR activities?

- Our employees have exceptional awareness of social responsibility. On one hand, we have been organising volunteer campaigns every year, which are used for teambuilding and doing things useful to our community. On the other hand, our internal strategy obliges every single one of us to work in accordance with the company’s CSR policies. Contributing to our community is certainly one segment of social responsibility and if you call yourself a socially responsible company, than you should act that way in every segment of your operations. Environmental protection, responsible communication with your consumers, labour and human rights and, of course, adhering to business ethics in all internal and external activities, are equally important. «

Thinking Green & Living Clean

31

EU

Fresh Efforts to Save Lives on EU Roads

» The 2015 road safety statistics published today by the European Commission confirm that European roads remain the safest in the world despite a recent slowdown in reducing road fatalities. 26, 000 people lost their lives on EU roads last year, 5, 500 fewer than in 2010.

There is however no improvement at EU level compared to 2014. In addition, the Commission estimates that 135, 000 people were seriously injured on EU roads. The social cost (rehabilitation, healthcare, material damages, etc.) of road fatalities and injuries is estimated to be of at least €100 billion.

To pave the way towards automation and better management of traffic, the Commission aims to develop a master plan on the deployment of cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) – a two-way communication between vehicles, with and between road infrastructure – in the second half of 2016.

Clean Sky Programme » Clean Sky is a successful Public Private Partnership between the European Commission and the European aeronautics industry. Now five years in operation, the programme is largely on track, and the environmental performance targets are all within reach. Clean Sky 2 will build on this success, further integrating breakthrough technologies at aircraft level and delivering in-flight demonstration of novel architectures and configurations enabling changes in environmental and economic performance. As a result, Clean Sky 2 technologies will allow future aircraft to deliver a further 20-30% reduction in fuel burn and related CO2 emissions, and a similar reduction in noise levels compared to current aircraft (2014 technology). In addition to these environmental objectives, it is also expected highly important contribution to improve European competitiveness and mobility.

The benefits of the programme will have a widespread reach concerning citizens, the economy, the aeronautics sector and in particular, SMEs and the scientific and academic community.

For a Clean, Green Future, Britain Must Remain in the EU » Scientists recently declared that the evidence is compelling enough to say we are now living in the Anthropocene. Humanity’s impact on the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and wildlife has, they argued, pushed the world into this new epoch.

Britain is a world leader on the environment and has played a pivotal role in the EU on this issue ever since 1986, when Margaret Thatcher signed the Single European Act, which established the EU’s competence in this area.

“If we are to play our part in ensuring a green future for the UK, we must remain in the EU,” said Mary Creagh, Labour’s shadow environment secretary.” The evidence so far is clear: families in Britain and rivers, beaches and special places would pay the price if we voted to leave,“ she said.

Coalition for Higher Ambition » A major new coalition of businesses, cities, trade unions and non-profit organisations, including HEAL, are calling on EU leaders to live up to their Paris Climate Summit commitments.

Thanks in large part to Europe’s leadership the world has adopted the first ever global legally binding agreement, which will frame international climate action post 2020. In Paris, countries agreed to hold the increase in global

European Clean Tech Industry Falls Into Rapid Decline » Investment in low-carbon energy in Europe last year plummeted by more than half to $58bn, the lowest level in a decade, analysis shows Europe’s once world-beating clean technology industry has fallen into a rapid decline, with investment in low-carbon energy last year plummeting to its lowest level in a decade.

The plunge in European fortunes comes as renewable energy is burgeoning around the world, with China in particular investing heavily.

As recently as 2010, Europe made up 45% of global clean energy investment, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), which examines the sector. But after peaking at $132bn in 2011, investment in the EU plunged by more than half, to 18% of the global total, or $58bn, in 2015.

32

Thinking Green & Living Clean

average temperature “to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels”, as well as to bring greenhouse gas emissions down to net zero during the second part of this century.

Over 1200 stakeholders have signed the ‘Paris Pledge for Action’, promising to act in order to ensure that the ambition set out in the Paris Agreement is met.

Ship Design Efficiency Standard Set to Low » Shipping’s only legally binding climate measure is not stimulating the uptake of new technologies or driving efficiency improvements, according to a new independent study made for Clean Shipping Coalition (CSC) by CE Delft.

As of 2013, new ships are required to have an energy efficiency design index (EEDI) that meets or exceeds the target. However, the NGOs Seas at Risk (SAR) and Transport & Environment (T&E), which are members of the coalition, finds that newbuilds have performed much the same as those not covered.

According to the study, at least two-thirds of containerships, half of general cargo ships and a quarter of tankers launched in 2015 already exceeded the limits for 2020 without using innovative new technologies.

Climate Change Puts Trillions Of Dollars At Risk » Rising temperatures and the dislocation caused by related droughts, floods and heatwaves will slow global economic growth and damage the performance of stocks and bonds, according to the report, led by the London School of Economics.

“It makes financial sense to a risk-neutral investor to cut emissions, and even more so to the risk-averse,” lead author Professor Simon Dietz, an environmental economist, told Reuters.

Food & Packaging: Industry Pushes for EU-wide Regulation » Beverage carton and flexible packaging industry groups call for harmonized, EU-wide legislation for all types of food contact materials. In the case of lacking EU-wide regulation, national pieces of legislation are consulted, the report states. However, these are often “limited in scope, outdated or not suitable for the relevant material at hand,” and can “lead to a situation where materials can be legally placed on the market although there is no legal process for compliance with the food safety principle as these rules are simply missing,” the report states. The consequences of this situation for packaging manufacturers include handling legislation of 28 different Member States, ineffective mutual recognition of different Member State standards, distortion of the internal packaging market in the EU, and loss of consumer trust.

ACE and FPE recommend to further harmonize FCM regulation in the EU, “setting a simpler and fully harmonised regulatory framework providing economic actors with more flexibility in employing various tools in ensuring food contact safety and compliance.”

Ensuring a Long-Term Health of Forests » Climate change, pollution and encroaching human development are posing an increased threat to the long-term stability and health of European forests, according to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report released in March. Forest ecosystems play a vital role for the environment and in combatting climate change. The report recommends that better sustainable management is needed to ensure this precious green resource is there for future generations.

The EEA report European forest ecosystems: state and trends, gives an updated health check on how forests are coping with the many challenges they face. It assesses whether forest ecosystems can still manage to play their part providing key ‘services’ for the environment. Forests help regulate our climate and sustain watersheds, providing clean water. They also act as ‘carbon sinks’, clean the air we breathe and help preserve and protect biodiversity as many species depend on forests for their home. There is a growing awareness of the important role forests play in mitigating climate change, in particular after the climate talks in Paris (COP21).

The report identifies habitat loss and degradation, the risk posed by invasive alien species, pollution and climate change as the top four challenges European forests face today.

A global climate summit in Paris last December set a goal of limiting global warming to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times, while leaving open precisely how this would be achieved.

If the rise were limited to 2C by 2100, the study’s central scenario put the total of current financial assets that could be damaged at $1.7 trillion. But if the temperature rose a further 0.5C by the end of the century, $2.5 trillion would be at risk under the most likely scenario.

Global regulators in the Financial Stability Board (FSB) say all the world’s current non-bank financial assets are worth $143 trillion.

The study did not try to identify which sectors were most at risk from the damage that climate change can wreak, ranging from the destruction of buildings, bridges or roads by storms or floods to losses of agricultural productivity and enforced movement of populations.

Thinking Green & Living Clean

33

INTERVIEW

PROFESSOR VLADIMIR JANKOVIĆ

PH.D., CENTRE FOR THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

Renewables Change Global POLITICS AND ECONOMICS

Energy sources are conventionally divided into capital and income types.

The capital, nonrenewable sources are stored in and extracted from the natural environment (coal, natural gas, oil). The income sources are reusable, providing a longer term energy security (waves, solar, wind, biomass)

34

T

gradually replaced by renewable energy sourche interest in renewables has historically occurred at times marked by either declies. In your experience, what are the trends in the world like in the field of “green” energy? ning supplies or increasing prices of capiHow much is invested in new energy productal resources (during the 1930s and 1970s). The current interest in the renewables, however, is tion methods at the global level? different in two major respects: first, it is concu- We are in this sense witnessing a major historirrent with a relative abundanWhat is the cost of climate adaptation? ce of cheap oil, and, second, it reflects changes in global Currently estimated annual adaptation finance politics and economics that needs for developing countries only (for the are endorsed through interyear 2030) starts at ca $28 billion; global national and national policies public adaptation finance commitments from aimed at reducing man-made emissions of greenhouse ga2010 to 2013 has grown from $4 to $25 billion ses and mitigating the effects of anthropogenic climate change. cal conjuncture defined by a thorough re-examination of economic and energy practices behind the world’s ‘carbon democracies,’ in words of the » Fossil fuels, due to the pollution they proenergy analyst Timothy Mitchell. However, the duce and restrictions on exploitation, are being

Thinking Green & Living Clean

simplicity of the division between the capital and income resources – and the obvious long-term preference for the latter – is complicated by the fact that the capital non-renewables currently have much higher energy efficiency and enjoy a massive techno-industrial support. As this is bound to keep them as the industrial bloodstream for a conceivable time, it is crucial to understand that the support for renewables is an uphill battle against investments, affordability, profits and efficiency.

