Papers by Slobodan Milutinovic
FACTA UNIVERSITATIS Series: Working and Living Environmental Protection, 2023
Serbia is already experiencing the consequences of the changed climatic conditions caused by clim... more Serbia is already experiencing the consequences of the changed climatic conditions caused by climate change and according to the available climate models, it will be significantly affected by climate impacts in the future. Adaptation to climate change at the local level, including planning, implementation, and financing, represents a challenge that cities and municipalities in Serbia will progressively face in the near future. For the successful implementation of these processes, it is necessary to establish a stimulating institutional framework, appropriate and predictable sources of financing, and a sufficient level of competence-knowledge and skills of local institutions. The study examines the consequences of the altered climatic circumstances in Serbia, the existing strategic and institutional framework, as well as the practical strategies for adapting to the altered climatic circumstances at the national and local levels, and, based on this analysis, proposes suitable recommendations for adapting to climate change at the national and local levels.
IGI Global eBooks, 2022
Development of environmental protection together with economic and social development can be cons... more Development of environmental protection together with economic and social development can be considered sustainable only if they support individual quality of life. Conceptually, quality of life is closely related to sustainable development, since sustainability implies a balance between environmental, social, and economic qualities. Environmental quality is reflected in its ability to meet the basic human needs. Quality of life is a complex and multi-dimensional construct that warrants multiple approaches from different theoretical perspectives. Evaluation of the quality of life determined by the environment can be facilitated using objective and subjective measurements. Regardless of how these two indicators are classified, both are considered equally beneficial and valuable for research. Considering all the above mentioned, the aim of this chapter is to shed light on the importance of environmental protection for the quality of life, as well as the necessity to measure quality of life determined by environmental factors in order to adequately manage them.
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 2017
PurposeThe paper aims to deal with the education for sustainable development (ESD) competences of... more PurposeThe paper aims to deal with the education for sustainable development (ESD) competences of university educators. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comparative analysis of opportunities for the development of ESD competences in higher education (HE) institutions in Serbia, Croatia and Macedonia. In addition, the paper explores the drivers and barriers experienced in this area using a process-oriented approach.Design/methodology/approachFor the purpose of collecting data, internet and desktop research was carried out, which was then followed by interviews with key respondents and experts in HE. The interviews were carried out face-to-face or via telephone. In addition, information collected from the interviews was compared with both data found in the literature and official documents.FindingsThe comparative analysis indicated how specific institutional and cultural contexts affect the development of ESD competences in HE in the region. There were differences but also co...
Tm-technisches Messen, 2019
The latest World Bank report for 2016 on the impact of climate change on poverty states that clim... more The latest World Bank report for 2016 on the impact of climate change on poverty states that climate change could lead to a growth of extremely poor population to the extent that 100 million people might be pushed into poverty by 2030. The report emphasizes that climate change can have different impacts, in particular negative ones, on the poor, who are unprepared for climate shock waves, such as sea level rise or large-scale droughts. The poor possess fewer resources and receive less support from their families or through local communities, the financial system, and even through social security measures, which is why they do not have sufficient capacity to adapt to climate change. Specific population groups, such as women and children, are particularly vulnerable. Omly few theoreticians have dealt with the question of how to help poor countries and poor communities in certain countries to face climate change, while focusing specially on the gender dimension of poverty. The World Ba...
European Planning Studies, 2018
ABSTRACT Towards the end of the century, Serbia will face a dramatic increase in annual temperatu... more ABSTRACT Towards the end of the century, Serbia will face a dramatic increase in annual temperature between 2°C and 6°C and decrease in annual accumulated precipitation up to 12%. Recent 2014 floods in Serbia, with more than 30 victims, and more than 30,000 displaced people, with overall damage close to €1.5 billion, reflected those trends and the likely risks that region will face due the changing climate. Those risks may influence the development process at the local level. This paper assesses the existing priority measures in local sustainable development strategies and re-interprets their characteristics using a methodological framework for the definition of adaptation measures. It offers a new understanding of the ongoing local sustainable development approach in the potentially most vulnerable municipalities in Serbia. The study focused on following properties of developmental measures: cost-effectiveness, structural characteristics, target realm, spatial determination, time frame, climate responsiveness, and sector and budget allocation of development measures at the local level. The results of the analysis suggest that the initiation of adaptation planning should consider the improvement of the methodological framework – the introduction of inter-sectoral and cross-sectoral planning practice, cost–benefit analysis, the involvement of individual actors in planning and dynamic planning approaches.
