REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Green Economy Can Employ People and Improve the Environment
The Participants of the 19th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 19) in New York shared their experiences regarding the progress made in the environmental protection field and considered the decisions that should improve environment in the future, said the Minister of Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning, Mr Oliver Dulić.
All participants agree that “green economy” offers the solution for the current sustainability issues. “Green economy” can generate jobs for millions of people on the one hand and on the other hand it helps raising public awareness on environmental and sustainable development issues, Minister Dulić pointed out.
The Minister explained that CSD Sessions had lasted for almost two weeks – from 2nd to 13th May. During this time, many important topics were discussed, such as sustainable development, climate change and green economy. The preparations for two upcoming environmental summits (the first which will be held later this year and the second which will be organized next year), were also discussed. The Minister presented at the event the policy of development of "green economy" in Serbia.
The Government plans to employ 10.000 people in jobs related to “green economy” by the end of its mandate. Ten thousand people will be employed in waste and chemicals management industry, as well as in the renewable energy industry , added Minister Dulić.
This year, the Commission continued to discuss issues that need to be dealt with in the period from 2010 to 2011. These issues include: transport, chemicals management, waste management, mining, ten-year framework of sustainable production and consumption. Minister Dulić took part in the talks with the representatives of governments and international organizations within the UN system about the practical measures and progress related to these topics. Furthermore, he participated in the ministerial meetings dealing with the sustainable production and consumption, development of a sustainable transport system and waste and chemicals management.
The Session also took into consideration the progress made by countries and regions in order to create proper policies in the given areas during the year. Also, the Session examined the main negotiating document that would provide consensus on some of the key decisions on waste and chemicals management, the development of sustainable transport, reduction of negative effects of mining on environment quality and introduction of sustainable production and consumption trends in order to encourage energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources.
The results of the negotiations and the decisions that will be made at the Session will be considered in the context of preparations for the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development that will be held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012.