The good news is that after several years of declining global investments in renewable energies the year 2014 witnessed a 17 per cent increase in investments, all the more important as it takes place alongside sharp falls in crude oil prices. This upturn is due to a significant boost of renewable investments in China (up 40 per cent) and Japan (up 10 per cent); the expansion of renewables into new and developing markets (up 35 per cent); and record investments in solar and wind which now amount to over 90 per cent of all renewable investments. It is also notable that 2014 saw an increase in the total energy generation from renewable sources that include wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, waste-to-energy, small hydro and marine power. So perhaps the tide of history is indeed changing.

sts heatwaves and droughts as most likely climatic risks for the medium-term future. The impact will be global, but especially in places with known history of heat- and drought-related hazards that include sub-Saharan Africa, India, China, Australia and a number of smaller areas, including the Balkans. It is important to note that heatwaves, for example, have different impacts on different regions and different communities. In cities, the impact is compounded by an increased use of electricity for space cooling. In the countryside, the impact is set to be felt by farmers, water industry and tourist businesses. In social terms, the most affected will be underprivileged populations living in unsuitable conditions and without access to governmental benefits and services. » How will population increases in cities and rising air temperature affect life in urban areas?

» Serbia has rich hydropower potential and a large amount of waste, which recently became an equivalent energy. How do you assess Serbia’s energy market potential?

- Small hydro (1-20 MW) and waste-to-energy are excellent opportunities for Serbia. Small hydro units are ideal for remote and mountainous areas where they can provide local supply, reducing the need for large network systems and enabling resilience to adverse impacts on major energy suppliers (e.g. Nikola Tesla, Đerdap). This applies to pico-hydro units (ca 5KW) which can be both socially and economically beneficial through self-reliance and decentralisation The good news is that after several years of declining global of the network. This is equally the case with waste-to-energy incinerating plants investments in renewable energies the year 2014 witnessed that are gaining widespread traction but a 17 per cent increase in investments, all the more important require strict pollution regulation and as it takes place alongside sharp falls in crude oil prices well-organised collection and separation technologies. This of course is neither a simple nor a cheap process and any future developments call - The spread of large and mega-cities (over 10 million) has been for a comprehensive planning and allocation of investments suof concern to environmental policymakers for decades. The earlier concerns over pollution, economic and health risks posed by the pported by a long term, politically independent, commitment to so-called ‘urban heat island,’ – the atmospheric heat generated by sustainability and economic viability of energy supply. the city itself – have now been put in the context of global and lo» Climate change is leading to increasingly frequent natural discal warming trends. Urban heat island is bound to remain a major problem for planners and urban population because it depends asters, which cause major damage. Which countries will suffer on the size of the built space which, with the increasing influx of the greatest damage, developed or developing, and why? populations, will increase in area and add to the existing stress.

- Significant research has gone into investigating the relationship This will be especially felt in suburban areas of the developing between extreme weather and climate change (known also as countries where it is more likely than not that housing does not ‘attribution science,’) after the possibility of attributing specific meet the safety benchmarks required by law (shanty-towns, faveevents (hurricanes, floods or heatwaves) to the increased concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide). Recent studies (e.g. las) and where municipal services have little or no regular presenNAS 2016) provide guidance on the certainty levels in attribution ce. Further, the lack of any reliable monitoring system and reporstudies, emphasising higher likelihoods of temperature anomating of environmental conditions would continue to keep affected communities under the radar of social policy. lies over those of precipitation and cyclonic activity. This suggeThinking Green & Living Clean

35

» In line with the expected increase in urbanisation, how do you see the “sustainable” cities of the future?

- Sustainability implies ‘having the cake and eating it.’ Can cities have their cake and eat it? And if so, will the benefits be distributed to all of its residents? Alternatively, will gated and wealthy (suburban) communities continue to look sustainable amongst their lush greenery, electric vehicles, eco-housing and re-cycling infrastructures while inner cities remain molten in asphalt, dirty and rife in crime? On average, perhaps, this extreme may result in an overall ‘sustainability’ but will this form of sustainability be itself sustainable?

Rather than ensconcing ourselves in a fuzzy warmth of an abstract ‘sustainability,’ we should therefore look at the social, legal, envi-

planning scholar Ksenija Petovar. Economic and demographic reasons in particular lead to the spread of unplanned residential areas such as Kaluđerica near Belgrade, with the population of over 25 thousand. Once the built area reaches this size, it ought to be the responsibility of the government to maintain its day-to-day functioning and simultaneously work with local residents on improving the liveability and mitigating the causes of further expansion. Again, monitoring and law enforcement need to go hand in hand, but the longer-term solutions need to address the issue of poverty, migration, public health, and environmental risk posed by these developments.

» How much will it cost to adapt to climate change?

- What is the cost of climate adaptation? Currently estimated annual adaptation finance needs for developing countries only (for the year 2030) starts at ca $28 billion; global public adaptation finance commitments from 2010 to 2013 has grown from $4 to $25 billion. Despite this, the lower-end estimate of the gap between the adaptation needs and available public finance currently committed is around 440 per cent. According to the World Resource Institute, world governments need to consider at least a fourfold increase in adaptation funds and rethink the current overemphasis on mitigation investments. (Keep in mind that the insured hydro-climatic losses reached ca. $25 billion last year). It should be pointed out, however, that some if not most of the adaptation investments will have a positive return: think of the river regulation, air pollution, green areas, eco-design, residential insulation standards, transport and industrial infrastructures.

Furthermore, benefits would also accrue in non-moUrban heat island is bound to remain a major problem netised domains such as social capital and quality for planners and urban population because it depends of life. Finally, and perhaps ironically, there is a conon the size of the built space which, with the increasing siderable impetus towards investing in sectors that stand to benefit from global warming (see Janković influx of populations, will increase in area and Bowman, ‘After the Green Gold Rush.’)

and add to the existing stress

ronmental and especially economic reality of the growing urban population which contribute (or not) to their sense of wellbeing, solidarity and prosperity. Sustainability is not a mere eco-economic buzzword, it is first and foremost the issue of freedom, identity, justice, wellbeing and access to urban amenities. Once there is a sense and pride that we share Belgrade rather than abuse it – or Earth, for that matter – there will be a way to built a meaningful space in which sustainability will not be a goal, but a premise of social interaction and communal solidarity. Environmental values will come as a natural consequence of ‘new bright society.’ » A big problem in Serbia is represented by illegal construction in cities. In your opinion, what is it necessary and possible to do?

- There is little that can be effectively done to prevent the problem that has multiple causes, as has been pointed out by Serbian

36

Thinking Green & Living Clean

» In your presentations you often talk about increasing “white” areas in cities, in order to increase energy efficiency. How does this mechanism work?

- Belgrade is a White City that can be even whiter! This author has in August 2012 personally measured the evening temperature difference between Borča and in Belgrade city centre (Skadarlija) to be 6 degrees Celsius. On an average ‘tropical day’ in Belgrade, the city’s urban heat island is likely to be at least 5 degrees (5 degrees warmer than in the neighbouring countryside). This means that Belgraders live their own ‘private’ climate change during the summer. This ‘extra’ heat radiates from the city’s streets, buildings, roofs – and from any dark surfaces. Cities can reduce this effect by replacing dark with white surfaces, and where better to do that than on the building roofs? The program has a physical rationale, but is hampered by the issues of cost, feasibility, aesthetic considerations, property rights and so on.

» How will climate change affect transport, construction, energy and other industries?

- The recent Mercer report Investing in a Time of Climate Change – authored by the World Bank Group, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the U.K.’s Department for International Development – focuses on the sectoral impacts of climate change by 2050 and highlight intriguing opportunities and risks for business portfolios. For example, a 2 degree temperature increase would result in returns to emerging market equities, infrastructure, real estate, timber and agriculture. This temperature increase could prolong growing seasons and improve access to remote mineral-rich northern regions. Already the melting of the North-east route from Europe to China has benefited the shipping industry through two-fold reduction in travel time and vessels’ carbon emissions.

The report shows negative returns on equities and private debt, and a strong positive signal for renewables, nuclear, health and IT. A relatively small negative impact is expected in telecom, con-

Economic and demographic reasons in particular lead to the spread of unplanned residential areas such as Kaluđerica near Belgrade, with the population of over 25 thousand. Once the built area reaches this size, it ought to be the responsibility of the government to maintain its day-to-day functioning

renewables, stricter environmental regulation, environmental education and so on. A major aspect of this baseline resilience will need to deliver an ‘operational weather optimisation’ system, defined as a routine use of weather and climate information in all industrial and agricultural operations, planning, and services. My colleagues and I have recently worked to outline the specifics of this optimisation process and its implementation in the construction sector and urban planning. We predict that as a result of this implementation, industries (and the society as a whole) would be equipped with a ‘climate shield’ – an interacting system of knowledges, measures, and personnel dedicated to enhancing weather-protection and assistance.

Climate change, in Serbia as in other countries, requires a coordinated, educated and responsible task force entirely devoted to understanding the economic impact of local weather and climate and providing the government with policy advice regarding the immediate and medium-term adaptation investments.

On a routine basis, Climate Shield Serbia would be responsible for the economy-oriented weather and climate predictions, developed through a dialogue between the scientific and user communities, and designed to be routinely implemented in ways that would protect human and material assets of the country. «

sumer staples, industrials, and materials. The biggest losers would be utilities (-2.2%), oil (-4.0%) and coal (-4.9% over 35 years). » In Serbia, according to climate scenarios, we can expect an increase in temperature, extended dry periods and more frequent episodes of intense rainfall. Where do you see the biggest problems and where are the greatest opportunities for our country?

