Glasgow, 5 November 2021 (MIA) – Developing countries, including North Macedonia, should set out their mitigation goals, but financing is the key in meeting these targets, Environment Minister Naser Nuredini tells MIA in an interview. Nuredini is in Glasgow to take part in the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), which was opened on October 31. Organized by the UN, the event brings together government representatives from about 200 countries who in the course of two weeks will discuss ways for keeping the rising global warming at a tolerable level. Some 25,000 people are expected to attend, including thousands of journalists and environmental activists. What did the Republic of North Macedonia present at the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference, what are the country’s ambitions? After being put forward by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, the government in May 2021 passed the revised nationally determined contribution to the Paris Agreement, under which our country pledged to reduce greenhouse emissions by 2030 by 51 percent or 82 percent of net emissions. President Stevo Pendarovski and I presented this ambition based on scientific analyses, which identifies 63 measures and activities needed to meet this objective. Additionally, the national long-term climate action strategy with an action plan until 2050 has been adopted recently, which proves North Macedonia is one of the countries with clearly defined climate change policies. We heard pledges for concrete initiatives by different world leaders, is North Macedonia supporting some of these initiatives? It took a long time to prepare for the summit with governments from all around the world through their embassies coordinating as regarding the global pledges, presented and supported at the Glasgow summit. We have been cooperating closely with Great Britain, which is the chair of this year’s conference. In accordance with our adopted climate policies, we expressed our support to the initiatives for global joint action involving transitioning toward clean energy, coal phase-out and forest and land management. After being invited by the United States, we jointed the initiative on reducing methane emissions, which was already analyzed while preparing our nationally determined contribution, particularly in view of waste management and animal husbandry as well as the “green governments” global initiative. What is your general impression from what you have heard so far and what do you expect until the end of the negotiations? This is perhaps the first time when larger countries and developed economies have set out more concrete commitments. The fact that the United States is back in the negotiations and is quite determined to be part of the solution is quite encouraging. It is extremely important these countries to be committed to supporting developing countries because we are all part of the climate crisis. Even though developing countries, like ours, should also set their mitigation goals, financing is the key to meeting these targets. I expect the negotiations to produce a final agreement in this segment and to put into operation the commitments stemming from the Paris Agreement, mainly in terms of transparency. It is crucial to establish a method for cooperation and contribution of the government, business, academic and civil sector. It is also important to increase the national mitigation goals so as to meet the global goal to prevent global warming to exceed two Celsius degrees. In which segments our country will be more visibly represented as part of the COP26 program? We’ve already presented our analyses about the impact of climate change on cultural heritage after being invited by the Greek government. We’ll be also part of the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) presentation. Also, alongside the Education Ministry, we will present joint activities aimed at incorporating climate change into the educational system. Under the nationally determined contribution, we are committed to energy and fair transition and to shut down REK Bitola by 2030, we have been also invited to be part of discussions of the Energy Community. Our country will also host a separate international event as part of the accompanying program, which also includes a discussion on sharing experiences and finding the right methods to solve the climate crisis with all stakeholders in the society included. What will North Macedonia get by participating in these negotiations and supporting the initiatives and pledges? Our approach to supporting these initiatives is based on analyses of the adopted national climate documents. We believe that by supporting them, we increase the chances to improve cooperation and provide finances. It is important all countries to take part in meeting the global goals and it is especially important for developing countries, like ours, to take its seat at the table. Our country has set out a roadmap, the government is already carrying out activities to increase electricity production from renewable sources and to increase energy efficiency. We have to do more to support the industrial sector, agriculture, eco-friendly transportation, waste management and to in general change the habits. The partnership with the developed countries might help us in achieving sustainable development and in reducing local pollution.