Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić said at the UN "Rio 20 plus" summit that regional cooperation was a key to the successful implementation of internationally defined goals. Serbia firmly believes that the strengthening of regional cooperation, with the engagement of regional organizations, is essential for the realization of Summit goals as well, said Nikolic in his speech at this summit, dedicated to green economy and development. More from Petar Popovic.
Emphasizing that, by 2050, the population on the Earth will have increased to nine billion, Nikolić emphasized that it is clear that an intensive development of economy and society, based on an extensive use of natural resources, which was characteristic of the 20th century, cannot be continued. It is necessary to renew political dedication to sustainable development as an ultimate goal of ours and to green economy as a means for the realization of the former, and it is political leaders from all over the world that are responsible for the creation of a clear and precise agenda for future, emphasized Nikolić. Serbia regards the Rio 20 Plus gathering as a turning-point towards a global use of green economy. The transition to a new economic model should ensure economic growth, create new jobs, eradicate poverty, ensure economic evaluation of the natural capital. In order that such a thing be reached, it is necessary to adopt a global map of paths towards green economy, which would contain measurable results and clearly defined timelines, underlined Nikolić.
Emphasizing that, in accordance with the progressive EU economic standards, Serbia has drafted a study on green economy and the prospects of institutional reforms with a view to reaching sustainable development, Nikolić said that such a type of so-called pioneer studies could represent a basis of coherent development of all the future policies in that field. In order to be able to respond to sustainability challenges that are ahead of us, we will need a reformed, strengthened, better coordinated and more coherent institutional framework at all the levels of administration, said Nikolić. In that context, he said that Serbia remained attached to the strengthening of the ecological dimension of an institutional framework for sustainable development, which should result in the establishment of a specialized UN agency for environmental issues.
Guided by the principles of sustainable development and green economy, we have to make a radical turn in the way we produce and consume goods. Therefore we need to define a set of visionary goals of sustainable development for the post-2015 period, Nikolic emphasized. Serbia is proud to be among the countries that have delegated representatives of their young generations to this conference as the changes we refer to and for the sake of which we are here relate to our children, stressed Nikolic.
Representatives of 191 states have gathered in Rio de Janeiro to reach a historic treaty on the green planet, which would save billions of people from poverty. At the Rio 20 plus summit, which is thus called because it is taking place in Rio again after twenty years, the Serbian delegation is headed by President Tomislav Nikolić, and Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić and Environment Minister Oliver Dulic as well are taking part in the conference.