- Like any other country, the Serbian government and Serbian people have a binding moral mandate to provide a secure and fulfilling life for present and future generations. This mandate includes the environmental quality and environmental security. With or without climate change, it is the responsibility of the state and its citizen to work together to protect their human and material resources and, if possible, make them resilient to climate hazards.

In that sense, Serbia needs to build baseline resilience in all its infrastructure and assets – be they related to the regulation of waterways, rivers, soil pollution, housing standards, use of Thinking Green & Living Clean

37

CORPORATE

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURES IN THE ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY OF SERBIA (EPS)

EU Standards Through

EPS INVESTMENTS Serbia is generated using coal at EPS’s thermal power plants. The main tool in the protection of air quality is represented by the reconstruction of electrostatic precipitators and the installation of modern filters for separating particulate matter from the flue gas, as well as the construction of flue gas desulphurisation plants.

AIR, WATER, EARTH

Using its own funds and with the help of international financial institutions and agencies, the Electric Power Industry of Serbia has reconstructed plants intensively and improved environmental protection since 2000 , in an effort to attain the standards applicable in the European Union

38

T

This is a long road that must be traversed patiently and thoroughly, because even though 200 million euros has been invested in the last few years, the current level of emissions of certain pollutants into the atmosphere is higher than stipulated in the EU. However, it is important to note that during the period when thermal power plants were built in Serbia there were no regulations on environmental protection at the current level, so it is inevitable that the level of emissions of air pollutants is now higher than the maximum stipulated in the EU. Our obligation and responsibility require that the environmental protection is included as an important part of the development strategy and operation of the “Electric Power Industry of Serbia”, and for that are planned investments of around a billion euros for the period 2015 – 2025. The most important projects are aimed to reducing emissions of air pollutants from power plants, including dust particles, sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides. For us, this goal is equally as important as electricity production, because twothirds of the energy produced in the Republic of

Thinking Green & Living Clean

The first reconstruction of electrostatic precipitators was carried out at unit A5 in TENT A. That was the first project of its kind in Serbia, and the lessons learned were valuable for the reconstruction of other thermal power plants. Such works were subsequently performed on all units of TENT A, TENT B, TPP “Kostolac A”, TPP “Kostolac B”, TPP “Morava” and unit A5 of TPP “Kolubara”.

Following the completion of works in 2016, we will fully meet the requirements of the EU directive on large combustion plants.

We have completed the construction of a 177-metre-high chimney, which belongs to the system for flue gas desulphurisation in thermal power plant “Kostolac B”, while works are underway on the construction of the desulphurisation plant at TPP “Nikola Tesla” A and B. Likewise, the adjustment and optimisation of the operations of the boiler to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides from the flue gas at the units A3 and A5 in TENT A has been completed, as well as at unit B1 in TPP “Kostolac B”, and the introduction of the same measures to units A4 and A6 in TENT A, B1 and B2 in TENT B, B2 of TPP “Kostolac B” and A2 in TPP “Kostolac A” has been also planned. When it comes to water, the greatest environmental challenges are certainly wastewater and sludge, ponds and erosion of existing reservoirs and riverbank areas around hydropower facilities. Thus, the projects are focused on the construction of wastewater treatment plants, the

protection of reservoirs and coastal areas during the construction of new hydropower facilities and the rehabilitation and revitalisation of existing hydropower plants. The implementation of a project for construction of wastewater treatment plants in TENT A and TENT B is underway, followed by preparation of the project for construction of a wastewater treatment plant in TPP “Kostolac B”, while construction of a purification plant for muddy wastewater and water containing oil and crude oil at TPP-CHP “Sremska Mitrovica” has been completed.

A research study on degradation processes in the reservoirs of hydropower plants “Djerdap 1” and “Djerdap 2” and in the reservoirs of the River Drina has been conducted, with mandatory and constant monitoring of the participation of these reservoirs in the overall pollution of the Danube and Drina rivers. A database has been created to monitor stability in the zone of hydropower plants and in this way all the instability in the accumulation zone can be registered. Landslides are categorised from the 1st to the 4th category and, depending on the category, a programme of periodic observation or detailed researches is being conducted. Mechanisms for waste management are used to prevent waste generation and to promote recycling and usage of waste as an energy source, as well as the development of disposal methods. When it comes to soil protection, projects are aimed primarily at the application of new technologies for the collection, transport and disposal of ash and slag and, of course, land reclamation.

HARMONISING WITH EUROPEAN STANDARDS

after the 2000. The countries of the EU have achieved reduction in emissions of air pollutants using measures and activities during a twenty-year period, while EPS will – regardless of the year of Serbia’s accession to the EU –reduce its specific emissions to the level prescribed by EU Directives (even below) in the following seven years, which will contribute to significant reduction of the total emissions of the Republic of Serbia. The effects of measures that will be applied by EPS until 2026 imply emission reductions of NOx for 45.93%, then SO2 for 92.25%, as well as 83.72% of dust particles.

In accordance with the obligations taken on within the framework of the Energy Community, in December 2015, Serbia has submitted to the Secretariat of the Energy Community a preliminary National Emission Reduction Plan (NERP) and the preliminary list of plants that will use the “opt-out” mechanism. This mechanism involves limited operation of plants – 20,000 hours of operation for the period 2018 – 2023. After that period, the plant is either closed down or its emission must be harmonized with the values of emissions for new plants. It has been already prescribed duty for new plants built after 2018 to have airborne emissions that are in accordance with the strictest limited values of the Industrial Emissions Directive. In the following period, it is expected Chapter 27 to be opened, which refers on EU regulations on environmental protection and climate changes. During this process, deadlines for complete harmonization of EPS’ plants operations with relevant provisions of European legislation in the field of environmental protection and climate change will be defined. In the following period, there will be activities on development of the Negotiating position, based on the results of the final version of the Implementation plan for specific directives of the Directive on Industrial Emissions. Serbia will then propose specific transitional deadlines for the implementation of the Directive on Industrial Emissions for each plant separately.

Our obligation and responsibility require that the environmental protection is included as an important part of the development strategy and operation of the “Electric Power Industry of Serbia

The strategic directions of development of the energy sector of the Republic of Serbia, defined by the Energy Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia until 2025, with projections to 2030, are primarily based on the ensuring of energy security, in compliance with all environmental standards, including the fulfilment of international obligations (Treaty establishing the Energy Community). Taking into account the complexity of the imperative of ensuring the state’s energy security, a very important role is played by relying on domestic resources for electricity production. That’s why activities aimed at harmonising the work of existing plants with all relevant EU requirements represent a priority goal for EPS. When we consider the situation regarding EPS’ thermal power plants, we must also bear in mind that they were built at a time when there was less demands for environmental protection, which were not as rigorous as they are nowadays. EU Member States had launched activities aimed at improving the work of their electric power plants by the early 1990s, whilst EPS has started the same activities

INVESTMENTS LEADING TO “CLEAN” ENERGY EPS is faced with a period of significant investments in environment protection measures, which represent a challenge not only in financial terms, but also in a technical sense, bearing in mind the complexity and deadlines for the planned projects implementation.

These investments will enable the EPS’ development, with the increase of its competitiveness and the efficient use of natural resources, especially renewable energy resources, because there is a clear goal – the efficient and the “cleanest” possible energy production and distribution. « Thinking Green & Living Clean

39

SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY PARK BELGRADE

Where Science

MEETS ECONOMY Science Technology Park Belgrade (STP Belgrade) was established as a partnership between the Government of the Republic of Serbia (on the behalf of RS Government: Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development), City of Belgrade and University of Belgrade. In line with best international practice, STP Belgrade was officially established as the first functional STP in Serbia, adjusted to local conditions.

Using foreign experience and development of STP model, customized to local conditions, STP Belgrade is connecting Governemnt of Serbia, City of Belgrade, University of Belgrade and companies on the other side

40

T

his is a place where Science meets Economy with the vision to create the environment were the synergy between the Science and the Economy is possible, resulting with innovation development, export and new jobs.

STP is growing into a new technology core of the city, gathering tech development companies, international and domestic, encouraging the establishment of strat-up companies, thus making ideal conditions for innovation, technology development and competitiveness.

STP BELGRADE OBJECTIVES ARE TO: ● Attract innovative and technology development companies (national and international), and create the conditions for their development by connecting them with science, research and high education institutions in accordance with the provisions of Law on Innovation Activity; ● Encourage return impact on the development of science and research organizations, primarily University of Belgrade through the joint research with technology companies

Thinking Green & Living Clean

and with an objective to commercialize innovations created during the process of research and development; ● Create conditions for the establishment of increased number of spin off companies and their development by using the methodology previously developed at the Technical Faculties in Belgrade; ● Increase employment of educated young people as well as to create conditions for returning our experts from abroad.

Primarily intended for growing high-tech development companies, small businesses and start-ups, STP Belgrade offers an attractive service package of infrastructure and business support services to its tenant companies, helping them accelerate their growth. We provide the ideal environment for all businesses wishing to be part of a dynamic and interactive community, which creates value-added development through the exchange of ideas, contacts and business opportunities.

STP Belgrade is offering following package of services: 1. Infrastructure services

2. Professional services, including: ● Direct access to knowledge base (highly educated professionals, researchers, laboratory equipment) ● Business counseling (EU programs, intellectual property protection, etc.) ● Financial and legal counseling ● Certification ● Promotion ● Networking and internationalization Main focus is on technology deve-

lopment companies that have great potential to improve the competitiveness of the Serbian economy through innovation and value-added products and services.

