VI international MITECO Forum gathered local and international experts who has participated in a hybrid form of Forum (online and offline panels). They have discussed about the directions of further development of Serbia in environmental policies, analyzing them through the prism of new realities brought to us by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the introductory part, the speakers were H.E. Jan Lundin, Ambassador of Sweden to Serbia, Ivanka Popović, Rector of the University of Belgrade, Siniša Mitrović, Director of the Sector for Circular Economy of PKS and Miodrag Mitrović, President of Miteco.
“This year we are organizing a Forum under the slogan ‘I know, so I can!’ in order to emhasize that knowledge and information in new global circumstances are especially important. The forum had three panels. During the first panel, from the prism of academic and innovative knowledge, we focused on new models of investing in environmental protection. In the second panel, we talked with media representatives about responsible reporting and raising awareness on this very important topic. While during the third panel we analzsed the relations between corporations and society in terms of positive interactions, the creation of public- private cooperation and the circular economy. “- said Miodrag Mitrovic.
Some of the conclusions from the Miteco Forum:
- The circular economy is an opportunity to give back to nature what we take from it, but without disturbing nature and biodiversity. The economy of the 19th and 20th centuries is not applicable in the new reality, because we cannot allow the economy to be based on results to the detriment of nature and the environment.
- The only development that can be talked about is SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, and that is the development that does not have a negative impact on society and nature. The state should provide the initial impetus and then encourage the private sector to invest. This would provide a complete system that would increase resilience to some new emerging crises, including those caused by climate change.
- The media report more, in more detail and dedicate more space to environmental issues compared to the period a few years ago. The usual omissions when it comes to environmental reporting are that the news is tied to the necessity of huge investments, which has the effect of rejecting the audience and creating the impression that these topics have nothing to do with their lives.
- Despite the fact that there is an official model for private public partnership, it is still not represented to the desired extent and distrust is still felt. We should use the pandemic and the atmosphere of new normality for the purpose of partnership.
- The trend to use waste as energy has already been overcome. Now waste is being turned into a new product, so we are forced to find alternative and innovative energy sources.
Panelists who participated in today’s event on the topic of “New Realities” are: Slobodan Minić, Special Advisor to the Fiscal Council of the Republic of Serbia, Ivan Karić, Head of Negotiating Group 27 (2017-2020), Aleksandra Drecun, President of the Center for Science and Innovation Intersection, Alexei Kishjuhas, sociologist and columnist. The panel was moderated by Nikola Božić, program director of Petnica science center.
The second panel dedicated to the media roles was attended by: Zoran Stanojević, editor of RTS, Vojislav Stevanović, journalist N1, Ivana Mićević, journalist of Večernje novosti and Radojka Nikolić, editor of Biznis magazin and Econometer. The panel was moderated by Slobodan Bubnjević, a physicist, scientist and journalist.
The third panel on corporations and society brought together PKS representatives Siniša Mitrović, Miodrag Gluščević, Program Director of the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, Marinko Ukropina, SGS Director General for Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, BiH and Montenegro, and Thomas Leitner, Head of Alternative Fuels Management, Wien Energie, Austria. The panel was moderated by Miodrag Mitrović, President of Miteco.