Sharjah24 -WAM: Jakov Milatović, President of the Republic of Montenegro, stressed the need to intensify global efforts to make the world a more sustainable place for future generations.
He praised the UAE for being one of the most committed countries to climate action, its mechanisms, and addressing its challenges.
President Milatović told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of COP28 that despite its many challenges, what the world has in common is the challenge of climate change.
He noted to the negative effects of climate change over the past 20 years. “We are witnessing extreme weather conditions during the winter and summer, and this is affecting us in the Republic of Montenegro, our infrastructure, and our tourism sector," he said.
President Milatović said that the Republic of Montenegro was one of the first countries to include the environmental aspect in its constitution, and ince 1992, it has been declared an environmental state through sustainable development in national policies.
“For this reason, the Republic of Montenegro currently employs several highly innovative tools to catapult it to the forefront of combatting climate change, including accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals,” he added.
The President of Montenegro stated that “it is natural for us to be participants in COP28, given that climate change is the challenge that we all face together”, expressing his belief in COP28 being a clear reminder of the magnitude of this challenge and the importance of addressing it through cooperation between all countries.
He added, “We must work to achieve a more sustainable future, and for this reason, I would like to send this clear message on behalf of Montenegro, which is that we all need to work together to achieve more sustainability.”
President Milatović underscored the importance of diversifying economies in a more sustainable way through energy efficiency and building renewable energy sectors. “I believe that we need to be ambitious and persistent,” he said.
He called for the need to phase out fossil fuels “gradually, not directly”, and to take into account the just transition in the energy sector, strengthening economies, and taking care of the people who are currently working in sectors related to fossil fuels. "We all need to work to achieve this goal. Therefore, the transition to the green economy and the green agenda is of paramount importance.”
The President of Montenegro praised the efforts made by the UAE and its leadership in hosting COP28. “I believe that it was a very successful event, and this is primarily due to the great achievement that was achieved on the first day when we witnessed the establishment of a fund for climate solutions, through which developed countries contribute to developing countries," he concluded.
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