STP Belgrade primary members are technology development companies: ● Information and Communication Technology ● Biomedicine ● New materials and nanotechnology ● Environment protection and climate changes ● Energetics and energy efficiency ● Agriculture and food Science Technology Park Belgrade used a significant experience and results achieved through managing the Business Incubator of Technology Faculties Belgrade. Through the support provided in the Business Incubator, 600 young entrepreneurs have been educated, 300 jobs created, 52 new high tech companies established, 45 new technology developed, 10 patent applications, 1 service center developed (set of legal, accounting and financial services, business plan, prote-

ction of intellectual property), 3 clusters established. These results showed that is possible to scale up this success and that the establishment of the STP will contribute to further development.

STP Belgrade also became very attractive for numerous domestic and foreign delegations, and all of it enabled STP Belgrade start changing the public image and showing its potential in terms of attracting new technology companies to enter the

lopment and it can be expected that this will influence on the higher export rate as well as on the creation of the new jobs.

Furthermore, during these 10 months 11 new startups has been created by the young entrepreneurs and joined to BITF star up community. Based on this first result, projections for the next three years includes 50-80 high tech companies developed, out of 30 new startups, 800-1000 new jobs and significant export rate.

The 16,446 m2 complex covers the land area of 6.6 hectares. The STP is located in a peaceful environment of Zvezdara forest in the central zone of Belgrade, 4.5 km away from the city center and 22 km away from the international airport. The proximity of relevant institutions, technical faculties only 1 km away and Mihajlo Pupin Institute in the immediate vicinity, is of key importance for technological development and innovation.

Join us!

Park and further develop its capacities.

The first results during this 10 month period are showing that growth has started successfully, Currently there are 20 companies in STP Belgrade. The First call for the companies has been successfully published and due to the number of applications it seem that STP team has managed to raise the awareness and the attractiveness of the Complex. 9 high tech companies selected in the First call are in the process of entering in the Science Technology Park.

These companies have very ambitious and serious plans for its innovation deve-

Second public call is currently open intended to micro, small and middle companies which are developing new product/ process/service, as well as to large companies wanting to locate their R&D departments at STP Belgrade. This Public Call is open until the filling of the available space capacity of the STP Belgrade. First evaluation in 2016 will be made for applications submitted before April 15, 2016. « More information about the public call conditions as well as about the application procedure you can find: http://www.ntpark.rs/news/jp2eng.html

Thinking Green & Living Clean

41

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Major Milestones Reached,

NEW WORLD RECORD SET For first time, developing world investments in renewables (up 19 per cent in 2015) topped developed nations' (down 8%); World record total of $286 billion invested in renewables last year, makes $2.3 trillion over 12 years

C

oal and gas-fired electricity generation last year drew less than half the record investment made in solar, wind and other renewables capacity -- one of several important firsts for green energy announced in a UN-backed report end of March.

Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2016, the 10th edition of UNEP’s annual report, launched by the Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance and Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), says the annual global investment in new renewables capacity, at $266 billion, was more than double the estimated $130 billion invested in coal and gas power stations in 2015. All investments in renewables, including early-stage technology and R&D as well as spending on new capacity, totalled $286 billion in 2015, some 3% higher than the previous record in 2011. Since 2004, the world has invested $2.3 trillion in renewable energy (unadjusted for inflation).

Just as significantly, developing world investments in renewables topped those of developed nations for the first time in 2015. Helped by further falls in generating costs per megawatt-hour, particularly in solar photovoltaics, renewables excluding large hydro made up 54% of added gigawatt capacity of all technologies last year. It marks

the first time new installed renewables have topped the capacity added from all conventional technologies.

The 134 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power added worldwide in 2015 compares to 106GW in 2014 and 87GW in 2013. Were it not for renewables excluding large hydro, annual global CO2 emissions would have been an estimated 1.5 gigatonnes higher in 2015. As in previous years, the report shows the 2015 renewable energy market was dominated by solar photovoltaics and wind, which together added 118GW in generating capacity, far above the previous record of 94GW set in 2014. Wind added 62GW and photovoltaics 56GW. More modest amounts were provided by biomass and waste-to-power, geothermal, solar thermal and small hydro. In 2015, more attention was drawn to battery storage. It is of significant importance as it is one way of

worldwide, up from 160MW in 2014. In 2015, for the first time, investments in renewable energy in developing and emerging economy nations ($156 billion, up 19% compared to 2014) surpassed those in developed countries ($130 billion, down 8% from 2014). Much of these record-breaking developing world investments took place in China (up 17% to $102.9 billion, or 36% of the world total).

Other developing countries showing increased investment included India (up 22% to $10.2 billion), South Africa (up 329% to $4.5 billion), Mexico (up 105% to $4 billion) and Chile (up 151% to $3.4 billion).

Morocco, Turkey and Uruguay all joined the list of countries investing more than $1 billion. Overall developing country investments last year were 17-times higher than in 2004. Among developed countries, investment in Europe was down 21%, from $62 billion in 2014 to $48.8 billion in 2015, the continent’s lowest figure for nine years despite record investments in offshore wind projects. The United States was up 19% to $44.1 billion, and in Japan investment was much the same as the previous year at $36.2 billion.

“Despite the ambitious signals from COP 21 in Paris and the growing capacity of new installed renewable energy, there is still a long way to go,” said Prof.

Dr. Udo Steffens, President of the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. “However, the commitments made by all nations at the Paris climate summit in December, echoing statements from last-year’s G7 summit, require a very low- or no-carbon electricity system.” «

In 2015, for the first time, investments in renewable energy in developing and emerging economy nations ($156 billion, up 19% compared to 2014) surpassed those in developed countries ($130 billion, down 8% from 2014)

42

providing fast-responding balancing to the grid, whether to deal with demand spikes or variable renewable power generation from wind and solar. Last year, some 250MW of utility-scale electricity storage (excluding pumped hydro and lead-acid batteries) was installed

Thinking Green & Living Clean

Thinking Green & Living Clean

43

ENERGY

India Seeks $500m Loan for Solar Projects

» India hopes to receive one of the first loans issued by the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) later this year, as it looks to raise $500m for solar power projects from the newly created lender, Indian officials said.

Funding for clean energy projects would allay fears of environmental lobbyists that the bank’s relaxed lending criteria could promote dirty fuels like coal in developing economies, like India, that are in a hurry to ramp up energy output.

The multilateral investment bank, which has authorised capital of $100bn, plans to join global clean-energy initiatives, and could fund eco-friendly investment projects to avoid allegations of promoting pollution.

India, the bank’s second biggest shareholder after China, is looking to borrow from the AIIB, a senior official said, to back prime minister Narendra Modi’s plan of expanding installed solar capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2022.

World’s Largest Floating Solar Farm » The world’s biggest floating solar farm has been built on the Queen Elizabeth II reservoir in Walton-on-Thames, the array features 23,046 solar panels and measures 57,500 square metres in size At a cost of £6 million (€7.4 million), the farm has taken three months to build. It could generate enough electricity to power 1,800 homes - a peak power output of 6.3 megawatts.

The panels are not visible from the road, and the only way to see them is if you are flying above them from nearby Heathrow Airport, or live in a high rise block nearby. The reservoir is run by Thames Water and the farm is being funded and operated by solar energy company Lightsource. The panels cover around 10 per cent of the Queen Elizabeth II reservoir and are not considered to have any major environmental impact, as the reservoir is primarily aimed at supplying drinking water.

But the world record will not remain in British hands for long. The Japanese are building a floating reservoir in Japan that will be twice the size of the QEII array when completed in 2018.

Netherlands Clears Path for Offshore Grid » The Dutch Senate has passed its Electricity Act, allowing transmission operator Tennet to develop an offshore grid. Tennet can now continue to design and build five identical platforms to connect 3.5GW of wind capacity to the Dutch grid.

Tennet said it desgned the platforms in consultation with project developers and standardising the platforms will results in a “substantial reduction” to costs.

A total of five projects are planned for the Dutch waters, including Borssele I & II. They are expected online in 2019.

“The adoption of this amendment to the Electricity Act means that Tennet can now apply the knowledge and expertise gained in Germany in connecting [projects] to the onshore grid, and use it to contribute to the energy transition in the Netherlands,” said Tennet CEO Mel Kroon.

Norway Announces Europe’s Largest Onshore Wind Farm

» In yet another example of how progressive European countries have become in the advancement of alternative energy, Norway has just

announced plans to construct the largest onshore wind farm the continent has ever seen.

The project will double the nation’s wind energy capacity and move it farther away from dependence on fossil fuels. A leader in oil production, Norway has been shifting toward incorporating more renewable energy into its portfolio. The nation widely supports electric vehicles and has been divesting from fossil fuels over the years.

Lukoil Invests $343mln in Offshore Exploration » Russian group Lukoil increased its capital expenditures on offshore projects in Romania’s Black Sea territorial waters by 81% last year, to $343.38 million.

In 2015, Lukoil discovered a natural gas deposit in the Trident concession in the Black Sea’s Romanian territorial waters. The estimated resources amounted to Romania’s consumption for three years, reports local Profit.ro. The Russian group gave up the other concession in the Black Sea called Rhapsody. The exploration work on that perimeter showed up no promising results, generated losses of over $410 million for the company in 2015.

