ZAGREB, 22 April (Hina) - On this year's Earth Day, themed around renewable energy, environmental organisations in Croatia are calling on the Government to redirect energy investments toward energy efficiency and renewables, particularly solar and wind.
"Fossil fuel industries are the primary drivers of the climate crisis and have been aware of this for decades. While the Croatian Government formally supports a green energy transition, we’re still seeing investments in gas infrastructure both offshore and on land, major delays in updating the National Energy and Climate Plan, and targets for renewables that are far too low," said Petra Andrić, Programme Director of Greenpeace Croatia.
She added that despite its vast potential and some progress in recent years, Croatia remains near the bottom among European countries when it comes to solar energy use.
Rather than expanding gas infrastructure, Andrić urged the Government to end the “era of fossil fuels” and channel all new energy investments into renewables.
Greenpeace Croatia believes the country could achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
They also warn against merely meeting the bare minimum of EU energy policy requirements.
Dora Sivka, President of Green Action, said that Croatia’s transition from gas to renewables by 2035 is both technologically and financially feasible but lacks political will.
Green Action also criticised the Government for using public funds and tapping into millions in EU grants to expand gas pipelines and make other harmful decisions.
"What’s needed is targeted financial support for switching to renewables and improving energy efficiency, with attention to regional differences, the rural-urban divide, and household incomes. We must politically support community energy systems that are as decentralised as possible. It should be easier to form citizen energy communities and enable energy sharing within them, which is one of their most vital roles," the group stated.
Meanwhile, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) marked Earth Day by warning that unsustainable food production and waste are damaging both people and the planet.
"We need to stop buying more than we need and wasting food. Nearly half the world’s population is overweight, while millions go hungry. And we throw away over a third of all food produced, then complain about how expensive it is," said Nataša Kalauz, Director of WWF Adria.
"If we cut food waste, we could give Earth an extra 13 days to recover its resources," she added.
Kalauz said it is possible to produce enough food while preserving nature by using nature-positive farming methods. "And if we strike a better balance between plant- and animal-based foods in our diets, we’re supporting both our health and the planet’s"” she concluded.
