Djordje Samardzija holds MSc in Air Traffic Engineering. He joined climate change arena in 2010. Firstly, as an aviation CO2 emissions expert and later as a climate activist.The birth of his child in 2012 and the participation at the Climate Reality Leadership Corps live training by Al Gore (2013) were the turning points in his activism career. In 2013, Djordje co-founded NGO called Jedan stepen Srbija (One Degree Serbia). Currently, the One Degree Serbia is one of the leading NGOs in the field of climate change in the country. The organization is member of CAN Europe, the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions and the Koalicija 27 (national network of organizations which follow the process of accession of Serbia to EU from the perspective of environment and climate change – Chapter 27 of the EU acquis). The major achievements of the One Degree Serbia are: hosting the IPCC Outreach Event in 2014, establishment of travelling event called Klimaton aimed to raise awareness on climate change, the development of Zero Carbon Serbia 2050 scenario, and the participation in the creation of EU Chapter 27 shadow report for Serbia.The Zero Carbon Serbia 2050 scenario is a landmark study on the possibility to transform Serbian fossil fuel based energy sector in order to provide clean and renewable energy to industry and households. The study shows that Serbia can produce more energy than demanded with costs that are comparable to the current coal-related increased public health costs. The transition to renewables will provide us an abundant energy and make us much healthier.
So far, Djordje has delivered dozens of presentations on climate change, technology and renewables on various local, national and international events.Djordje is a promoter of renewables, especially solar. His dream is to build solar powerplant in Serbia that will not depend on state subventions, but to sell clean energy under standard market conditions.