Glasgow, 1 November 2021 (MIA) – Supporting the European Green Deal, North Macedonia is prepared with our share to contribute to Europe becoming the first carbon neutral continent by 2050, President Stevo Pendarovski said Monday in his address at the plenary session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), taking place in Glasgow, the United Kingdom. North Macedonia, he said, as a candidate country to join the EU has already started transposing European climate change legislation into its national legislation. “Despite the fact that we are a small European country, we have big climate ambitions. To that end, we adopted the revised national contributions. Our ambitious goal, set for 2030, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51 percent, compared to 1990 levels, or 82 percent in net emissions compared to the same basis year. We established 63 mitigation policies that are gender responsive and in relation to 15 goals for sustainable development,” said Pendarovski. By implementing the long-term climate action strategy, the country aims at transforming into low carbon emission economy all the while strengthening competitiveness and promoting social cohesion, the President noted. “The inclusion of the society as a whole will help in reducing unemployment by creating eco-jobs, reducing pollution with renewable sources and development of sustainable practices through education,” Pendarovski told the plenary session.   The country, the head of state said, has pledged to take on these obligations despite the structural challenges to the national economic growth, deteriorated by the devastating effects of COVID-19. “I strongly believe that the only sustainable recovery from the pandemic is environmental recovery.” “If a country with a GDP per capita below $6,000 is fully committed to meeting these ambitious pledges, then any country in the world can do it,” Pendarovski said noting his country has already conceived a transparent, coordinated and comprehensive climate action in partnership with scholars, businesses, the civil society and the youth. “At the same time, we are fully aware that international financing will depend on effective, functional and just governance at national and international level,” said President Pendarovski. We must deliver on promises made in Paris, here in Glasgow, he stressed. “At this last hour, it is high time to wind back the clock of the climate system so that future generations can not only but live in a secure, decent and prosperous world as well,” Pendarovski concluded his address. The President is due to attend a reception organized by British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson for the world leaders and an event launching the Global Methane Pledge initiated by US President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He will also take part in the leader-level COP26 event titled “Action and Solidarity: The Critical Decade.”