Skopje, 2 June 2022 (MIA) – Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj addressed Thursday the “Stockholm +50” global forum on environment, taking place five decades after the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, saying sustainable development of environment is a global goal and the battle with environmental challenges must not be lost. “The future of a healthy planet is our common task. Half a century has passed since the UN conference on human environment and we are still talking about environmental challenges,” said Deputy PM Marichikj. He said North Macedonia supports the common vision of a “healthy planet for prosperity of all”. “We have set a long-term vision to make North Macedonia a zero-carbon emission economy by 2050, a country that follows sustainable and resilient development paths, improving competitiveness and promoting social cohesion through action in the fight against climate change and its effects,” noted Marichikj while highlighting the importance of regional cooperation, specifically in meeting the goals of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. According to him, “Stockholm +50” represents an excellent opportunity in the efforts to have a prosperous, inclusive and healthy planet, but this requires multilateralism in the management of the three crises – climate, nature and pollution – but also coordinated action by various stakeholders and individuals, as well as partnership among academia, businesses, policy creators and civil society. “This is the guaranteed path to proper solutions that are important for the sustainable development and the planet’s protection. Today, we have the responsibility and chance to fulfill the goal that was set at the 1972 conference, thus building a healthy future for us and generations to come,” said Marichikj. During the visit to Stockholm, Deputy PM Marichikj will meet Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, Swedish MPs Adnan Dibrani and Pyry Niemi, and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) Director-General Carin Jämtin.