Montenegro committed to green economy and sustainable development as long-term objectives, PM Lukšić says

Kolašin, Montenegro (24 April 2012) – Prime Minister Igor Lukšić opened the two day national conference titled “How to reach sustainable development and ‘green’ economy in Montenegro? which takes places in Kolašin, Montenegro, on 24-25 April.

Today’s event, PM Lukšić noted in his opening address, testifies of the Government’s readiness to deal with climate change and sustainable development challenges. It also aims, he added, to define the long-term directions of Montenegro’s development and to improve the draft documents that will be the basis platform for Montenegro’s participation in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development „Rio+20“.

PM Lukšić said that green, that is blue economy, is a concept that has already been implemented in Montenegro and is a part of its strategic planning.

Montenegro's green transformation should be based on tourism, agriculture and energy, the three sectors with the greatest “green“potentials and possible sources of employment growth in Montenegro, PM Lukšić said.

"We are aware that there are no new jobs without economic growth. But also there will be no long-term growth if that growth is not green and therefore sustainable,“ he stressed.

PM Lukšić remarked that Montenegro has also to establish new mechanisms, both market and legislative, to prepare its transition to green economy.

“We need to develop partnership with academic institutions and business sector in order to support low carbon technologies, better link education to labour market, introduce lifelong learning and promote research-oriented nature of our education system,” PM Lukšić, explained.

He added that the lack of business sector's involvement in sustainable development may be a major reason for its inadequate implementation. Many see sustainable development as a barrier to economic growth. But, PM Lukšić underlines, “companies which, during the economic crisis, included sustainability in its performance have proven more resistant to its negative effects and preserved its position in the market”.

PM Lukšić concluding by saying: “We will show the world that Montenegro, as an ecological state, achieves the goals based at the same time on ecological accountability and economic safety.”