Photo: FoNet/AP
The total material damage caused by extreme events from 2000 to 2022 is estimated at more than 5 billion euros
The government of Greece recently, after the catastrophic floods in September that led to the evacuation of the population, flooding of households, power outages, damage to roads and even human casualties, announced that the adoption of climate change adaptation measures has become a national priority, the portal writes. Climate 101.
And what about Serbia?
Although we have not experienced the disasters that befell many parts of the Mediterranean, there have been devastating floods in Serbia, especially earlier in the summer.
When we talk specifically about roads and road infrastructure, floods are not the only danger that is exacerbated by climate change - for example, an increase in air temperature alone leads to the faster appearance of cracks and the aging of asphalt roads, which results in the need for more frequent interventions and maintenance, and therefore and higher maintenance costs.
According to studies done for Serbia, it is estimated that about 25% of the territory of Serbia is exposed to the activation of landslides, soil erosion and landslides can occur in about 35% of the territory; 17% is exposed to floods and torrents, 21% of the territory is exposed to droughts, and the risk of forest fires is present on about 4% of the territory and increases from year to year.
In the last 15 years, the data show a clear upward trend - on average, more and more kilometers of the road network have been flooded or soil eroded.
The catastrophic floods that occurred in 2014 stand out from the average, and which were estimated to have triggered the activation of over 2000 landslides on the national road network (these are roads of the first and second order, former highways, main and regional roads), and approx. 3000 landslides on the local road network (according to research published in the magazine Izgradnja).
Of course, not every unexpected or unplanned phenomenon on the road is a consequence of climate change, but specifically when it comes to landslides and landslides, in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, this phenomenon is related to the increased volume of precipitation - and science tells us that due to climate change, precipitation in they tend to be less frequent, but more intense when they occur.
The total material damage caused by extreme events from 2000 to 2022 is estimated at more than 5 billion euros. The greatest damage occurred in 2014, and it is estimated that it amounted to around 1,5 billion euros, of which 192 million euros was damage caused to roads.
For the sake of comparison, the annual budget of the Republic of Serbia for road maintenance amounts to between 300 and 350 million euros, of which around 60 million euros are allocated for urgent maintenance works (which in many cases are due to the consequences of climate change). These data can be found in the Information on the work of JP Putevi Srbije.
Read the entire text on the website Climate 101.
Read daily news, analysis, commentary and interviews at www.vreme.com
In connection with the statement of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, that, in case of indictment related to the General Staff, he would pardon all the accused, students of the Faculty of Law in the blockade spoke out, warning that the institute of pardon is being misused as a political message of loyalty and impunity
Extreme right-winger Pavle Bihali says in a secretly recorded conversation that he works as a dragster "whatever he is told" because he is "blackmailed" and otherwise he will go to "prison". Bihali is now talking to "Vreme" about that video and what he allegedly did on March 15 during a large protest
The announcement by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, that he will absolve state officials in the General Staff case is interpreted as his position that he is all-powerful, says the president of the Roma Party, Srđan Shajn.
The Parliamentary Committee for Culture and Information adopted a new list of candidates for REM Council members on the proposal of the Council of National Minorities
The plaintiff, whose car was set on fire in Subotica a few days ago, considers that act to be intimidating to her and her family
The citizens of Serbia are faced with a choice: either Vučić or the European Union. Everything else is empty talk
None of us have the right to give up our freedom. It is unacceptable to lose heart. Leaving the last line of defense is unacceptable. Because the barbarian attack on prosecutors and judges is their last attack. Beyond that is the abyss
You should not touch Ćaciland before the holidays. Since there will be no New Year celebrations on the streets in Belgrade, it should be left as an attraction for foreign tourists
Interview: Branko Stamenković, President of the High Prosecution Council
Threats to prosecutors lead to prison subscribeThe archive of the weekly Vreme includes all our digital editions, since the very beginning of our work. All issues can be downloaded in PDF format, by purchasing the digital edition, or you can read all available texts from the selected issue.
See all