Lukoil also owns the Petrotel refinery and a fuel distribution network in Romania.

44

Thinking Green & Living Clean

The centrally located wind farm, backed by Statkraft, TrønderEnergi and Nordic Wind Power DA, will generate 3.4 TWh power each year and should be complete by the year 2020.

The project will actually consist of six connected wind farms with a combined capacity of 1000MW – more than the entire wind power capacity the country currently holds. Construction begins this year and is expected to cost about €1.1 billion

Last Year 57% of Scotland’s Energy Came From Renewables » A new report published by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change shows that 57.7% of Scotland’s electric consumption came from renewable sources in 2015, exceeding the country’s 50% target for the year. This milestone comes in spite of the UK government’s recent decision to end public subsidies for onshore wind farms a year earlier than initially planned.

Clean energy proponents are praising the success of the Scottish National Party’s renewable energy initiatives, and holding up the new statistics as proof that the nation could become the EU’s first fully renewable electricity nation by 2030.

The main sources of Scotland‘s renewable power are wind, wave, and tidal power, which collectively make up about 80% of the country’s renewable energy capacity. By the end of 2015, the country had 7,723 megawatts of installed capacity, generating 21,983 gigawatts. That’s not insignificant — in fact, this January, there were 22 days when the amount of electricity generated from wind was enough to power every home in the country.

Croatia’s Hydropower Plants Overhaul Budgeted With €480mln » Croatian HEP Group marked half of a century of the operation of hydropower plant Dubrovnik in its rehabilitated facility, the first in a programme that state-owned energy utility determined to last through 2020. Managing director Perica Jukić said the company secured €480 million for the overhaul, planned to introduce new capacity of between 111 MW and 124 MW. The addition is equivalent to a hypothetical hydropower facility larger by size than 21 out of existing 26. He added it makes Croatia one of the leading countries in Europe in the segment of power from renewable sources, SEEbiz portal reported.

The operations in HPP Dubrovnik, worth €42.3 million, were finished in January, adding 36 MW to the facility and bringing total capacity to 252 MW, equivalent to almost 100 GWh per year of certified green energy. The power plant was commissioned in 1965 and since then it generated 30 TWh for Croatia, almost twice more than the country’s current yearly consumption. The accumulation is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the facility’s other unit generates power for delivery to the neighbouring republic.

Belarus Attitude Toward Renewable Energy Projects Changes » Cooperation of authorities and potential investors in alternative energy segment in Belarus has had a very low level of efficiency, since over recent years in the country signed investment agreements for numerous projects have reached a total funding of US$ 20 billion, while actual implemented projects have only reached US$ 2 billion, Vladimir Nistsyuk, head of the country’s association for renewable energy, said.

“This is an indicator which means that here [in Belarus] often [entities that look like investors are not real], but some adventurers and engineering companies that are studying the situation get relevant support of government agencies and experts, receive information, then take it and sell to the real investors; and the investor makes the decision to abandon the projects after all,” Nistsyuk said.

“The best option for them is to sign the investment agreement on behalf of an investor — in this case they will get more money.”

According to Nistsyuk, this situation hurts the abilities of real investors to implement their projects in the country.

Uzbekistan: Future Dim for Solar Power

» A modest achievement in renewable energy in Uzbekistan is a reminder of the country’s enormous but unexploited potential to harness environmentally friendly resources.

Local media on April 4 reported that United Arab Emirates company ENESOL has completed the largest mobile solar plant in the former Soviet Union, in Uzbekistan. The 1.2 megawatt plant will be used to power a natural gas field and construction site owned by Russian energy company LUKoil in an area near the city of Bukhara.

“The solar plant’s capacity is enough to provide uninterrupted energy for a populated area of 1,500 people,” ENESOL said in a statement In line with plans, work is currently in progress on a 100 megawatt photovoltaic plant in the Samarkand region. The Asian Development Bank has estimated this could generate 159 gigawatt hours of power and avoid 88,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

Thinking Green & Living Clean

45

INTERVIEW

PROFESSOR ČEDO MAKSIMOVIĆ

IMPERIAL COLLEGE, LONDON, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Wise Water

MANAGEMENT KEY energy sector 10%, households and industry around 19%, while the remaining 3% evaporates from reservoirs and lakes.

The general notion has always been that the Earth is rich with water, considering that the majority of its surface is covered with water.

The problem lies in the fact that over 97.5% of that water is salt water (seas and oceans)

46

O

» You have spent years dealing with the issue of urban water – from water supply to floods. What is the situation like globally today when it comes to the sustainable and efficient use of water?

- Due to water becoming increasingly polluted, the quantity of water that is economically viable for exploitation has reduced drastically. Bottled water is often sold for more than oil and its derivatives. Climate change causes even more chaos because the timetable of water availability is changing, such that now, more often than ever, we have too much water in certain periods (which causes floods, landslides etc.), and at other times we don’t have enough water (droughts, food scarcity). Many parts of our planet are becoming increasingly uninhabitable, while some areas have already

f the remaining 2.5%, glaciers and snow account for 68.99%, groundwater 29.9%, soil moisture, swamps and permafrost a further 0.9% and only 0.3% is composed of rivers and lakes. The latter is our only renewable water resource. Of the Climate change causes even more chaos because entire quantity the timetable of water availability is changing, of water abstrasuch that now, more often than ever, we have cted from nature too much water in certain periods (which causes (rivers, lakes and underground aqufloods, landslides etc.), and at other times we ifers), agriculture don’t have enough water (droughts, food scarcity) uses 68%, the

Thinking Green & Living Clean

become completely deserted due to a lack of water. Wealthy countries are not exempt from this problem. A drastic water deficit has been felt in California and other southern U.S. states in the last few years. The entire world is now facing the need to seriously re-examine long-term water management strategies. Old rules cease to apply, as they crumble overnight. » What are the global priorities for preserving water resources that are on the verge of destruction due to excessive pollution?

- It is very easy to say that we need to stop polluting our water resources (the same goes for air and soil), but this is quite difficult to do. After several decades of failed attempts to reach a global consensus on mitigating (or at least decelerating) the negative effects of climate change, a good initial breakthrough was made at the COP21 conference in Paris, so we can expect a similar breakthrough in the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), in which water resources play a major role. However, this shift needs to happen first and foremost in our minds, so that we can start ‘clearing’ our own ‘dump’ first, as it were.

Nobody is spared from this ‘plague’.

to overcome strategic challenges related to the development of sustainable urban systems that are transformed from the centralised power and water infrastructure into decentralised and better integrated systems. This includes overcoming challenges in three specific areas: • Urban planning: developing the market for planning tools and providing support with the aim of creating sustainable cities.

• ntegration of the system and services, amplifying positive effects and their interaction: supporting transition towards better integrated urban systems; higher resource efficiency – connecting urban infrastructure systems to the environment in order to efficiently utilise available resources, including recycling.

• All of the aforementioned should be done in a way that the

» You have coordinated projects at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme in London and Europe.

You have also engaged your vast expeIn accordance with the principles and solutions of the rience in the area of integrated urban BGD project, supplying cities, not only with water, water management in the Blue Green food, power and healthy environment (both indoors and Dream project, which provides a new approach to preserving our planet. outdoors) in the future, has to be based on integrated What is that project about? solutions with maximum use and recycling of local - That project is all about having an resources. Everything that is today considered waste will innovative approach to future urban be precious resource in the future planning development and revitalising existing urban segments, but it can be total costs (of system revitalisation, utilisation and maintenance, equally applied to suburban and rural areas, as well as to indii.e. the whole life costs) are lower than the conventional ones. vidual facilities and systems of all kinds (residential, industrial, commercial, healthcare, eco-systems, recreational etc.). Inste» The Blue Green Project has been implemented in the urad of planning to develop individual sectors (water, power, ban planning segment in Zagreb, Paris and Singapore. What food, eco-systems, infrastructure), where experts are trying to results did the project accomplish in terms of economic and do their ‘best’ in their own field (while making it difficult for otsocial development and environmental protection? hers), the project’s (Blue Green Dream – BGD) methodology fa- In these initial projects, which we implemented with teams vours two types of interactions: multidisciplinary (experts worof my colleagues and associates, we have improved both the king as a team); and multifunctional (multipurpose systems). living and working conditions of people in these systems throThe project is based on reducing the negative effects of ugh the use of local natural resources. We have also reduced climate change. By focusing on coordination between urban energy outgoings and other costs drastically. Instead of the water infrastructure and urban green areas, the project helps Thinking Green & Living Clean

47

old principle of we are protecting nature / environment, which implied huge investments with an uncertain outcome, we use seemingly inverse principles – “we use nature to protect us”, while at the same time “we are protecting nature”. By so doing, we have significantly reduced the costs and created better (and more durable) solutions with clearly defined and quantified indicators of integral performances in these systems.

solution. The same goes for the so-called grey water which is actually bath and shower water. If we used these two resources (that are currently discarded) alone to flush our toilets, we would reduce the consumption of drinking water between 25% and 40% , as well as reduce the consumption of energy needed to pump up the water. We would also reduce the risk from flooding. There are over 1,000 companies in Germany that are engaged in these and similar activities (production, installation and maintenance of the relevant equipment).

Similar principles will be applied to other resources – energy, food, and all types of waste including, for example the warm (waste) air from air conditioning units. If we used vegetation to lower the temperature in our buildings, we would reduce (or completely eliminate) the need for air conditioning.

