In 2019, the European Union in Montenegro dedicated the months of autumn to environmental protection

ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN IN MONTENEGRO 2019: “SET AN EXAMPLE. JOIN IN!”

In September, October, and November 2019, the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro and the EU Info Centre, in cooperation with numerous partners, organised a series of interactive lectures, public events, and a media campaign about environmental protection, climate change, urban mobility, conservation, and bird protection. Those events gathered nearly 1,000 youth, children, populations living in targeted areas; representatives of NGOs, government environmental entities, and municipalities.

An extensive media campaign entitled “Set an example. Join in!” called for citizens to get involved and contribute to a cleaner environment by recycling, planting trees or cleaning up communal spaces. The promoters (the “faces”) of the campaign were individuals who show by example that environmental protection is a matter of choice, and that anyone can set an example and become involved. The faces of this campaign were Aleksandar Novovic and Kristina Zugic, the founders of the NGO “Eco Logic” and the promoters of planting and afforestation in urban areas; the handball player and the devoted recycler Milena Raicevic; and Milica Boca, the environmental activist from the coastal town of Herceg Novi whose motto is that “she will not stop until she cleans the whole of Montenegro.”

The campaign proved that each of us, individually, can contribute to environmental protection without much effort. The results showed that more than half of Montenegro’s population is interested in being friends with nature, and that they have the will to change themselves and their habits. The youngest were the best at this.

Influential young people were selected for the campaign online, who already incorporate “green” principles into their lives; and they motivated many to join in, as well. These young individuals are Zoran Markovic Zonjo, Ignjat Kotlaja, Sandra Mitrovic, Andjela Djuraskovic, Tjasa Deu, Srdjan Ivanovic, and Milivoje Krivokapic.

Interesting facts

The number of the social media outreach during the campaign “Set an example. Join in!” was nearly half of Montenegro’s population (281,607).
More than 560 volunteers cleaned 15 lakeshores, and river and sea locations in 11 Montenegrin municipalities in just a couple of days. They collected 5.9 tons of waste.
Together with partners, we planted or donated close to 100 tree seedlings.