Climate Change and Fires: Serbia Must Prepare for a New Normal, Expert Says

Wildfires are currently burning across Serbia, highlighting the growing threat of climate change and the urgent need for preparedness. Dejan Lekić of the National Ecological Association told N1 that effective management and public education are crucial to preventing and mitigating these fires.

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We have to prepare for it, if we are people with intelligence.

Lekić explained that managing climate change involves both mitigation, such as reducing fossil fuel use, and adaptation, which focuses on preparing for the impacts of climate change. He noted that adaptation measures, though less profitable, are essential for preventing damage from events like heatwaves and fires. While Serbia has laws like the Law on Climate Change, Lekić questioned the extent of their implementation.

The expert stressed that human behavior is often the root cause of fires, citing discarded cigarette butts and the burning of stubble as common triggers. He believes that society is only partially organized for emergencies, with firefighting units capable but often reacting to situations that could have been prevented. "It's up to us. We have to talk about it more often, not just when fires are current," Lekić urged.

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At the end of the day, in all these situations, it is the human factor that is in question.

Looking ahead, Lekić warned that prolonged heatwaves are likely to become the norm due to climate change. He asserted that intelligent societies must prepare for worsening conditions through education and training, emphasizing that seemingly small actions, like burning stubble, can lead to catastrophic consequences.

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What we are experiencing today, with long heatwaves, all the data indicate that this will be a common thing in the future.