And when we bring all urban infrastructure systems together under one ‘roof’ (read blue green paradigm) and form a team of experts that, so far, haven’t interacted much with experts from other fields, we create new solutions. » In terms of Serbia, the majority of existing water supply systems were built over 30 years ago. How familiar are you with this fact and what solutions can you provide?

- Water systems that were built 30 and more years ago (there are quite a few systems in other countries that are even older) are not the problem. The main thing is the quality of their construction and maintenance. According to the data collated by my colleagues, in many cases, modern water supply systems are built worse than their predecessors. Recently, a several-kilometre-long segment of a brand new pipeline caved in before it even became operational.

» Serbia suffered huge damage from floods in recent It is a great misconception to think that Serbia years, mainly because there wasn’t proper infrastructure in place to stop the floods. What efficient is rich with water resources despite having solutions can you propose to solve this decades-long two great rivers – the Danube and the Sava problem, considering Serbia’s economic potential?

- Serbia was not the only country to sustain huge da– running through it. Most of the territory of mage in recent floods. The same happened in Croatia Serbia is exceptionally dry, especially when and Bosnia-Herzegovina. One of the reasons for such there have been long periods without rainfall heavy flooding was very persistent and heavy rainfall, as well as a lack of investments in the reconstruction of anti-flood systems and their inadequate maintenance. Regardless » Europe is a region with the biggest urban population and of the country’s economic potential, investments should not stop, further growth tendencies. How does this fact, combined otherwise the consequences could be catastrophic. There needs with climate change, affect water supplies in large cities? to be a balance between construction of new anti-flood systems - In accordance with the principles and solutions of the BGD and good maintenance and reinforcement of the existing ones. project, supplying cities, not only with water, food, power and Also, we should bear in mind that apart from the usual (fluvial) healthy environment (both indoors and outdoors) in the fufloods, the so-called rain-related (pluvial) floods, i.e. floods that ture, has to be based on integrated solutions with maximum usually happen in cities due to excessive rainfall, can also cause use and recycling of local resources. Everything that is today a lot of damage. This damage could be minimised in the future considered waste will be precious resource in the future. Let’s through the systematic use of the BlueGreen solutions. take, for instance, rainwater which has always been thought of as a by-product of bad weather. Collecting rainwater from » Waste waters in certain parts of Serbia, particularly in Vojvoroofs and using it to flush toilets and for other ‘technical’ purdina, are contagious and have stunted the economic growth poses will gradually become not only a novelty but a standard

48

Thinking Green & Living Clean

In Europe these losses range from a couple of percentage of entire regions. They affect agriculture and tourism, as well points to over 20% in old systems like the one in London. Reas posing a threat to public health. How are such problems ducing losses to a level that is economically viable is one of the solved elsewhere in Europe and in the rest of the world? main tasks of all water companies. With the implementation of - We should identify the origin of these waste waters in orother demand management measures, reducing losses is one der to reduce pollution risk. Waste waters from urban areas of the most important measures for unconventional resources. are usually collected in separation systems or mixed sewage systems and are filtered. The big problem in Serbia is that » What economic benefits can Serbia gain if it manages to many cities (including Belgrade) don’t have waste water filtepreserve its water potential? ring systems and those towns that do, their filtering systems - So far, Serbia has been very flippant (by not applying polluare either obsolete, neglected or don’t function at all. Also, tion control measures) about these precious resources. The another problem lies in the fact that modern systems are example of this is degradation of the water quality in man-mavery classically designed, and they are inefficient because de reservoirs on the Danube-Tisza-Danube channel. This alrethey are built in line with an outdated technology. We have ady has negative economic and health consequences. Conservery modern technologies today which are more efficient, more compact, produce less sludge, use less energy and don’t stink.

As far as I know, not a single system in Serbia is designed with this new technology. The prevailing systems here fall victim to financial and other arrangements, and become obsolete even during the design phase. The methods developed by the BGD project and our partners / associates in the project implementation can offer much better and more affordable solutions. However, the chances to break into this old, fairly closed system are not that great.

Apart from urban raw sewage, which is discharged at known locations (the so-called point source pollution), more and more is revealed about possible pollution coming from other It is a great misconception to think that Serbia is rich (so-called diffused) sources. These are with water resources despite having two great rivers – mainly waste waters from farms and the Danube and the Sava – running through it. Most of agricultural land, which is heavily fertilised and where runoff water is not the territory of Serbia is exceptionally dry, especially controlled. Additionally, pollution can when there have been long periods without rainfall come from gutter flow in urban areas and roads. This type of pollution can ving the water potential with conceivable economic benefits is be drastically reduced through the systematic use of the BG primarily about completing the production of water reservoirs, solutions. in addition to preserving and improving the quality of water. » Over 30% of water is lost on its way from water plants to » Serbia is considered an emerging country. What kind of end consumers in Serbia. In European countries these losses synergy would be crucial for the sustainable management of are under 20%. Considering that Serbia is rich with water rethe large water potential that we possess? sources, how valuable would you say this resource is going to - The key strategy here is wise management of water resourbe in the world in the near future? ces which, first and foremost, means collecting water during - It is a great misconception to think that Serbia is rich with periods of heavy rainfall and using it rationally when rainfall water resources despite having two great rivers – the Danube is scarce. Due to climate change, the latter periods could be and the Sava – running through it. Most of the territory of Serquite frequent and could have catastrophic consequences if bia is exceptionally dry, especially when there have been long water resources are not managed wisely. « periods without rainfall.

Thinking Green & Living Clean

49

INTERVIEW

FRANÇOIS ALLAIN DIRECTOR OF SADE SERBIA

Strong Operational Culture &

TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTISE Environmental pollution, including intensive usage of chemicals in agriculture, as well as wastewater discharge directly into natural recipients like rivers or lakes, represents the key problem for water treatment… Furthermore, it is very complex to preserve and control the actual sources of drinking water

T

he pollution of underground water sources by unregulated landfills is a huge problem. Even though this is a long-term process that’s not easily detected by the human eye alone, every single piece of waste enters underground water sooner or later and pollutes it.

Although treatment technologies are sometimes outdated, they generally fulfil their role in terms of functionality.

The standard technologies that are applied worldwide have existed in Serbia for a long time already, and the continual follow up of new up-to-date treatment technologies by local experts certainly enables the installing of the same either in newly designed or upgraded plants. » How do you evaluate the quality of drinking water in Serbia and what needs to be done to improve it?

- Some 65 per cent of the waterline networks in Serbia are hygienically safe for water.

It should be noted that the quality of water in urban areas is mostly satisfactory.

Nevertheless, there are constant warnings regarding the deterioration of smaller waterline networks in non-urban areas, where regular and systematic maintenance is not applied.

The main focus should be on the preser-

50

vation and control of water sources in order to maintain or improve the quality of potable water and ensure it is maintained at the required level. Raising awareness among the population and striving to improve their environmental behaviour is also an absolute necessity. » What are the most important projects you are currently working on in Serbia?

- Amongst others, and just few days ago, our team completed the rehabilitation of the drinking water treatment plant “Štrand” in Novi Sad, with a capacity of 1500L/s. The plant is now operational, to our great satisfaction. This is a perfect example of an existing plant being upgraded with the latest technologies, including ozone production, activated carbon filtration etc.

As a specialist in environmental protection related activities, SADE provided a proposal that was fully in line with the requirements of the investor and therefore signed the agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection for the remediation and rehabilitation of the Zajača smelter landfill. The hazardous waste deposited there has been creating serious pollution and environmental problems for years, but now this issue is about to be solved….

For us, this is not just about solving a particular environmental case, but about making anot-

Thinking Green & Living Clean

her step towards raising the awareness of the society regarding the importance of sustainable development for future generations. » Are you satisfied with your business results in Serbia following the merger of companies Sade and Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies?

- SADE is a leader in the field of environmental infrastructure, with a strong operational culture… The expertise of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies are technological

Our team completed the rehabilitation of the drinking water treatment plant “Štrand” in Novi Sad, with a capacity of 1500L/s. The plant is now operational, to our great satisfaction solutions and they provide the entire range of services required to design, build, maintain and upgrade water and wastewater treatment facilities for clients in the industrial and public sectors. Conjoining the competences and knowhow of these two companies allows us to provide a full range of solutions and services to our customers.

Many environmental issues are still to be tackled in Serbia and our team is absolutely ready and operational to face any such challenge! «

Thinking Green & Living Clean

51

WATER

Is Europe's Freshwater

USE SUSTAINABLE?

We need freshwater for human consumption and economic activities such as food production and industry, but does Europe manage this valuable resource in a sustainable way? An indicator assessment published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) on World Water Day takes a look at the use of freshwater resources across Europe

T

he EEA indicator assessment ‘Use of freshwater resources’ shows that while water is generally abundant in Europe, water scarcity and droughts continue to affect some regions, especially those that are densely populated and have high demands for water from agriculture and tourism during the summer.

The water exploitation index plus (WEI+) of European River Basin Districts is the percentage of total freshwater used compared to the renewable freshwater resources available. The EEA indicator shows that around 20 river basin districts, mainly in the Mediterranean, face structural water stress issues (WEI > 20%). These include Cyprus, Malta, Crete, the Balearic Islands and Sicily. The situation is even worse in summer. The average WEI for the summers 2002-2012 were 81% and 55% for Cyprus and Segura, Spain respectively which suggests severe water stress and clearly unsustainable resource use.

