RSD 31.3 billion for environmental protection in 2013

BELGRADE - The Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia has for the first time released the results on environmental protection expenditures for the period 2006-2013, reading that they were 2.3 times higher in 2013 than in 2006.

Environmental protection expenditures are incurred in order to prevent, reduce and eliminate pollution or any other degradation of the environment due to the process of production or use of goods and services, the statement reads.

During the period, the value of investments increased by 2.2 times, while current expenditures went up by 2.4 times

The average annual growth rate of environmental protection expenditures equaled 12.9 percent for the 2006 - 2013 period, while the average annual growth rate of investments and current expenditures equaled 12.0 percent and 13.5 percent, respectively.

In 2013, expenditures for environmental protection amounted to RSD 31.306 billion, which is 2.9 percent higher than in the previous year. Investments amounted to RSD 11.707 billion, while current expenditures were RSD 19.599 billion.

The average annual share of environmental protection expenditures in GDP in the period 2006-2013 amounts to 0.7 percent. In 2013, the share of environmental protection expenditures in the GDP stood at 0.8 percent, the Office stated.