Vucic: Serbia to make new strategy for fighting climate change

DUBAI - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday Serbia had decided to prepare a new strategy to help the fight against climate change.

Speaking at the COP28 summit in Dubai, Vucic said Serbia was ready to make a major contribution to that effort.

He said climate change was the "greatest challenge of our time."

"Catastrophic global warming and ongoing extreme weather events are casting a dangerous shadow over our collective future. Today, I stand before you not only as a representative of the Republic of Serbia, but also as a global citizen advocating global well-being."

Average temperatures in Serbia have increased by 1.8 degrees Celsius, he said.

"At the same time, climate projections indicate that, if we continue business as usual, by the end of the century we can expect an increase in the average temperature of up to 5.8 degrees Celsius, a cataclysm that will threaten our economic and social fabric," he said.

He said July, September and October had been the warmest months in Serbia this year.

"In addition, we are still calculating the damage drought made to our economy last year," Vucic said, noting that global warming was an "existential threat."

"We must stand united against climate change, and we must act now," he said.