News in English     | 29.10.2020. 20:02 |

Džaferović: We have to ensure a harmonized approach to environmental protection

FENA Press release

SARAJEVO, October 29 (FENA) - Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Šefik Džaferović addressed in a video message today a gathering in Sarajevo dedicated to the topic of environmental protection "Live healthy, breathe clean", organized by the European Union.

"We live in a unique moment in human history. Due to human-induced climate change, for the first time, we cannot take the future for granted. It is no longer a question of whether we need to change our attitude towards nature, but how to do it as soon as possible and as efficiently as possible," stressed Džaferović in his address. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country with great natural resources and beauty. I will dare to say that the beauty of Bosnia and Herzegovina's mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, rainforests, canyons is unparalleled in this part of the world.

We are proud of this immeasurable wealth, but unfortunately, we do not pay enough attention to its protection, starting from government institutions at all levels, through the industrial, agricultural and transport sectors, to individuals in their local communities. This is something that needs to change in BiH.

The entire social community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, led by the authorities, must show maximum commitment when it comes to combating climate change, mitigating its impact, and adapting to new climate conditions. First of all, we must fight through the improvement of our legal framework, adhering to the obligations of international conventions to which Bosnia and Herzegovina is a signatory, as well as the goals set by the European Union in its strategic program, the European Green Deal.

In particular, government institutions must swiftly implement the obligations and recommendations clearly set out in the European Commission's environmental reports. Our task is to ensure a strategic, comprehensive, harmonized approach at all levels that will cover the entire territory of the country when it comes to environmental protection measures.

In this regard, I welcome some of the extremely important initiatives that have already been launched, such as the conclusion of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina on banning the construction of small hydropower plants, and the clear commitment of the FBiH Government to implement this ban.

Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomes the Green Agenda program for the Western Balkans, and on this occasion, I can say that we will take part in this strategic program, which will be implemented under the auspices of the European Commission, as part of the Green Deal.

It is very important that the European Union has planned to include Bosnia and Herzegovina in this program, and our institutions must prepare for very demanding and complex tasks that will address many aspects of the problem: from water, air and soil deployment, through waste management, the transition from linear to circulatory exploitation of resources, all the way to sustainable agriculture, and the preservation and restoration of biodiversity.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has yet to become a member of the European Union, but regardless of that membership, we are already integrated into the European environmental system. We share a common destiny when it comes to the environment, we want to share a common awareness of it, we want to participate in joint European action.

The historical moment in which we find ourselves is marked by a very difficult economic situation, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. But economic recovery plans must rest on environmentally sustainable, innovative and green growth because it is no longer a privilege but a necessity.

Our right to speak of a prosperous and healthy future will depend on our commitment to fight for a modern, climate-neutral and sustainable economy and transport, through the phasing out of fossil fuels and decarbonization, but taking into account the workers employed in the sector today. We share the European dream of climate neutrality by 2050 and our efforts will go in that direction.

An old proverb that says that we did not inherit the land from our ancestors, but we borrowed it from our descendants. Indeed, our obligation to future generations is to leave them a clean, healthy and safe country," concluded the BiH Presidency Chairman Šefik Džaferović in his address.

(FENA) S. R.

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