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The conference “Responsibly, for the Future” was held: Working Together to Achieve a Zero Pollution Rate

The conference, held under the title “Responsibly, for the Future”, which was jointly organized by the Green Club and Sarajevo Film Festival with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), presented the concrete activities and results that Sarajevo Film Festival launched in the mission of achieving a zero pollution rate.

Sarajevo Film Festival announced last year that by its 30th edition, it wants to become an event whose organization implies zero greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to the warming of the planet and result in devastating climate changes that we all already feel greatly. A concrete action plan was developed, which included measuring all activities in the organization of the Festival, which contribute to the emissions, and this report, with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in BiH, was done by the independent consulting company Metabolic.

“Our stance is that the Festival, which attracts over 100,000 visitors, during which an additional 20,000 tourists stay in Sarajevo more than in the week before and after the Festival, which directly brings its 2,000 guests and indirectly contributes to economic activities during its duration worth over 40 million euros and represents the equivalent of over 1,500 permanent jobs, really wants to be a carbon neutral festival in its 30th edition. Is it possible? On such short notice? It's possible. It is possible if we work strategically and together. We, as organizers, and our audience, on whose habits our commercial sponsors and institutional partners and sponsors depend a lot, including the government, but also the legislators from whom we expect a legal framework that will enable the simple and efficient use of energy from renewable sources, because we cannot do without it," said the director of the Sarajevo Film Festival, Jovan Marjanović.

"The commitment of the Sarajevo Film Festival to become a carbon neutral festival is certainly something that has earned our attention and the need to contribute through joint activities not only to achieving this goal, but also to raising awareness of the responsibility of institutions, but also of each individual for the future of the planet. The festival, as its name suggests, is primarily happening in Sarajevo, and it was Sarajevo that got the opportunity to participate in the mission of creating 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030. It is a great honor for me to announce the new partnership of the Green Club. This time it is a partnership with Sarajevo Film Festival, certainly one of the biggest cultural events in the region,” said Saša Magazinović, MP in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, president of the Green Club.

In addition to the partnership activities of the Green Club and the Sarajevo Film Festival, the “Responsibly, for the Future” conference also presented the activities of the Sarajevo Film Festival towards achieving a zero pollution rate, as well as initiatives and actions that represent a step forward in the fields of environmental protection, the use of clean and renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, food and waste, and urban mobility.

Dr. Ingrid Macdonald, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, also addressed the attendees.

"Along with Sarajevo as a UNESCO creative city of film and sponsorship of the award for directing by the UN Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund, this year the UNDP also supports the Sarajevo Film Festival and their commitment to become a carbon neutral festival. Today we celebrate an important partnership between Green Club and Sarajevo Film Festival, focusing on climate change – the decisive challenge of our time. The UN Secretary-General's message is clear: ‘It's time to wake up and move!’ We welcome the Festival's dedication to reducing the carbon footprint and promoting the green transition. For more than a decade, UNDP has supported and implemented the green transition throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. I invite everyone to participate and visit the Festival's Green Pavilion to learn more about green policies,” Macdonald said.

The speakers at the conference were also Garret Patrick Kelly, Advisor/Coordinator for Sustainability of the Net Zero Mission in Sarajevo, Andrijana Copf, Press Office Manager of the Sarajevo Film Festival, Milanka Knežević, Regional Project Manager of GIZ, Aljaž Plevnik, GIZ Expert and Nihad Uk, Prime Minister of the Sarajevo Canton. The conference was also attended by representatives of all levels of government, NGOs, academia, institutions, professional public, as well as individuals ready for engagement in environmental protection.

The 29th Sarajevo Film Festival will be held from 11 to 18 August 2023.