The Belgrade Open School, in cooperation with the Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute (RERI), organized the second in a series of Green Talks on the topic of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). The event was held in Dorćol Platz on June 28 and brought together more than 50 representatives of the Ministry of Mining and Energy, representatives of international organizations, local associations, the academic community, experts in the field of energy, activists.

The importance of NECP

NECP sets the goals of the energy and climate policy of the Republic of Serbia, provides a framework for the energy transition process from fossil fuels, i.e. coal, oil and gas, to energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in order to achieve the so-called climate and carbon neutrality by 2050 at the latest .year - the last deadline for the abolition of carbon emissions, which makes it possible to contain dangerous climate changes. NECP is a planning document recognizable in all European countries, both in the member states of the European Union and in the candidate countries for membership.

"We are, to put it mildly, surprised by the published draft of NECP, because despite the purpose for which the proposed plan is being adopted, it does not at all foresee the decarbonization of Serbia by the deadline that we as a state and society have already set many times since the accession to the Paris Agreement until the signing of the Sofia Declaration. This kind of plan is actually a turn from the proclaimed goals of decarbonization. Instead of determining the key directions of development, it actually threatens our economy, health and climate by prolonged lagging behind the energy sector in the unsustainable use of lignite," said Mirko Popović from RERI, emphasizing the need for civil society organizations to be urgently involved in the process of drafting the NECP by submitting their proposals and remarks so that Serbia would not to be marked as one of the few countries in Europe that has exempted itself from joint efforts to curb climate change and ensure sustainable development.

Participation in public discussion

On June 13, 2023, the Ministry of Mining and Energy opened a public debate on the National Energy and Climate Plan of the Republic of Serbia, which refers to the period up to year 2030. with projections up to 2050.

The public discussion lasts until July 28 this year.

In order to facilitate the participation in this process for all citizens who want to participate, but think that they are not expert enough or do not have enough time to analyze the document, we have prepared comments that you can download and send to the Ministry of Mining and Energy on your own behalf. Comments are available through the Get Involved! platform.

If you want your comments to be published on this platform and thus available to the general public, please send them in the prescribed form to the address necp@bos.rs.

The Civil Society for Energy Transition project is financed by the British Embassy in Belgrade, and the Belgrade Open School implements the project in cooperation with the Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute (RERI) and seven other local partners, in the period from December 1, 2022. until March 31, 2024.

You can view the photo gallery from the event here.

Author of the photos: Zorica Popović