Human Resource Management in Environmental Protection in Serbia

Abstract

Starting from the fact that the units of local self-government of the Republic of Serbia are not sufficiently oriented towards innovations related to human resources and the environment, the application of quantitative research tradition examines the positioning and understanding of certain procedures and decisions of human resources management regarding the functioning of the environmental protection system, on the one hand, and future strategies for changing the given system, on the other. A series of 105 face-to-face interviews were conducted during the whole of 2016 in 105 of the 191 municipalities in the Republic of Serbia. Examination of the attitudes of the local self-government was carried out using a specially designed closed electronic questionnaire. The results of the multivariate regressions show that the most important predictor of the possible improvement of the environment is the size of the municipality. The remaining variables (e.g., human resources policy, human resources service) did not have significant effects on the ability to improve the environment. In more than half of local self-governments, there was no clearly defined human resources strategy in the field of environmental protection, an environmental protection service, an Environmental Action Plan, as well as an employment plan for waste management in local governments, etc. The research has shown that top managers of local governments agree that the management of human resources in environmental protection represents a significant opportunity to improve the quality of the environment. The results of the research can be used to improve the organization of human resource competence in environmental protection and the quality of a working and sustainable environment in the area of local self-government.

In-Depth Analysis of Disaster (Risk) Management System in Serbia: A Critical Examination of Systemic Strengths and Weaknesses

“…Within this context, it becomes evident that Serbia is not shielded from disaster risks and confronts a unique array of challenges [26]. Safeguarding citizen safety, preserving assets and infrastructure, and ensuring business continuity emerge as pivotal priorities demanding the establishment of a robust, well-coordinated disaster risk management framework [27][28][29][30].…”

Empowering the Regional Network of Experts for Disaster Risk Management in the Western Balkans by the Scientific-Professional Society for Disaster Risk Management

“…The Western Balkans region faces persistent challenges related to disaster risk management, characterized by a complex interplay of natural hazards, inadequate infrastructure, and limited institutional capacities [1][2][3][4][5][6]. The Southeast European countries, constituting the Western Balkans, are persistently vulnerable to an array of disasters, ranging from earthquakes and floods to snowstorms, droughts, and forest fires [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Crucially, these disasters do not respect geopolitical boundaries, making collaborative efforts among nations imperative [9,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26].…”

“…This interconnectedness strengthens regional resilience by leveraging the collective expertise and resources of neighbouring nations. Ultimately, the creation of a network of experts for disaster risk management is not just a procedural step; it is a strategic necessity to fortify the Western Balkans' preparedness and resilience against potential disasters [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]42].…”

Examination of the factors that influence public perception of mythically-based human behavior in disaster conditions

“…In the past, in the field of catastrophes, rhetoric referred to the use of terms such as panic, hospital overload, disease epidemics, food donations, clothes, money. Today, during the current COVID-19 pandemic, which can be classified as a catastrophe in terms of the human lives lost, the rhetoric in the field of catastrophes has changed and upgraded with new terms, and now abounds in greater use of neologisms (Nikolić et al, 2020;Štrkalj, 2020). Different classifications of myths about human behavior in disaster conditions are represented in the literature.…”