LocationsDrivers of a Sustainable Future
Conference “Climate Change – Challenges of Future Prosperity”
August 21, 2025
The conference was held in the building of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
PA BiH
The Green Club and the Sarajevo Film Festival, with the partnership and support of UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized the international conference “Climate Change – Challenges of Future Prosperity.” The conference was held in the building of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the panelists and guests were welcomed by Saša Magazinović, Member of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH and President of the Green Club, Renaud Meyer, UNDP Resident Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Jovan Marjanović, Director of the Sarajevo Film Festival.
Saša Magazinović, Renaud Meyer and Jovan Marjanović
PA BiH
It was an opportunity, in the context of the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival as one of the largest cultural events in the region and with the presence of members of parliaments and green parliamentary groups from across the region, cultural workers, representatives of the executive and legislative authorities, leaders of private and public companies, the diplomatic corps and international organizations, civil society organizations, and activists, to discuss the consequences of climate change and the necessity of regional and broader cooperation in concrete environmental protection activities.
Saša Magazinović
PA BiH
„Man has never defeated nature. Power is something that gives us the strength and the ability to speak out about the things that matter: about climate and climate change, and the impact they have on our lives. The Sarajevo Film Festival is not just a film event, but a platform from which voices are carried widely and strongly. We have still not found the balance between our economic stability and living in harmony with nature. This conference is an opportunity to realize a vision and an idea of the future and sustainability – of how culture, politics, science, and activism can come together in the same mission – because only by joining forces can we change what is happening when it comes to sustainability“,
said Magazinović.
Renaud Meyer
UNDP in BiH
As part of the conference, a panel was organized on the role of youth in decision-making processes related to environmental protection. This panel was organized by the UN project Dialogue for the Future 3 (DFF3), jointly implemented by UNDP, UNICEF and UNESCO on behalf of the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in partnership with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with financial support from the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).
DFF Youth Panel “Local Dialogue for a Global Response”
Imrana Kapetanović
The Director of the Sarajevo Film Festival, Jovan Marjanović, highlighted the concrete activities of the Festival in relation to sustainability.
"As one of the largest cultural events in this part of Europe, the Festival has a significant social, economic, and cultural impact. Our sustainability policy means that this impact must be positive – socially, economically, and environmentally. When we talk about environmental responsibility, we are working on two parallel fronts: first, to reduce our own ecological footprint, and second, to inspire and raise awareness about environmental challenges. In doing so, we show that film has the power not only to tell stories, but also to shape a better tomorrow. In this way, the Festival actively contributes to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and aligns with the EU Mission for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities,"
said Marjanović.
Jovan Marjanović
PA BiH
Thus, CineLink Industry Days, the business platform of the Sarajevo Film Festival, last year became one of the first events in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be certified as an environmentally sustainable event, and this year is undergoing the process of re-certification.
The Festival has launched numerous concrete activities with the support of public institutions and organizations, as well as private sponsors and partners: free public transport in the evening and night hours, as well as for commercial rides; the Festival uses a fleet of electric cars; digital accreditations and invitations have been introduced; waste separation is implemented at festival venues; all festival locations use LED lighting and 4K laser projectors that meet strict energy-saving standards. In addition, by closing central streets, pedestrian zones are created. There is also the “Films for Future” competition, organized in cooperation with the Green Club, which empowers young people to tell their own stories about sustainability. Through the Ecoscope program, especially on Earth Day, the Festival engages audiences in year-round conversations on climate and environmental protection.
"Our goal is clear: for the Sarajevo Film Festival to be not only a celebration of film, but also a driver of a sustainable future," concluded Marjanović.
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