Green economy to ensure economic growth

BELGRADE - The model of green economy can ensure Serbia's economic growth and step up competitiveness, create jobs, reduce poverty and ensure sustainable use of natural resources, Serbian Minister of Agriculture Snezana Bogosavljevic-Boskovic stated on Thursday.

"The problem of climate changes is one of the greatest problems of today's civilization and its solution has become an inevitable part of international, regional and national agendas," Bogosavljevic-Boskovic said at the round table dubbed "Rethinking Regional Cooperation" held as part of the conference entitled "Climate Change and the Green Economy".

The minister pointed to the importance that the EU attaches to the issue of climate change, adding that the Union has underscored on the number of occasions that Serbia should present its obligations with a view to reducing the greenhouse effect by the year of 2020 i.e. 2030.

She said that Serbia is scheduled to define the steps towards meeting its obligations in this respect by the end of March 2015, noting that it will be possible to address this very sensitive issue only after 2020.

An inter-sector working group for promoting the framework for the green economy development has been established, and national strategic documents have been adopted, she said.

Montenegrin Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Branimir Gvozdenovic warned about the serious climate changes in the world.

Nevertheless, the deadlines for taking the necessary measures are only being postponed, while simultaneously ambitious goals are being set, Gvozdenovic said, adding that a dozen of projects are being implemented in Montenegro with regards to addressing this issue.

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