One of Serbia's goals in the process of joining the European Union (EU) is to establish a platform for sustainable development, so that Serbia can "fit in" and become a member of a developed EU that has been developing sustainably, Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has said today on the occasion of the World Climate Diplomacy Week.
Joksimović has stressed that the Ministry, headed by her, aims to contribute to every citizen "feeling the benefits and progress" though the process of European integration, preparation for the use of available funds and compliance with the European standards.
"This means improving the quality of life not only through a better standard, but also through the availability of drinking water, quality infrastructure and connectivity, comfortable life in cities, more green areas...", Joksimović has said.
She has stressed that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development became part of the EU's political framework in 2016, and that the entire process of European integration and the introduction of new standards is aimed at achieving all 17 goals defined in this document.
According to her, one of the global goals in which Serbia has engaged through European integration is the urgent action and fight against climate change and its consequences.
"This fight implies "green" and "smart" cities, providing food for everyone, healthy lifestyle for all, eradicating poverty by introducing sustainable production and consumption...", the Minister has said.
Joksimović has assessed that the goal of responsible governments is not only to ensure well-being of the present generation, but also to leave the legacy of sustainable economic, sociological and development concept to the future generations.
"This means that new jobs will be sustainable, that production and agriculture will be sustainable, and that inventive and brave generations will be the promoters of development and will be supported in this regard. This is the goal of the Government of Serbia, which set a responsible reform platform in 2014, and it should be the goal of every responsible government," Joksimović has stressed.
Speaking about combating climate change, she has emphasised the importance of climate diplomacy as an important component of contemporary diplomacy, as well as the diplomacy of Serbia that, according to her, has become a reliable and credible partner “to discuss with at all levels and on all topics", especially owing to European integration.
"This builds the reputation of a country and its people, and I believe that, in recent years, we have shown not only progress, but also how much we are able to accept everything that is new and good, and to adjust, which is also a diplomatic skill. I think we have mastered this lesson," the Minister has said.
She has expressed her belief that climate diplomacy should be in focus, and that more attention should be paid to sustainability and combating climate change, which are priority topics in the EU.
"The huge amount of money from the EU is allocated at the annual level for the purpose of achieving a stable, sustainable, comfortable system for people, which means housing, a gender dimension, with the goal to involve all individuals because climate change affects everyone - women, men and children" the Minister has stated.
She has recalled that Serbia has given the world the largest and the most important figure in climatology, scientist Milutin Milanković, who, as she has stressed, left a permanent mark in global climate science with his revolutionary theory of periodic climate change.
"We not only have the right, but also the obligation to show that, by treading the path of Milutin Milanković's contribution, we are leaving the comfort zone of not addressing issues that concern, inter alia, sustainable production based on reduced CO2 emissions and all the goals of sustainable development under the UN 2030 Agenda, for which we are actively preparing," Joksimović has said.
She has added that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić will present the National Report of Serbia on achieving the goals of sustainable development at the next year’s session of the UN General Assembly. Examples from practice have been presented at an event that opened the Climate Diplomacy Week - Climate Action - New Approach against Negative Effects of Climate Change, which is held from 24-29 September.
Four projects will be presented: "Women and Men in Response to Climate Change", "Integra Active House", "Why - Green Building" and "TwistBox".
Source: Tanjug
