The response to climate challenges cannot be exclusively technical, but must also include strong social responsibility, said the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development Damjan Ćulafić, and announced that Montenegro is preparing for a new cycle of climate policy integration.
According to the ministry, he participated in the Macedonian Energy Forum (MEF) held in Skopje.
At the panel "The Paris Agreement Decade: Progress, Challenges and the Future of the Western Balkans", Ćulafić said that, ten years after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, Montenegro continues to confirm its clear and consistent commitment to combating climate change.
"Although we contribute only 0.009 percent to global GHG emissions, our approach clearly shows that climate responsibility does not depend on the size of a country, but on its determination to take responsibility and act in the interest of a common future," said Ćulafić.
He recalled that Montenegro ratified the Paris Agreement in 2017, thus laying a strong foundation for strengthening national climate policy.
As Ćulafić stated, Montenegro, as a candidate for membership in the European Union (EU), has chosen to follow EU climate policies, and by signing the Sofia Declaration, it has accepted the ambition of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
"Our response to climate challenges cannot be exclusively technical - it must be socially responsible. In this context, we are preparing for a new cycle of climate policy integration," said Ćulafić.
He pointed out that Montenegro is among the first 16 countries in the world to adopt an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2030 and 2035, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 percent by 55 and 60 percent by 2035.
Ćulafić said that both the Fourth National Report and the First Biennial Transparency Report of Montenegro were adopted, confirming the commitment and transparency of efforts to combat climate change.
As he added, one of the key steps will be the adoption and implementation of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan Proposal for the period 2025-2035 with the Action Plan for the period 2025-2027.
"For us, it represents a key strategic document aimed at reducing the negative impacts of climate change on society, the economy and the environment, and which will serve as the basis for public policies in managing the climate risks facing our country," said Ćulafić.
According to him, an important step is the expected adoption of the new Climate Change Law, aligned with the EU acquis, especially with regard to the emissions trading system (EU ETS), monitoring and reporting, accreditation and verification, the Union registry, free allocation and auctions.
"After the adoption of the Law, new bylaws will be drafted that will enable further harmonization with EU regulations and which will begin the implementation of the law in practice," added Ćulafić.
He pointed out that the adoption of by-laws will regulate the establishment of the MRV system and enable its full implementation from January 1st next year, while the adoption of the key Regulation will regulate the price of carbon when it comes to the ETS system.
"This year, the development of the Low-Carbon Development Strategy began, which will include an analysis of the necessary steps and timeframe for achieving climate neutrality, taking into account the specific challenges and opportunities that arise in different sectors," said Ćulafić.
He said that he believes that the discussions at the panel will further strengthen the partnership and contribute to the joint effort to achieve ambitious climate goals, improve environmental protection and ensure energy stability for future generations, in order to achieve a climate-neutral, just and prosperous Western Balkans.
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