Green Economy Congress 2018 (Belgrade)

Context

The world we live in is going through a radical transformation which is changing the fundamental values our societies but also economies are based on. Multiple crises due to the growing inequality and environmental destruction are calling for an urgent sustainable answer. As the economic parameters that are measuring growth and economic success are changing, we must use our knowledge and expertise to innovate the way we think about economy and cannot continue with “business as usual”.

About the event

The Green Economy Congress, taking place for the second time this year, is a series of interactive, multidimensional events designed to create and further build up on the notion of necessity for transition to sustainable and fair economy. Green economy is one of the most exciting concepts that is holistic in its form – it generates development while respecting the regional and global ecosystem, results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.

For three days all participants will have the opportunity to listen to some of the most impressive economists, innovators, entrepreneurs and decision makers, to share their stories and discover ways to promote an alternative vision for growth and development across the world.

The long-term goal of the Congress is not only to raise awareness on green topics, but to also create a sustainable networking platform to enable green initiatives across Europe. This will be in particular the focus of the first day of the Congress, which will be organised by GEF.

Programme

Thursday November 1st

12:00 – 12:15: Official Opening 

• Representative of Green European Foundation
• Žaklina Živković, GAJP

12:15 – 13:15: Opening Panel – Public Policies and Circular Economy

• Slobodan Perović, Republic of Serbia Ministry of Environment Advisor
• Antoine Avignon, EU delegation in Serbia (tbc)
• Olivera Kuzman, Zurovac OEBS expert on circular economy (tbc)
• Siniša Mitrović, Serbian Chamber of Commerce (tbc)

13:15 – 13:25: Pause

13:25 – 14:00: Lecture – Innovation in Circular Economy: Closing the Loop in Agri-Business 

• Grigoris Chazikostas, Biosense Institute

14:00 – 15:00: Lunch

15:00 – 16:00: Panel – Green Cities and Urban Development

• Representative of EU Green Capital of Europe Nijmegen (tbc)
• Representative of Cooperation and Development Eastern Europe (CDN)
• Sinisa Trkulja, UN Urban Agenda Habitat III
• Representative of City Council of Belgrade (tbc)

16:00 – 16:15: Coffee Break

16:15 – 17:15: Panel – New Plastic Economy: EU Circular Economy Package

• Representative of Reloop Europe
• Representative of Greentech Serbia
• Representative of SEPEN
• Expert in EU Circular Economy Package (tbc)

17:15 – 18:00: Coffee and Networking

Friday November 2nd

12:00 – 12:15: Opening 

• Dubravka Negre, European Investment Bank

12:15 – 13:00: Toward the Green Finance

• Representative of  Trag Foundation (tbc)
• Representative of  Ethical Financing Cooperative of Croatia
• Representative of  BRODOTO
• Representative of  ERSTE bank

13:00 – 13:15: Coffee Break

13:10 – 14:10: Panel – Women in the Green Economy

• Branislava Jovicic Bačkan, Green Energy News
• Ankica Barbulov, GIZ (tbc)

14:00 – 15:00: Lunch 

15:00 – 16:00: Environmental Reporting: Media as a Catalyst for Change

• Representative of Euractiv (tbc)
• Slavica Gligorijevic, RTS (tbc)
• Adam Santovac, N1 (tbc)
• Represenative of CINS/BIRN (tbc)

16:00 – 16:15: Coffee Break

16:15 – 17:00: Democratisation of the Energy Sector: Prosumers and Cooperatives as Alternatives

• Maja Turković, ASOR
• Representative of CAN Europe (tbc)

Saturday November 3rd

12:00 – 15:00: Green Economy Fair + Workshops  

Workshops including:

• Developing Circular Economy in Agriculture
• Decentralised Energy Alternatives
• Eco Design

Additionally, the Congress will entail a variety of social activities such as museum visits, get-togethers and more.

Who should apply?

This conference is suitable for both students who are just developing their interests for green economy models, and green economy professionals and activists. In case you would like to speak at our event, we have created Participants’ Panel. 

To find out more about the event, the registration process, as well as participation fees, please visit the Congress website. For programme updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the Facebook profile of the Congress.