“Tackling air pollution requires a cooperative and integrated approach at all levels: the central government, local governments, the business community, and citizens. That’s the only way we can achieve the goal that is of common interest, because we all breathe the same air,” – stated the Deputy Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Hristina Odzaklieska, at today’s first session of the Climate Assembly for dealing with pollution in Skopje.
The project aims to unite the various stakeholders and enable the exchange of opinions, views and proposed solutions in order to initiate a more efficient mobilization of all available forces and knowledge in solving one of the biggest challenges in the capital city, air pollution.
According to Odzaklieska, the central government, working to harmonize the national legislation with the European legislation, has made significant progress in regulating obligations and rights in the area, but its implementation is still a challenge. “Laws must be applied and respected,” Odzaklieska added.
Trifun Kostovski, former mayor of the City of Skopje, also addressed the event, and Gorjan Jovanovski, an expert in the area, gave an introduction to the topic of the session.
The Climate Assembly of Skopje is a project of the ZIP Institute citizens’ association, financed by the European Climate Foundation, the Council of Europe, and the European Unio