SAI: Serbia insufficiently prepared for climate change adaptation

Serbia has established a legislative and strategic framework for climate change mitigation and adaptation, but what it lacks is full implementation, effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms, and the provision of necessary financial resources. These are the key messages of the Performance Audit Report “Serbia’s Readiness for Climate Change Adaptation,” published by the State Audit Institution (SAI).

The audit showed that further implementation of Serbia’s climate change regulations is needed, although they are largely aligned with European Union regulations. It was found that mechanisms for the full implementation of the Low Carbon Development Strategy have not been created. Also, a Progress Report on the Implementation of the Action Plan of the Climate Change Adaptation Program has not been prepared, as most of the competent authorities for implementing the measures have not submitted reports to the competent ministry.

The auditors found that more active participation of the professional public and stakeholders in climate change adaptation measures in Serbia is needed. It was also determined that the preparation of the Report on the Implementation of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan is underway.

Serbia has not fully provided a strategic framework to determine the total financial resources necessary to support climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. An Environmental Protection Strategy has not been adopted that would define the objectives, priorities, measures and mechanisms for financing activities aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Using the Climate Scanner tool to assess activities in the field of climate change, it was determined that Serbia has made significant progress in establishing an institutional framework. Areas with advanced implementation include developed long-term strategies, nationally determined contributions and adaptation programs, while sectoral policies and financial mechanisms are mainly in the early or medium stage of implementation.

The Climate Scanner is an initiative launched by the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of Brazil as the chair of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), through which SAIs around the world promote a global assessment of government measures related to climate change. The tool contributes to an independent assessment of the use of public resources and the performance of public policies.

Državna revizorska institucija Republike Srbije

DRI

adaptation to climate change