Framing environmental goals in the context of sustainable development, and monitoring outcomes. A... more Framing environmental goals in the context of sustainable development, and monitoring outcomes. A process could be initiated to revisit and extend the Millennium Development Goals in the form of sustainable development goals centred on human well-being, with measurable metrics, keeping in mind the need for the coherent and balanced integration of environmental, economic and social dimensions. Enhancing the effectiveness of global institutions. The sustainable development agenda could be elevated and mainstreamed into the core of decision making within the UN system, supported by enhanced cooperation with and between environmental, economic and social institutions. Investing in enhanced capacities for addressing environmental change. Delivering results will require strengthened national capacities to develop, deliver and implement strategies to combat environmental degradation. A UN system-wide framework for capacity building could strengthen the national capacities required to implement specific multilateral environmental agreements. Supporting technological innovation and development. Mechanisms from collaborative research and development (R&D), knowledge platforms and global prize funds for environmentally sound technologies could be scaled up to accelerate the innovation and diffusion of technologies critical to the transition to a global green economy. Strengthening rights-based approaches and access to environmental justice through recognition, enforcement and implementation in global and regional institutions. Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development recognizes the importance of procedural environmental rights. For the past 20 years regional experience has demonstrated that such rights provide a basis for citizens to participate in safeguarding both human and environmental well-being. Deepening and broadening stakeholder engagement. The private sector and civil society could be invited to explore the use of new information and communications technology to build a stakeholder web to enhance access to information and stakeholder engagement, and to mobilize new partnerships. An intergenerational assembly could provide an opportunity for future leaders and sustainability champions to interact and foster a joint vision for a sustainable future. Global response options Theme Instruments Sustainable development International soft law instruments and institutions: Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and Agenda 21 from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, 1992); Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI); Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD); and UN system entities Science processes: Group on Earth Observations and its Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS); Inter-Agency and Expert Group (IAEG) on MDG indicators coordinated by the United Nations Statistics Division Inter-agency bodies: Chief Executive Board for Coordination (CEB); High Level Committee on Policy (HLCP); Executive Committee on Economic and Social Affairs (ECESA) Environment broadly defined International soft law instruments and institutions: Declaration and Programme of Action from the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment; UNEP; Global Environment Facility (GEF); the environment-related portfolio of 44 UN system entities including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Bank Group. Science processes: Global Environment Outlook (GEO) (UNEP); International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management (UNEP); Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) Funds: Environment Fund (UNEP); GEF Trust Fund; World Bank environmental and natural resource management (ENRM) lending portfolio; the environment portfolio of other UN Multi-Donor Trust Funds (MDTF) administered by UNDP Inter-agency bodies: Environment Management Group (EMG) Atmosphere Multilateral environmental agreements: Vienna Convention (1985) and Montreal Protocol (1987); United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, 1992) and Kyoto Protocol (1997) International soft law instruments and institutions: a broad range of UN system entities, including FAO, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UNDP, UNEP and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as well as the World Bank have programme activities related to atmosphere Science processes: Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) under the Montreal Protocol (UNEP); Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) administered by WMO and UNEP; World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Funds: Montreal Fund (UNEP); GEF is the financial mechanism for the UNFCCC; Clean Development Mechanism (CDM); Special Climate Change Trust Fund (SCCF), Adaptation Trust Fund and Least Developed Countries Trust Fund (LDCF) administered by the GEF; Environment Fund (UNEP) Inter-agency bodies: Working Group on Climate Change under the High-Level Committee on Policy (HLCP) of the Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB), and UN Energy Land Multilateral environmental agreements: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD, 1994) International soft law instruments and institutions: A broad range of UN system entities, including FAO, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), UNDP, UNEP, UN-Habitat, World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Bank, have programme activities on land-related issues Science processes: Covered by the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) and Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA). Funds: GEF as the financial mechanism for UNCCD; Global Mechanism (UNCCD); Environment Fund (UNEP) Inter-agency bodies: EMG Issue Management Group on Land Water Multilateral environmental agreements: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, 1994); International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL, 1973); International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC, 1990); Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (LDC, 1972); International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (2004); United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-navigable Uses of International Water Courses (1997) (not entered into force) International soft law instruments and institutions: International Oceanographic Commission, administered by UNESCO; Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) administered by UNEP; FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries; a broad range of UN system entities including FAO, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, WMO and the World Bank, have programme activities related to oceans and water Science processes: Regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment (UNCLOS); Group of Experts on Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP); World Water Development Report (UNESCO); and covered by the GEO and the MA Funds: GEF international waters focal area; Environment Fund (UNEP) Inter-agency bodies: UN-Oceans and UN-Water
Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences, 2016
Urban plannings and design processes, through land management, are important factors that signifi... more Urban plannings and design processes, through land management, are important factors that significantly influence the distribution of urban green lands (UGLs), and thus, the provision of ecosystem services (ESs), thereby providing opportunities for managing climate adaptation processes at the local level. However, planning for UGLs is often secondary to other planning categories, and they often remain underutilized. Through an analysis of Master Plans of major urban centres in Serbia and Bulgaria, this paper discusses the conceptualization of UGLs and the integration of ESs in planning and design processes. Based on findings obtained through an Analytical Hierarchy Process, this paper develops a conceptual framework for linking ESs with different UGL types in the course of urban planning, in order to achieve a better application of UGLs in strategies for the amelioration of micro-climatic conditions in urban areas. This paper proposes framework for an ecosystem sensitive conceptualization of UGLs in planning and design process, where UGL typology should replace functional categories, and spatial indicators are defined in relation to UGL types. Such an approach can improve the understanding and ES-sensitive application of UGLs in planning processes and local adaptation strategies.
Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 2016
The social aspect is very important in sustainability assessment of waste treatment technique, as... more The social aspect is very important in sustainability assessment of waste treatment technique, as well as making decision on their application and planning. In recent years, it is becoming evident that a waste treatment technique, which ignores social aspects, is doomed to failure. The most commonly used social indicators are: number of jobs created, level of social acceptance, public knowledge, public health etc. The most of them are qualitative and measuring the sustainability and quantifying the social dimension of sustainability are difficult tasks. This paper presents the application of fuzzy logic for evaluating the social indicator-level of social acceptance. The fuzzy set theory and fuzzy logic were used to develop a model for the evaluation of level of social acceptance, due to the lack of data, uncertainties, and qualitative character of indicators and also to provide effective way to include knowledge and gained experience on the process. A questionnaire was applied as instrument for data collection. The fuzzy model was verified using the city of Niš as a case study. The results obtained using the developed fuzzy model, shows that the highest level of social acceptance in the city of Niš is for recycling (57.47 %) and the lowest level of social acceptance is for incineration (17.74 %). The presented study suggests an innovative methodology for evaluation of level of social acceptance of certain waste treatment based on fuzzy logic approach and can be used for ranking of waste management scenarios in the sustainability assessment.
International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 2015
The recent 2014 floods in Serbia highlighted the potential extent of climate-related risks in the... more The recent 2014 floods in Serbia highlighted the potential extent of climate-related risks in the region, resulting in more than 30 deaths and more than 30,000 displaced people, with the overall cost of the damage close to €1.5 billion. By the end of this century, Serbia will experience an increase in temperature of up to 4°C and a decrease in summer precipitation of up to 50%. Adaptation to those changes calls for the redefinition of a strategic approach and the integration of climate change challenges into the processes of local sustainable development planning. The objective of this study was to assess current local sustainable development strategies (LSDSs) and highlight some of the threats and opportunities which may help or hinder the adaptation process, the evaluation of development priorities, coordination mechanisms at the local level and risk management practice. Based on climate trends and vulnerability level, 20 of the potentially most vulnerable municipalities in Serbia were selected. The analysis shows that although local sustainable development planning still lacks cross-sectorial planning practice and risk management plans and measures, and does not yet recognize vulnerable sectors as climate sensitive, it can still serve as a platform for adaptation planning. Based on the assessed LSDS framework, the most suitable approach to the development of an adaption strategy is the vulnerability-based approach. At the same time, the potential for initiating adaptation planning is recognized in the utilization of already established networks with external and international donors and planning experts, joined county or regional adaptation planning, and cross-border collaboration.
In following decades, according to the regional climate projections, Serbia will experience an in... more In following decades, according to the regional climate projections, Serbia will experience an increase in temperature of 4˚C, and decrease in summer precipitation up to 50%, and increase possibilities of heavy rain falls. We already witnessed serious challenges for urban population caused by recent flooding in Serbia. Adaptation to those changes, and other caused by changing weather patterns, calls for the re-definition of urban planning and design framework and the integration of climate change in planning processes. In order to set a ground for development of adaptive approach in urban planning process, which will reduce potential vulnerability of the urban population to climate change, we have firstly to understand strength and weaknesses of the current urban planning and design framework to integrate such an approach. The paper explores whether or not we have to rethink existing urban planning framework and tools in the context of climate change and natural hazards focusing on ...
