Skopje, 18 September 2023 (MIA) – President Stevo Pendarovski within his participation in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, delivered remarks on Monday at the leaders’ dialogue “Scaling up actions on key transitions to accelerate SDG progress” within the high-level political forum on sustainable development under the auspices of the General Assembly (Sustainable Development Goals SDG Summit).

In his remarks, Pendarovski said that North Macedonia has adopted 2021-2025 sustainable development cooperation framework with the support of the UN agencies and donors. We have made progress on SDG targets and outlined three major national commitments.

“The accumulated risks and crises of today are only a taste of the future that awaits our world unless we implement the SDGs on time. It is only with bold, ambitious and just actions that can we avoid such scenario, Pendarovski noted.

North Macedonia has adopted 2021-2025 sustainable development cooperation framework with the support of the UN agencies and donors. We have made progress on SDG targets and outlined three major national commitments.

First, investment in developing future skills as a prerequisite for economic growth. This asks for education adopted to the needs of the labour market, reducing the STEM gender gap and creating jobs for the younger digital generation.

Second, increasing the share of renewable energy to support climate action and energy sustainability in line with enhanced national determined contributions, the national strategy for energy development and the long-term strategy on climate action.

“Through the adoption of the national development strategy, which along with the development framework, MKD 2030 should streamline all SDGs in the Macedonian society by building a consensus that transcends ethnic, religious, generational, and political differences. Good governance, rule of law, and anti-corruption are central to this end,” he added.

According to Pendarovski, by fulfilling these commitments, we’ll achieve three goals.

First, we will contribute to a safer and more sustainable planet.

Second, we will implement 70% of the criteria for European Union membership, our European future is essentially grounded on sustainable development. And third, we will tackle our most urgent challenge. The massive emigration of young people. The success of our SDG commitments to create a just, inclusive and resilient society will be measured by the readiness of our young people to envision their future in their homeland, he noted.

“We can’t afford to wait for more favourable conditions to implement the SDGs. And we will not wait. We have to do it in the name of the current and future generations,” President Pendarovski said.

Photo: Office of the President Stevo Pendarovski