The Low Carbon Development Strategy of Montenegro (LCDS) is based on fundamental analyses and expert knowledge and is a step towards a sustainable future, said the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development, Damjan Ćulafić.
He said this at a workshop dedicated to the Draft Strategy being prepared by the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development (MERS) in cooperation with partners from the World Bank.
This project, as announced by MERS, is financed through the World Bank Trust Fund Market Implementation Partnership and is being implemented in collaboration with Economic Consulting Associates.
Ćulafić said that this strategic document, which is based on thorough analyses and expert knowledge, is a step towards a future that is sustainable and focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, all with the aim of achieving low-carbon development that will have a positive impact on the environment in the long term.
"As a state, we cannot and must not be passive observers in dealing with global climate change," Ćulafić emphasized.
According to him, green development and emission reduction must be the foundation of every sector, from energy and agriculture to industry and transport.
Ćulafić said that MERS recognizes the challenges and responsibilities that this process entails.
"Our mission is not only reflected in the implementation of sustainable environmental policies, but also in the creation of concrete and measurable goals that will guide us through the challenges of climate change," said Ćulafić.
He recalled that to this end, an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of Montenegro was adopted.
As he stated, the document has an ambitious plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030 and 60 percent by 2035, which, he added, is a huge step forward compared to the previous NDC, which envisaged a reduction of 35 percent.
Ćulafić pointed out that Montenegro is among the first 16 countries in the world to adopt that document.
"We are also working on a new Law on Climate Change, and we expect the adoption of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the period 2025–2035 soon, to further ensure that our legal and strategic framework is fully aligned with best international practices and standards," concluded Ćulafić.
World Bank Program Coordinator in Montenegro Denis Mesihović said that the development of LCDS comes at an important time for Montenegro.
“With the aim of becoming a member of the European Union (EU) by 2028 and its commitment to addressing the impacts of climate change, the LCDS will establish a framework for long-term decarbonization, while protecting sustainable economic and social development,” Mesihović emphasized.
According to him, this strategy, prescribed by the Law on Protection from the Adverse Impacts of Climate Change, represents a fundamental element of Montenegro's contribution to the Paris Agreement.
"Going beyond existing goals and frameworks, such as the NDC and the National Energy and Climate Plan, it adopts a long-term perspective until 2050," Mesihović said.
He said that the LCDS will encompass socio-economic transitions, technological advances, and investment pathways necessary to decarbonize the economy in the long term.
"As the World Bank, we are particularly interested in the development of the LCDS because of its connection to the long-term climate change diagnostics, which we completed a few months ago - the Climate and Development Report for six Western Balkan countries and the specific report for Montenegro," Mesihović said.
He added that in this diagnostic, they adopted a long-term perspective until 2050, in order to achieve the goal of decarbonization by that period.
"We welcome Montenegro's ambition to adopt its long-term strategy with the same goal," said Mesihović.
He said that Montenegro is at a time when numerous strategic documents are being prepared, including the Law on Protection from the Adverse Impacts of Climate Change.
"And the ambitious timeframe set by the government for joining the EU increases the role of finalizing these documents in the coming months until the end of the year," said Mesihović.
He, on behalf of the World Bank, thanked MERS for leading the development of LCDS and for its continued collaboration on a number of projects, including investment and analytical projects.
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