Category: Event

The Center for Climate Change, Natural Resources, and Energy at UDG has become a member of the second iteration of the Innovation Working Group of the Council for Innovation and Smart Specialization for the vertical priority area of Montenegro’s Smart Specialization Strategy: Energy and Sustainable Environment
🟤 This Working Group is part of the National S3 implementation framework, which enables the continuity of the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP), supports the implementation of the Smart Specialization Strategy in Montenegro 📈, and provides operational support to the Council for Innovation and Smart Specialization for the mentioned vertical priority area.
🔵 In addition to the vertical priority area of Energy and Sustainable Environment, two more have been established: Sustainable Agriculture and Food Value Chain 🥗 and Sustainable and Health Tourism 🏊🏻‍♂️, as well as Information and Communication Technologies 💻 as a horizontal priority area.

❗️Thanks to the support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Podgorica🇩🇪, the director of the Center for Climate Change at UDG, Ivana Vojinović, participated in a Study Visit to the Federal Republic of Germany🇩🇪 on the topic of climate change🔥🌨️🌪️ and water🌊, upon invitation from the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and organized by the Goethe-Institut.

❗️Productive meetings were held at the Bundestag, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as presentations at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), Cologne Wastewater Treatment Plant (StEB), Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management (IWW), and Research Institute for Water Management and Climate Futures at RWTH Aachen University (FiW e. V.).

❗️The visit and discussions with representatives of the municipality and rescuers from the Ahr valley, which was severely affected by the flood disaster in 2021, served as a reminder of the need for much more investment in combating climate change to strengthen the climate resilience of local communities.

❗️The transfer of acquired knowledge from🇩🇪 is important for contributing to the further journey of the Center for Climate Change at UDG 🇲🇪 towards 🇪🇺 and achieving climate neutrality and sustainable water management💧.

On April 26th 2023,the Round Table was held in Pljevlja “The way to a just energy transition of the Municipality of Pljevlja” as part of the project implemented by the Center for Climate Change, which was supported by the Ministry of Capital Investments.

3 sessions were held:

1st Session: Plans of the mining and energy complex in the context of a just transition
2nd Session: Support programs for employees and the economy of Pljevlja in the process of a just transition
3rd Session: The role of civil society organizations in the process of just transition

• The Director of the Center for Climate Change, Ivana Vojinović emphasized that Montenegro is obliged to align with the climate and energy goals of the EU.
• Director General of the Ministry of Capital Investments, Sanja Pavićević, informed about activities on the preparation of the National Energy and Climate Plan.
• The manager of the municipality of Pljevlja, Nataša Marković, welcomed the fact that the Center organized the Round Table in Pljevlja, because it is a topic that affects the fate of the citizens of Pljevlja.
• Dušan Janjušević, president of the Board of Directors of A.D. Pljevlja, presented the company’s plans for the modernization of the technological process, the launch of a cement industry with low gas emissions, and what should help in the transition.
• Veselin Sekulić, assistant of the executive manager of EPCG Production, introduced to the activities on the project of ecological reconstruction of the Thermal Power Plant and heating.
• The director of the Eco Fund, Draško Boljević, presented the Fund’s projects and emphasized the necessity for municipalities to be more active in the use of funds.
• Aleksandar Rakočević, assistant director of the Employment Office, highlighted active policies that should reduce the gap between supply and demand on the labor market.
• Milorad Mitrović, director of NGO Breznica, recalled his organization’s many years of commitment to guarantee the right to a healthy environment for the people of Pljevlja.
• Aleksandar Perović, director of the NGO Ozon, introduced the multi-decade activities of his organization to strengthen activism and informed about plans to strengthen the capacity of Arhus centers.
• Presenting the publication, co-author Milica Daković pointed out that Pljevlja will be the “epicenter” of a just transition.

Today, the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, Center for Climate Change, Natural Resources and Energy UDG, AvantGarde Group and E3 Consulting organized a Seminar on ESG principles in corporate business and decarbonization.

On behalf of the Center, the director, Ivana Vojinović, welcomed the attendees, who pointed out the importance of implementing ESG principles and decarbonization in Montenegro.

Other speakers and lecturers at the Seminar were:

• Nikola Vujovic, vice president of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro
• Milica Daković, MSc, director of E3 Consulting
• Dr. Rastislav Vrbensky, CEO of AvantGarde Group
• Mariana Olshanskaya
• Aleksandra Novikova
• Julia Massey
• Gabor Szarvas

The topics of the seminar were:

• Introduction to decarbonization
• Decarbonization: Industry and tourism
• Decarbonization of the banking sector and financing of decarbonization

At the seminar, several key points and challenges faced by Montenegro and Europe were highlighted, such as incorporating ESG standards into the business framework and making investment decisions, social and financial benefits from the implementation of ESG standards, carbon neutrality, carbon footprint, energy efficiency and the introduction renewable energy sources, increasing competitiveness, access to “green” capital and investments, EU legal heritage…

On behalf of the Center for Climate Change, Natural Resources and Energy UDG, director Ivana Vojinović, presented our Center and the project “Dialogue to a just energy transition in Montenegro”, which is supported by the Ministry of Capital Investments, and all as part of the “Dialogue for Just Transition” conference in Montenegro”. The conference is organized by: Government of Montenegro (National Council for Sustainable Development) and UNDP with the support of the Slovak Ministry of Finance and Slovak Aid, the Slovak Agency for International Development and Cooperation.

The conference took place on February 28 and March 1, and was opened by:

• Mr. Dritan Abazović, Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Council for Sustainable Development
• mrs. Daniela Gašparikova, permanent representative of UNDP in Montenegro
• Mr. Ynge Engstroem, head of the Cooperation Sector of the EU Delegation in Montenegro
• Mr. Rajko Kovačević – President of the Municipality of Pljevlja

The term “just transition” implies the gradual elimination of the use of coal in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible, creating opportunities for decent work and leaving no one behind, which is known today in Europe under the slogan “Leaving no one behind”.

Majda Radončić, a junior researcher at the Center for Climate Change, Natural Resources and Energy of the University of Donja Gorica, participated in the XIII Business Challenge of Montenegro – a school of entrepreneurship and innovation for young people, which is traditionally organized at the University of Donja Gorica, organized by the Student Business Center.

Majda Radončić held a lecture on “Renewable energy sources and energy efficiency” as part of the Smart Specialization Strategy, pointing out the potential that Montenegro possesses in the field of renewable energy sources.