Former EU Commissioner: Serbia Must Find Its Green Transition Solutions

Solar Panels(BETAPHOTO/Nevena Zaric)

Cooperation between the state and non-governmental organizations, local communities and citizens and maintaining a balance between environmental protection and economic growth are necessary for successful energy transition and adapting to climate change, which are important for the country's overall development, Violeta Bulc, founder of the Ecocivilization global movement, said on Sept. 20.

In an interview for BETA's Green Serbia portal, Bulc stressed that Serbia could not simply copy solutions, but had to be constructive as a creator of new solutions, and Serbia has always had good experts who could help with innovation.
 
"We can talk about international good practices, but locally we know what will work. That is why local communities should be listened to and decisions made about what's best for the people who live there based on all the information," said Bulc, once the European commissioner for transportation.

Asked how environmental preservation could be balanced against economic development, Bulc said the strict application of environmental standards was needed in the industry, construction, energy and transport. Stressing the importance of adaptation and resilience in the face of climate change, Bulc said measures should be planned and carried out to reduce risks tied to climate change and natural disasters like floods and drought.