Water stress, increasingly, occurs in other parts of Europe. The main drivers are growing urban populations and hig-

52

her living standards coupled with reduced water availability due to pollution and drought. Many large cities have developed wide networks for transporting water, often over distances of more than 100-200 km to be able to respond to the demand for water.

During winter, approximately 30 million inhabitants live under water

Around 20% of the total population of the Mediterranean region live under permanent water stress conditions.

More than half (53%) of the Mediterranean population is effected by water stress during the summer.

Public water supply is second to agriculture, accounting for 32% of total water use.

The main drivers are growing urban populations and higher living standards coupled with reduced water availability due to pollution and drought. Many large cities have developed wide networks for transporting water, often over distances of more than 100-200 km to be able to respond to the demand for water stress conditions, while the figure for summer is around 70 million. This corresponds to 6% and 14% of the total population of Europe respectively.

Agriculture accounts for 36% of total water use on an annual scale. In summer, this increases to about 60%.

Agriculture in the Mediterranean region alone accounts for almost 75% of total water used for agriculture in Europe.

Thinking Green & Living Clean

The service sector, including businesses dealing with tourism, has become one of the main pressures on renewable water resources, accounting for 11% of total annual water use. Small Mediterranean islands in particular are under severe water stress conditions due to receiving 10-15 times more tourists than they have local inhabitants. ÂŤ

Thinking Green & Living Clean

53

WATER

World’s Worst Access to Clean Water

» Papua New Guinea, where 60% of the population lives without a safe water supply, has the poorest access to clean water in the world, according to a study released by organisation WaterAid. A report on the state of the world’s water showed Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Chad and Mozambique joining Papua New Guinea in the bottom five of a table ranking countries according to the percentage of households with access to clean water. Globally, 650 million people are living without an “improved” source of drinking water, which includes public taps, protected wells, rainwater or water piped into households.

The study also explored the high costs of water access, examining why the poorest communities often foot the largest bill. When there is no public access to clean water, people are forced to buy their water from street vendors, tanker trucks or other informal delivery services, all of which charge a premium. In Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, the average cost for 50 litres of water from a delivery service is € 1.85, which accounts for half of a typical daily salary.

This compares with €0.09 for 50 litres of piped water in the UK.

Why Britain’s Rivers are at Risk? » Britain use a whopping 13 trillion litres of water every year and most of this water comes from our rivers. The average person uses about 150 litres a day which is 15% more than UK used 25 years ago. Several parts of the country are still experiencing drought despite a bit of a wet summer. In fact the Environment Agency (EA) has calculated that in the south-east of England there is less water available, per person, than in Morocco or Egypt. As Egypt is mostly desert this quite a feat!

A third of the clean water in Britain is use everyday just for flushing the loo! Thames Water has a licence to take 1 million litres of water from the River Kennet every single day - this is enough to fill five olympic-size swimming pools! There is a limit to how much water can be taken from rivers and important underground water sources known as aquifers before damage is done. Britain currently exceeding this limit and this is affecting the rivers and the unique wildlife that live in their special habitats.

Britain’s rivers and chalk streams are unique and are home to thousands of species of mammal, fish, birds and insects. So, all the rivers and their fragile ecosystems and biodiversity need protecting before it is too late. Water companies should be investigating how to use and take water in a more sustainable way - to sustain the river water levels and sustain the abundance of life that water brings. But, there are many things you can do to use less water and help take the strain off of Britain’s beautiful and useful rivers. At the end, it’s not just Britain’s rivers that are running out of water - it’s the whole world!

New Type of Catalyst for Splitting Water » With a combination of theory and clever, meticulous gel-making, scientists have developed a new type of catalyst that’s three times better than the previous record-holder at splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen - the vital first step in making fuels from renewable solar and wind power.

One way to store intermittent sun and wind energy is to use it to split water into oxygen and hydrogen, and then use the hydrogen as fuel. Now scientists at SLAC and the University of Toronto have invented a new type of catalyst that makes this process three times more efficient. In this water-splitting device on the Toronto campus, hydrogen is bubbling up from the left electrode and oxygen is bubbling up from the right one. The research, published in the journal Science, outlines a potential way to make a future generation of water-splitting catalysts from three abundant metals - iron, cobalt and tungsten - rather than the rare, costly metals that many of today’s catalysts rely on.

Threats to Freshwater Ecosystems » Within about 10 years most people on the planet will face life with water shortages. Half the world’s major rivers are being seriously polluted and/or depleted.

Too often we pit one need against another as we use rivers and lakes to meet our needs. We grow food in ways that send pollution into our

NASA Measures Raindrop Sizes to Understand Storms » For the first time, scientists have three-dimensional snapshots of raindrops and snowflakes around the world from space.

This is a conceptual image showing how the size and distribution of raindrops varies within a storm. Blues and greens represent small raindrops that are 0.5-3mm in size. Yellows, oranges, and reds represent larger raindrops that are 4-6mm in size. A storm with a higher ratio of yellows, oranges, and reds will contain more water than a storm with a higher ratio of blues and greens.

54

Thinking Green & Living Clean

drinking water. We often manufacture products in ways that use more water than is necessary.

We clear away forests without thinking about the erosion that will wash into our waters.

We can and must make better choices or we will continue to spoil the very resources we need and cherish.

Industry Wants EU Standard on Drinking Water Products » The creation of a European system of testing materials in contact with drinking water is moving closer thanks to a think-tank founded by manufacturers and trade organizations. The Industry Consortium for Products in Contact with Drinking Water (ICPCDW) is hoping to establish universal standards and certification across Europe.

The Consortium is close to producing draft guidelines for plastics and is now looking for industry experts in elastomers for the next phase of its activity. “Testing is very expensive and very time consuming. It is a barrier to trade because it means if a product has been approved for use in the UK you can’t sell it in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy or France – because they all have their own testing regimes. There are 18 member states which have different certification requirements. The ICPCDW is building on work done by a previous collaboration between France, Germany, The Netherlands and the UK, which attempted to draw up a harmonized set of standards and certification procedures. By bringing together trade organizations and manufacturers’ representatives from across Europe, ICPCDW aims to draw up draft regulations, which could then be adopted individually by countries or become part of European regulation.

How European Companies are Coping With Water Stress » Because of climate change companies worldwide are facing new challenges.

Water scarcity, flooding, droughts and water quality have become serious operating risks. Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) recently published data on how companies globally deal with these risks, including Europe. Companies out of the UK, France, Spain, Italy and Germany reveal how they were struck by the consequences of climate change.

Water Stress Likely in Asia by 2050 » Economic and population growth on top of climate change could lead to serious water shortages across a broad swath of Asia by the year 2050, a newly published study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists has found. The study deploys detailed modeling to produce what the researchers believe is a full range of scenarios involving water availability and use in the future. In the paper, the scientists conclude there is a “high risk of severe water stress” in much of an area that is home to roughly half the world’s population. Having run a large number of simulations of future scenarios, the researchers find that the median amounts of projected growth and climate change in the next 35 years in Asia would lead to about 1 billion more people becoming “water-stressed” compared to today.

Romania to Invest €72.9 million in Upgrading Water Services » The region Mehedinti in South-West Romania is improving water and wastewater services.

The upgrade consists of rehabilitating four wastewater treatment plants and 27 wastewater pumping stations. Moreover two hundred kilometres of water infrastructure, thirteen new water-pumping stations and ten new reservoirs will be realised. The investment will improve the quality of drinking water to meet EU directives and will increase access to wastewater services. The upgrade will take place in ten towns, including the capital Drobeta Turnu Severin. As a result, more than 15,000 people will be connected to the drinking water network and almost 30.000 people to the wastewater network. According to the latest maps of the European Environment Agency, none of the Romanian WWTP’s are at the moment compliant to European regulation.

Segura River in Spain Wins European Riverprize » The Segura River of Spain has won the European Riverprize 2016 of the International River Foundation (IRF). President of the Segura River Basin Authority, Miguel-Angel Rodenas, received the prize on Thursday 3 March in Vienna in Austria. The prize is a recognition of the extraordinary return to health of the river following extensive restoration efforts over the past thirty years. The Segura River Project has successfully restored the health of the river, with advanced wastewater schemes now supplying reclaimed water to the agriculture industry which rapidly boomed after Spain became a member of the EU. This once polluted and water-stressed river in Europe’s driest basin has been transformed from an exposed sewer to a healthy, vibrant river, home to otter, migratory birds, and other flora and fauna, and the reuse of irrigation water has allowed increased agricultural, leisure and recreational activities.

Out of 93 European companies who responded to the CDP-survey, there are 58 reports of the impact of climate change. These reports vary from repairing infrastructure after flooding to changing operations because of growing water scarcity and closing the business down after flooding. In a former CDP-study became clear European companies are worldwide leading in water governance.

In 2013 in Europe companies seem to be more aware of the risks of water stress. By now the risks have become more evident globally. More than 70% of the western US has been hit by severe drought. Losses to California’s economy total are estimates at $2.2 billion in 2015.

And also China has been suffering from a nationwide shortage of both water and energy resources.

The CDP-report ‘From water risk to value creation’ analyses the disclosures from 174 Global 500 companies in sectors with high water vulnerabilities and impacts. It concludes water insecurity is likely to constrain growth. Almost one quarter (22%) of responding companies report that issues around water could limit the growth of their business. Of these, one-third expects that constraint to be felt in the next 12 months.

