On Friday, October 24th, the international conference “Population and Environment: Challenges and Perspectives” was held at the Madlena Art Palace and virtual via ZOOM.
The international conference “Population and Environment: Challenges and Perspectives” brought together experts from diverse fields—including demography, ecology, economics, geography, medicine, spatial planning, and public policy—with a shared mission: to deepen our understanding of the interconnections between demographic trends and environmental conditions, and to collaboratively explore sustainable responses to the challenges that unite us.
The conference opened with remarks from Natalija Mirić, principal investigator of the project POPENVIROS, who presented an overview of the project’s achievements and outlined upcoming activities. This was followed by an address from Professor Velimir Šećerov, Dean of the Faculty of Geography at the University of Belgrade, the lead institution of the POPENVIROS project.
Next, Jelena Pajić, representative of the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia and head of the Prizma program, shared insights from the Fund’s experience and emphasized the value of the POPENVIROS initiative.
We were especially honored by a welcome address from Justine Coulson, UNFPA Country Director for Serbia, who highlighted the importance of the project’s thematic focus. The conference was also attended by Borka Jeremić, Head of the UNFPA Office in Serbia.
Following her address, Natalija Mirić introduced the first distinguished keynote speaker, thereby officially opening the scientific segment of the conference program.
The first keynote speaker was Professor Vladimir Đurđević from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Belgrade, one of Serbia’s leading experts in climatology and meteorology. Renowned for his advocacy of science-based approaches to climate change, Professor Đurđević has contributed to numerous national and international research initiatives. He currently leads the project EXTREMES, funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia through the Prizma program, which investigates the increasing frequency and intensity of weather and climate extremes—such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, and storms—that affect both people and nature, causing damage and loss across the country.
His presentation, titled “The Digital Climate Atlas of Serbia: Supporting Awareness and Action on Changing Extremes in Serbia”, offered valuable insights into the tools and strategies for understanding and responding to climate-related risks.
The second keynote speaker was Professor Raya Muttarak, a demography professor at the University of Bologna and principal investigator of the project POPCLIMA – Population Dynamics under Global Climate Change, supported by the European Research Council. Her research spans topics such as population heterogeneity, migration, community adaptive capacity, health, well-being, and food security—all examined within the context of climate change and sustainable development.
Professor Muttarak’s presentation, titled “Assessing the Potential Impact of Climate Change on Fertility Behaviour”, offered a compelling exploration of how environmental shifts may influence reproductive decisions and demographic patterns.
The third keynote speaker was Dr. Roman Hoffmann, Head of the Migration and Sustainable Development Group at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). In addition to his academic work, Dr. Hoffmann has served as a consultant to numerous international organizations, including UNFPA, UNICEF, OSCE, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. He is also actively involved in scientific committees and editorial boards of leading journals such as Climatic Change and Population and Environment.
His presentation, titled “Climate Change, Environmental Risks, and Migration in Southeastern Europe”, explored the complex interplay between environmental stressors and population mobility in the region, highlighting the need for integrated, evidence-based policy responses.
Following the keynote presentations, the conference featured an outstanding panel discussion titled “Environmental Changes, Demographic and Socio-Economic Processes in Serbia.” The panel was moderated by Professor Vera Gligorijević, and brought together distinguished experts: Dr. Elizabet Paunović, retired Director of the European Centre for Environment and Health at the World Health Organization; Professor Veljko Jeremić, Full Professor at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Belgrade; and Professor Daniela Arsenović, Full Professor at the University of Novi Sad.
The discussion unfolded in a dynamic and constructive atmosphere, marked by the exchange of relevant perspectives and active audience engagement.
In the second part of the day, three thematic sessions were held: one dedicated to environmental challenges, another to the demographic challenges of the 21st century, and a third focused on population dynamics in the context of ecological pressures. Across these sessions, a total of 18 research papers were presented.
Presentation materials can be accessed via the following link. The Book of Abstracts can be viewed here.
We are especially proud that the conference featured approximately 20 poster presentations, which participants had the opportunity to view and discuss directly with the authors.
Poster presentations can be accessed via the following link.
The breaks between sessions provided valuable opportunities for further exchange of knowledge and experience among participants.
On behalf of the POPENVIROS team, we extend our sincere gratitude to all participants, keynote speakers, panelists, and guests for their contributions to the successful realization of the conference.
