A warm July day at the Jevremovac Botanical Garden provided an opportunity to meet, talk and exchange ideas about climate change and environmental protection. On 4 July, Young Researchers of Serbia organised the National Youth Climate Meeting in Belgrade, bringing together more than 50 young people interested in environmental activism, climate justice and active participation in their communities.
From Activists’ Experiences to Concrete Challenges
The panel discussion featured activists working on environmental protection in different ways — through legal protection of biodiversity, public advocacy and social media, as well as promoting construction using natural materials.
Discussions focused on biodiversity conservation, greenwashing and the energy transition, with practical examples from Serbia.
One of the cases discussed was the protection of the Studenica River, part of which flows through Golija Nature Park and the Golija–Studenica UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Participants explored this case in greater detail during the group work later in the programme.
Special attention was also given to recognising greenwashing and the importance of transparency in information about the environmental impact of products and activities. The discussion on the energy transition also highlighted the potential of natural and locally available building materials, both in terms of energy efficiency and their importance to local communities.
Three Topics, Three Concrete Environmental Challenges
In the second part of the programme, participants divided into three working groups, each addressing a specific case with the support of a mentor.
The topics were:
- Pollution of the Studenica River and the planned construction of a hydropower plant;
- Accumulation of municipal waste and the planned construction of an aquarium in Belgrade’s Friendship Park;
- Air pollution in Serbia and the proposed construction of a gold mine in the Homolje region.
The aim was to identify the institutions responsible for addressing these issues and formulate recommendations for decision-makers. This gave participants an opportunity to connect their knowledge of environmental protection with practical skills in civic participation and advocacy.
Learning at the Botanical Garden
The programme concluded with a guided tour of the Jevremovac Botanical Garden, during which participants discussed how plants adapt to different climatic and environmental conditions with a biologist and tour guide.
During the informal part of the meeting, they continued exchanging experiences and discussing climate justice, biodiversity and environmental activism.
The combination of discussions with experienced activists, work on concrete environmental cases and learning in a natural setting enabled participants to connect knowledge with practical opportunities for civic engagement.
About the Project
The National Youth Climate Meeting was organised as part of the EYA – European Youth in Action project, which aims to empower young people across Europe to participate in discussions and decision-making on climate justice. The project focuses in particular on the energy transition, greenwashing and biodiversity conservation.
Autori fotografija: International Student Week in Belgrade
