On the occasion of the International Day of Clean Air, representatives of the Government of Serbia, the EU, and the United Nations gathered today at the United Nations House in Belgrade under this year’s global slogan: “Race for Air. Every Breath Matters”.

European Union, Serbia, and their partners are joining forces to protect the environment, with the shared goal of ensuring that every community in the country breathes cleaner and healthier air.

“Clean air is not a luxury, but a fundamental human right and the foundation of a healthy society. The European Union firmly stands with Serbia and its citizens in addressing this challenge. Through the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, we strongly support reforms and investments aimed at reducing pollution, providing cleaner energy, and developing sustainable transport”, stated Andreas von Bekerath, Ambassador of the European Union to Serbia.

Andreas von Bekerath, Ambassador of the European Union to Serbia

Minister of Environmental Protection Sara Pavkov emphasized that reducing air pollution is one of Serbia’s top priorities.

“In cooperation with the EU, through the IPA 2020 program, modern equipment for improving air quality monitoring has been procured and delivered to 41 locations in 28 municipalities”, stated Pavkov.

UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia Matilde Mordt stressed that air pollution directly affects people’s health and well-being, and that clean air must be a right for all citizens, not a privilege.

 

 

“Solutions are within our reach – cleaner energy, better waste management, greener cities, and more sustainable transport. Every step we take makes a real difference – for our health, our communities, our economy, and the future of our children”, Mordt said.

Serbia has already taken important steps, including the adoption of the new Nationally Determined Contribution 3.0, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 40 percent by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. This plan is not only a climate objective but also a development and investment roadmap, aiming to align Serbia with EU standards and its goal of becoming an EU member state.

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