The urban planning practice in Serbia lacks systemic approach to development of urban green netwo... more The urban planning practice in Serbia lacks systemic approach to development of urban green networks (UGN), and may support possible divergent developmental trends in planning of UGN and serve as constant drawback in establishing common platform for planning and monitoring of UGN. Thus, this paper introduce potential improvements of the existing methodology by first providing analysis of the critical issues in the current methodological frame and then, reviewing system of qualitative and quantitative indicators in comparison to the examples of good practice from EU cities, it discuses possible improvements of existing methodological frame and indicators, for more systemic development of UGN.
Thermal Science, 2010
Serbian towns and municipalities adopted Local Sustainable Development Strategy Paper in May 2005... more Serbian towns and municipalities adopted Local Sustainable Development Strategy Paper in May 2005 as a strategic framework for local authorities to establish local sustainable development processes. So far more than 30 (from 167) municipalities in Serbia adopted Local Sustainable Development Strategies and initiated the implementation of Local Agenda 21. This paper discusses the case study of Serbia as an example how countries in transition should implement local policies of sustainable development and what obstacles such countries can face on the road toward the sustainability.
Lex localis - Journal of Local Self-Government, 2010
Municipalities on the Western Balkan have made significant progress in their strategic approach t... more Municipalities on the Western Balkan have made significant progress in their strategic approach to local development after 2000. A number of municipalities have already developed and implemented strategic plans for local sustainable development. However, differences in capacities, management skills and motivation among local governments are easy to observe. The lack of substantial decentralization efforts, low internal capacity in municipalities, overlapping jurisdictions between central and local levels, a culture of non-participation and an unfavorable economic environment jeopardize the success of local development efforts. This paper analyzes local sustainable development planning processes and practices in three Western Balkan countries (Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia - Herzegovina) by using the Drina River Basin as a case study. KEYWORDS: • sustainable development • local community • Western Balkan • Serbia • Montenegro • Bosnia -Herzegovina
Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 2014
Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to research local sustainable development strategic plannin... more Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to research local sustainable development strategic planning processes and practices in the Drina River Basin (geographical area delineated by the river Drina and shared among Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia). Design/methodology/approach – Research methodology included the analysis of the existing country-based strategic documents and processes, as well as the local strategic documents and processes of implementation in 21 municipalities in the Drina River Basin, including interviews with the representatives of central and local governments and civil sector and a questionnaire-based assessment of the situation and needs in municipalities. Findings – The paper argues that local sustainable development planning, although still lacking the proper methodological approach and facing insufficiencies in institutional and implementation capacities is becoming more appreciated by local authorities in the region. Originality/value – The find...
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Papers by Slobodan Milutinovic
Kao rezultat nastojanja da se odgovori na pomenute izazove, nastao je Priručnik za planiranje prilagođavanja na izmenjene klimatske uslove u lokalnim zajednicama u Srbiji, koji je pred vama. Priručnik je nastao uz podršku projekta „Jačanje kapaciteta za unapređeno sprovođenje međunarodnih sporazuma iz oblasti zaštite životne sredine“ koji sprovode Program Ujedinjenih nacija za razvoj (UNDP) i Ministarstvo zaštite životne sredine, uz podršku Globalnog fonda za životnu sredinu (GEF), a čiji je cilj da, između ostalog, doprinese stvaranju lokalnih zajednica koje mogu efektivno da odgovore na klimatske promene. Sa druge strane, Stalna konferencija gradova i opština (SKGO) kao jednu od strateških odrednica ima pružanje podrške jedinicama lokalne samouprave (JLS) u Srbiji, u planiranju prevencije i adaptacije na klimatske promene.
Stalna konferencija gradova i opština, kao priređivač, i prof. dr Slobodan Milutinović, kao autor, ovim priručnikom predstavnicima jedinica lokalnih samouprava predlažu jedinstven metodološki okvir, čijom primenom je moguće prepoznati rizike od izmenjenih klimatskih uslove, a potom i izabrati efikasne mere, kao adekvatan odgovor na te i tako izmenjene klimatske uslove na lokalnom nivou.
Đorđe Staničić
Generalni sekretar SKGO