climate justice

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges for humanity in the 21st century. Global economic development has reached its limit, and institutions and societies around the world are, according to many, belatedly preparing for the accelerated abandonment of the biggest culprit for global warming - fossil fuels. This process is an inevitability that every state and society must face. While almost all countries of the world are planning policies of decarbonization and adjustment of their own economies, the question arises of what such a transition entails and how it will affect people's lives, especially those most vulnerable.

With the concept of climate justice and just energy transition, they are trying to put issues related to the social consequences of both climate change and decarbonization measures on the agenda of decision-makers. Many of the global and regional documents, of which Serbia is also a signatory, such as the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, already contain the assumed obligation to make this transition fairer. However, what exactly these policies bring with them, as well as what their planning and implementation look like, remains to be seen. That is, those policies are still being shaped.

Reducing the impact of climate change on the population?

Measures that imply the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions require a certain economic standard, which the citizens of Serbia generally do not have. The building sector is the biggest energy consumer and polluter, and the energy renovation of residential buildings is mostly expected from real estate owners. What happens if the owner does not have the money for the energy rehabilitation of his home? They will have to pay ever higher electricity and heating bills, while those who were rich enough to invest in more energy efficient solutions will remain even richer. If the energy transition is not socially sensitive, its results will only deepen social inequalities in Serbia.

What the energy transition should look like in order to be fair, especially in the housing and household consumption sector, is the focus of our interest in this area. During 2022, we organized the Climate Justice Evening School and issued a publication with four studies that map the key points for a just green transition in Serbia: how it will be financed, how it will affect industry, the labor market, the economic position of households, their mobility and democracy in general .

How can urban planning reduce the impact of climate change?

General urban plan is a document that, among others, defines response and adaptation to climate change. Nature has already provided the simplest and most obvious solution for adaptation - green infrastructure. Green areas provide the necessary natural shade, allow us fresher and cleaner air and absorption of rainwater. And while strategic documents are full of green solutions, in reality, concrete and expensive square meters in the form of cynical solutions like green roofs and facades always win.
The current proposal of the GUP 2041 plans the development of the city in both width and density, that is, it does not provide answers or solutions for reducing the impact of climate change. This way of building a city in the midst of intensifying climate disasters and imperatives of energy transition will quickly hit our heads. That is why it is necessary to approach planning and development responsibly.