PRESS RELEASE – Short version
Supetar, October 14, 2025
A great start to the three-day CO2 PACMAN project in Supetar – citizens and youth show strong interest in sustainable solutions
The first of three days of the CO2 PACMAN project took place today in Supetar, on the island of Brač, with the goal of encouraging citizens to adapt to climate change and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The atmosphere on the Supetar Riva was exceptionally positive, with active participation from young people and a large number of interested citizens eager to learn more about the implementation of smart and sustainable solutions in everyday life.
The CO2 PACMAN project connects the islands of Brač, Elba, and Crete, fostering cooperation between local communities, public institutions, and citizens. The project’s goal is to develop concrete models and measures for the sustainable development of islands, with a focus on renewable energy sources, resource conservation, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Following the presentations and demonstrations held on the Supetar Riva, a working meeting of all participants took place, where an analysis of the day’s success was presented and experiences were shared. Participants concluded that the citizens of Brač are well informed about sustainable modes of transportation, such as cycling and the use of electric vehicles, but expressed dissatisfaction regarding waste management, collection, and recycling. It was emphasized that more education and information are needed in this area.
Citizens also pointed out issues related to outdated infrastructure and the need for greater state investment in the modernization of ferry and shipping lines, noting that these forms of transport are essential for the daily lives of island residents.
The overall impression of the first day is that the project successfully promotes unity, awareness, and readiness for change, while it is particularly encouraging to see the strong enthusiasm and knowledge among young participants in the field of sustainable development.
The project will continue over the next two days with a series of workshops, interactive presentations, and discussions on the future of green technologies on the island of Brač.
PRESS RELEASE – extended version with statements
Supetar, October 14, 2025
A great start to the three-day CO2 PACMAN project in Supetar – citizens and youth show strong interest in sustainable solutions
The first of three days of the international CO2 PACMAN project took place today in Supetar, on the island of Brač. The project aims to encourage citizens to adapt to climate change and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The atmosphere on the Supetar waterfront was exceptionally positive, with active participation from young people and a large number of interested citizens eager to learn more about the application of smart and sustainable solutions in everyday life.
The CO2 PACMAN project connects the islands of Brač, Elba (Italy), and Crete (Greece), with a shared goal of decarbonizing Mediterranean islands and building sustainable communities. A special emphasis was placed on citizen education, as highlighted during the opening session – awareness within the local community is the foundation of any real change.
Professor Simone Bastioni opened the event by praising the “excellent response of Supetar’s citizens” and underlining the importance of education:
“There is plenty of evidence showing that even small changes can have a significant impact on climate change. We can already see it in our daily lives – through extreme heat, droughts, and floods. It’s clear that we need to change, but we must do it together,” said Bastioni, adding that cooperation between local authorities and citizens is crucial to the project’s success.
Among the participants was Engineer Alfred Dominis from the company Vodovod Brač, who spoke about the new technologies introduced through the project that have led to significant savings in both water and electricity.
“If I had to choose something personal, I’d start by installing solar panels on my own house. It’s a simple step that benefits both the individual and the community – it lowers electricity bills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It’s important to encourage young people to turn to renewable energy sources because that’s our future,” said Dominis.
Martin Bućan, Head of the County Department for Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, and EU Funds, shared his thoughts on the importance of the project for youth education:
“Despite the olive harvest season, citizen and youth participation has been excellent. We are especially pleased with the involvement of high schools from Supetar and Bol, whose students are gaining valuable knowledge and experience through this project. What interests them the most is the presentation of the project’s goals through VR – virtual reality – where they can explore 3D models and propose their own solutions for the island’s development.”
Students from the Brač Secondary School for Tourism also took part in the workshops and presentations, sharing their impressions and lessons learned.
“We learned how important recycling is because it helps protect nature and the planet. We should use bicycles more often, reduce deforestation, save water, and think more about using solar energy,” said students Jakov Arnerić and Paul Šmit, while Dea Urlić, who commutes daily from Split to attend school in Supetar, added: “Brač is a great example of how people can live more sustainably.”
After the presentations on the Supetar Riva, a working meeting of all participants was held, during which the results and conclusions of the first day were analyzed.
Participants agreed that citizens of Brač are well-informed about sustainable modes of transport, but that additional efforts are needed to educate people about waste management and recycling, which citizens themselves identified as an area where more information is needed.
The need for modernization of ferry and maritime transport was also emphasized, as citizens pointed out that the current fleet is outdated and that new state investments are necessary to create more sustainable and eco-friendly transport systems.
The first day of the project concluded with a shared message that Brač serves as an inspiring example of a community actively thinking about sustainability, and that young people have demonstrated they can be the true drivers of green change.
The CO2 PACMAN project continues over the next two days with workshops, interactive presentations, and discussions on the future of green technologies and sustainable development on the island of Brač.