Thinking Green & Living Clean

55

WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE

Businesses as Active

PARTNERS IN NATURE CONSERVATION

Nature and people are indivisible, as everything is linked and we are all interconnected. In order to save species, we must save their habitats, which are embedded in a broader environment. As such, we must tackle climate change, pollution, and the impacts of human development and this means that businesses should be active partners in the conservation of nature

56

Thinking Green & Living Clean

W

WF came into existence on 29th April 1961, when a small group of passionate and committed individuals signed a declaration that came to be known as the Morges Manifesto. This apparently simple act laid the foundations for what has grown to become the world’s largest independent conservation organisation. More than 50 years on, the black and white panda is a well-known household symbol in many countries. From its origins as a small group of committed wildlife enthusiasts, WWF has grown into one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisations – supported by five million people and

active in over 100 countries on five continents.

WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of our planet’s natural environment and build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. In order to achieve this mission, WWF focuses its efforts on two broad areas: biodiversity and ecological footprints. The first is to ensure that the earth’s web of life – biodiversity – remains healthy and vibrant for generations to come. The second is to reduce the negative impacts of human activity – our ecological footprint. We are working to ensure that the natural resources required for life – land, water, air – are managed sustainably and equitably.

Through innovative partnerships that combine on-the-ground conservation, high-level policy and advocacy, and which work to make business and industry more sustainable, we are strategically focusing on conserving critical places and critical species that are particularly important for their habitat or for people. We are also working to reduce humanity’s ecological footprint – the amount of land and natural resources needed to supply our food, water, fibre and timber, and to absorb our CO2 emissions.

The decisions, actions and inactions of one species – ours – over the next decade will determine the fate of all life on Earth. Across the world, biodiversity and natural habitats are disappearing faster than ever before.

Millions of people, in rich and poor countries alike, are already feeling the consequences – uncertainties over food and water security, increased vulnerability to natural disasters and diseases.

ninsula, are one of six European centres of biodiversity. Despite covering only two per cent of the territory of Europe, Serbia hosts 39 per cent of European vascular flora, 51 per cent of European fish fauna, 49 per cent of European reptile and amphibian fauna, 74 per cent of European bird fauna and 67 per cent of European mammal fauna.

The complex and dynamic climatic and orographic history of the Balkans has shaped immense diversity of vegetation, flora and fauna. Numerous endemic species that live in a restricted area, often in just one gorge or on a single mountain top, make this region distinct at the global level.

WWF IN SERBIA WWF has been operating actively in Serbia since 2009, under the framework of the Danube-Carpathian programme. The Danube basin and Carpathian regions, often called the Green Heart of Europe, include many spectacular wilderness areas, some of the largest remaining virgin and natural forests, and the last remaining intact rivers and wetlands. Conservation of water habitats and sustainable use of water resources are

BIODIVERSITY IN SERBIA Serbia is a country with rich genetics, species, and ecosystem diversity.

The highland and mountainous regions of the country, as part of the Balkan PeThinking Green & Living Clean

57

among the top priority objectives of WWF in Serbia. Healthy and preserved natural wetlands are crucial not only for biodiversity, but also for human wellbeing. As such, we are focusing our work on the restoration and conservation of wetlands. To date we have restored ca 40 ha of wetlands, while an additional 50 ha are being restored this year and in the following years we will continue our work on improving the wetlands of the Danube region.

The conservation of large river systems like the Danube, the Drava and the Mura is greatly dependent on cross-border collaboration. Nature recognises no borders and countries have to work together in order to efficiently deal with all the challenges confronting nature. Therefore, WWF is driving an international initiative to establish the Mura, Drava, Danube transboundary biosphere reserve. This area, which is also recognised as the Amazon of Europe, would be the first biosphere reserve in the world established within the UNESCO Man and Biosphere programme, and would include five countries.

Strengthening the network of protected areas is one of WWF’s global goals. Conserving natural values can only be effective if local people are involved in management and if they recognise all the benefits brought to them by nature.

WWF is working together with the management bodies of the

58

Thinking Green & Living Clean

five protected areas in Serbia: national parks Tara, Ä?erdap and FruĹĄka Gora, the Gornje Podunavlje special nature reserve and Avala protected landscape. Our work is mainly focused on enabling participatory processes and on developing innovative approaches in protected area management.

Many species in Serbia are endangered and are dependent on specific conservation measures. The threats which endangered species face in Serbia are numerous. One of the most serious threats that we have been combating in the last few years is the poisoning of wild animals with pesticides and other chemicals.

Almost 50 specimens of white-tailed eagle have been poisoned in Serbia in the past few years. Together with responsible government institutions, NGOs and local governments, we are running a campaign and targeted activities against illegal poisoning.

Sturgeons are one of the most endangered groups of fish in the world. Due to their specific way of life, which includes large distance migrations from rivers to seas and back, they are particularly sensitive to river regulation and river stream interruption (dam building). WWF in Serbia and other Danube countries is implementing specific programmes for the con-

dely recognised or captured in markets, resulting in ecosystem servation of remaining sturgeon populations. degradation and the loss of our natural capital. Biodiversity and The brown bear, as an indicator of large, continuous and ecosystem conservation offers an array of new opportunities for preserved forest ecosystems, has also come into the focus of business, which can either develop green products and services the WWF’s work. In the Tara National Park, together with the or trade biodiversity “credits”. park management and experts from We cannot live without the goods the University of Belgrade’s Faculty Conservation of natural and functions that nature provides, of Biology, we are working on satellivalues can only be effective not just well known ones like wate tracking of this large omnivorous if local people are involved in ter, food, minerals, and fibre, but also species and on the genetic characteecosystems that perform a number of risation of its populations in Western the management and if they functions beyond these tangible reSerbia. recognise all the benefits sources. Ecosystem functions are of We are at a turning point right now, brought to them by nature crucial importance to the society by as we are just starting to recognise the providing services such as climate reeconomic value of nature’s assets. The gulation, biodiversity, soil formation, plant pollination, pest restudy “The Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity” demongulation, water purification, and flood mitigation, the provision strates the importance of valuing and placing the right price of genetic resources and landscape diversity, as well as recreatitag on natural capital. Only by doing this can we ensure that onal and spiritual values. « investments are directed at maintaining and enhancing, rather than exploiting and destroying, natural capital.

The biodiversity and ecosystem services offer opportunities for all business sectors, mainly because integrating environmental concerns into company management can increase the cost-effectiveness of operations, ensure the sustainability of supply chains and attract new customers. However, the report also underlines that nature considerations can also provide the basis for new businesses. Conserving biodiversity and using biodiversity and ecosystem services in a sustainable and equitable way can provide the basis for unique business propositions, enabling entrepreneurs and investors to develop and scale up biodiversity businesses. However, the economic benefits of these services are not wiThinking Green & Living Clean

59

AGRICULTURE

My (Organic) GARDEN Today, after years of determined effort, the organic agriculture sector in Serbia has attained a respectable position in the economy. The first notable example of the transition to a Green Economy is the growth of organic farming, which has been promoted due to its possibility for reducing the environmental impact of agriculture

O

rganic products have been popping up all around us lately, and we are generally familiar with what that means for us, but not so much with the impact that has on our environment. As we discovered in our talks with company Moja Bašta – an agriculture start-up from Serbia and one of the few organic farms to possess premium certificate - this means that not only soil, seeds, water and fertilisers are 100 per cent organic, but also the way this type of farming functions and impacts on the environment. Moja Bašta’s workers have special training and use solar panels and electric machinery in order to comply with green standards. Their strategy is to provide the most environmentally efficient production cycle and produce top

products, but because of the small quantities we had higher prices, so the only way to impact on the EU market was to provide premium quality, as there aren’t many competitors in this segment, as production is difficult. We are also very proud when people are surprised that this is coming from Serbia,” says co-owner Đurać Ćaranović.

Demand is already high in Austria and

There is huge opportunity in organic production for Serbia, not only based on the consumption of healthier products, but also based on the impact on our environment. Organic production has become a highly specialised agricultural system, which requires specific professional education, knowledge and technologies quality products. Their honey is one of the few to have gained an EU premium quality certificate. However, they didn’t achieve that alone, but rather they learned and practiced how to do so together with more than 60 subcontractors.

“Our passion was quality products, in the first place, that we were producing for ourselves, and then we wanted to share our

60

Germany, where they are very familiar with the quality of Serbia’s organic products.

For us, the EU is now our standard market, where we are recognised as a brand, so we are now trying to penetrate Scandinavian markets, especially Denmark’s, which has a bigger premium organic market share.

The next step for Moja Bašta is to offer its products on the domestic mar-

Thinking Green & Living Clean

ket. Currently only small groups of people are able to consume these products in Serbia. However, as we learned, the company is set to launch online sales soon, with the same quality and an average market price that corresponds to current standards. Moja Bašta also wants to help with the transition to the Green Economy and to share its knowledge.

“As we are aware, there is huge opportunity in organic production for Serbia, not only based on the consumption of healthier products, but also based on the impact on our environment. Organic production has become a highly specialised agricultural system, which requires specific professional education, knowledge and technologies. Perhaps we don’t need so many organisations, regulatory bodies or agencies offering seminars, but rather we need to focus more on control of the quality of the products and associated education. As we discovered, high-quality products produced in Serbia can be financially profitable. We only need to educate and motivate family farmers to start thinking about this.” «

www.cordmagazine.com Thinking Green & Living Clean

61